Many coats of old paint
Original cabinets in older Oak Park homes often have several layers of paint. We strip where layers are failing and work lead-safe on older coatings.
Serving Oak Park & nearby Berwyn, Chicago
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Oak Park, IL
Make your Oak Park kitchen look new without replacing the cabinets — for a fraction of the cost.
- Crews working in Oak Park ZIP 60302, 60304, 60301
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Cabinet problems a paint job fixes
We paint kitchen cabinets in Oak Park with durable cabinet-grade coatings, not wall paint. Proper cleaning, sanding and primer are what make the finish last — that is where most of our time goes.
Sticky, greasy cabinet doors
Doors that feel tacky around the stove need a deep degrease first. It is the step that decides whether the new finish lasts.
Mismatched cabinets
An added island or new uppers that don't match the old cabinets — one paint color makes them look like one set.
Dark kitchen
Light painted cabinets reflect light across the room — the cheapest way to brighten a dark kitchen.
Painted without removing the doors
Paint on the hinges, drips in the corners and doors stuck to the frames are signs of a paint job done in place. We take everything apart and redo it properly.
Worn finish around handles
High-touch spots wear first. We repair the bare areas and can add new pulls in the same visit.
Yellowed white cabinets
Old white finishes yellow with age. A modern waterborne urethane or acrylic cabinet paint stays white.
Holes from old hardware
Old knob holes are filled, sanded and primed before painting, and new pulls are drilled with a jig so every one lines up.
What's included
- Door and drawer removalDoors and drawer fronts come off, hinges and hardware are labeled and bagged.
- Cleaning and degreasingA full degrease of doors and frames, especially near the range and sink.
- Sanding and repairsWe sand for adhesion and repair dings, cracked filler and loose moldings.
- Sprayed doorsDoors and drawer fronts are sprayed in a controlled setting for a smooth finish.
- New hardware and hingesWe can drill for new pulls and swap in soft-close hinges while the doors are off.
- Filling old hardware holesOld knob and pull holes filled and sanded flush before priming.
- Island and bathroom vanitiesThe island, a pantry or bathroom vanities painted in the same visit, in matching or contrasting colors.
Finishes we offer
Waterborne urethane cabinet paintA tough cabinet coating that stays white and doesn't smell up the house.
Satin vs. semi-gloss sheenMost kitchens look best in satin; semi-gloss suits a more traditional look.
Popular colorsWarm white, greige, sage green, navy and charcoal are the most requested this year.
Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore cabinet coatingsWe use cabinet enamels from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, matched to the color you pick.
Catalyzed finishesThe hardest sprayed finish — chosen for high-traffic kitchens and rentals.
What the work looks like in Oak Park homes
Before
In progress
After
DetailBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Oak Park
The site: a prewar brick bungalow near Gunderson Historic District. What we started with: 1980s honey-oak raised-panel cabinets installed over the old plaster. What bothered the owners most: the dated wood tone. After: the same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. Work included cleaning and degreasing, sanding and repairs, plus sprayed doors.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Elmhurst
A postwar bi-level in Elmhurst, a typical kitchen for Elmhurst. Before: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets. What bothered the owners most: the dated wood tone. Finished kitchen: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant new hardware and hinges, filling old hardware holes, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elmhurst →
Before
AfterPark Ridge kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen cabinet painting
A postwar bi-level in Park Ridge, a typical kitchen for Park Ridge. Before: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls. The main complaint was the dated wood tone. Finished kitchen: the same doors sprayed in light warm taupe, new unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant cleaning and degreasing, new hardware and hinges, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterAn Oak Park brick bungalow from the 1920s: before and after
What changed: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Oak Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a brick bungalow from the 1920s in Oak Park
New five-piece shaker doors in charcoal gray on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and polished nickel pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Oak Park →How your cabinet painting goes
- Estimate and colorWe check the cabinet material, count doors and drawers and help you choose color and sheen.
- Doors come offDoors and drawer fronts go to our spray area; the kitchen stays usable with open shelves.
- Prep and primeDegreasing, sanding, repairs and primer on frames in your home, doors in the shop.
- Finish coatsTwo finish coats sprayed on doors; frames finished on site with dust control.
- ReinstallDoors go back on, hinges adjusted, hardware installed and touch-ups done.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting questions from Oak Park homeowners
My cabinets have old paint. Is that safe to sand?
We treat old paint in pre-1978 homes as possible lead paint and use containment, wet methods and HEPA cleanup.
Can you paint cabinets in a condo?
Yes. Spraying the doors off-site keeps fumes out of the building, and we work within the association's hours.
Is painting cheaper than replacing cabinets?
Yes, by a wide margin, as long as the boxes are solid. New cabinets also mean new counters and installation; paint doesn't.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
Most kitchens take about a week. You can use the counters and appliances the whole time — only the doors are away.
Will there be brush marks?
Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed, so no. Frames are sprayed or finished with fine rollers for a smooth look.
Do I need a Oak Park-registered contractor for cabinet painting?
Contractors must be registered with the Village and keep a valid certificate of insurance uploaded in Village View. We take care of that before work starts.
Which Oak Park homes do you most often see for cabinet painting?
In Oak Park we see homes built 1892-1950, Queen Anne, Prairie School and Craftsman. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Can you do cabinet painting in an Oak Park condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for cabinet painting in Oak Park?
It depends on the scope. Oak Park's rule in short: Permits needed for installing new cabinets and countertops and for any extension or alteration of electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems; separate electrical and plumbing permits. We handle the permit when one is needed with Permit & Development Division (Development Services Department).
Do you work in my part of Oak Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Park, including Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District, Gunderson Historic District, Harrison Street arts district — ZIP 60302, 60304, 60301 — and nearby Berwyn, Chicago, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Park
- Most Oak Park homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in the Ridgeland/Oak Park Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic DistrictGunderson Historic DistrictHarrison Street arts district
ZIP 60302ZIP 60304ZIP 60301
Kitchen Cabinet Painting nearby
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Other kitchen services in Oak Park
Cabinet Refinishing & StainingRe-stained wood cabinets with the grain still showing.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer RepairHinges, drawer slides and water-damaged sink bases fixed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.