Dated oak or honey maple
Orange-toned oak and honey maple date a kitchen more than anything else. A painted finish in white, greige, green or navy changes the whole room.
Serving 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Chicago & the Suburbs
Make your Chicagoland kitchen look new without replacing the cabinets — for a fraction of the cost.
- Crews working in the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Cabinet problems a paint job fixes
Cabinet painting in Chicagoland gives you a new-looking kitchen without tearing anything out. We remove the doors, spray them for a smooth factory-style finish, paint the frames in place and put everything back adjusted — most kitchens are back in use within a week.
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.
Holes from old hardware
New hardware rarely matches the old holes. We patch the old ones invisibly and drill clean new ones.
Brush marks and drips
Brush strokes and paint runs from an earlier job are sanded out, and the doors are sprayed smooth.
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.
Peeling or chipped paint
Paint peeling near the dishwasher or chipping on the edges usually means it was applied without proper prep. We strip the failing areas, prime and refinish.
Yellowed white cabinets
If your white cabinets have turned cream or yellow, we repaint with a modern coating that doesn't yellow.
Dark kitchen
Dark cabinets make a small kitchen feel smaller. A lighter painted finish brightens the whole room.
What the work covers
- Door and drawer removalDoors and drawer fronts come off, hinges and hardware are labeled and bagged.
- Sanding and repairsScuff sanding, filling dents and gouges, fixing loose trim and edge damage.
- Frames and end panelsFace frames, end panels and crown molding are painted in place with masking and floor protection.
- Reinstall and adjustmentWe reinstall, align every door and drawer and do a final touch-up walk.
- New hardware and hingesWe can drill for new pulls and swap in soft-close hinges while the doors are off.
- Filling old hardware holesWe patch old hardware holes so they vanish under the new finish.
- Island and bathroom vanitiesWe can paint bathroom vanities and the island along with the kitchen.
Options to choose from
Two-tone kitchensDifferent colors for island and perimeter add depth without new cabinets.
Catalyzed finishesTwo-part coatings sprayed on doors for maximum hardness in busy kitchens.
Satin vs. semi-gloss sheenSatin hides small flaws and fingerprints; semi-gloss is easier to wipe but shows more.
Waterborne urethane cabinet paintA tough cabinet coating that stays white and doesn't smell up the house.
Painted with the wood grain showingIf you like texture, we paint oak without filling the grain so it shows through softly.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Prewar towns
Many coats of old paint
Original cabinets in older Oak Park and Evanston homes often have several layers of paint. We strip where layers are failing and work lead-safe on older coatings.
Postwar suburbs
Oak grain showing through
Open oak grain shows through paint. We can fill the grain for a smooth, modern look or leave a light texture if you prefer it.
Naperville, Bartlett, Oak Brook, Elmhurst, West Chicago, Buffalo Grove
Condo and townhome towns
Can you paint cabinets in a condo?
Yes — doors are finished off-site, so there is little odor in the building, and we follow your association's rules.
Palatine, Woodridge, Carol Stream, Schaumburg, Glendale Heights, Itasca
What cabinet painting changes: before and after
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a 1980s two-story, Lisle
A 1980s two-story near Oakview, a typical kitchen for Lisle. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. The main complaint was orange-looking wood that made the room feel old. Finished kitchen: the same doors sprayed in pale mint green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. Work included sanding and repairs, frames and end panels, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Lisle →
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen cabinet painting
A 1950s ranch in Des Plaines, a typical kitchen for Des Plaines. The kitchen as it was: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets. What bothered the owners most: dark wood that made the kitchen feel small. The result: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. The job covered door and drawer removal, filling old hardware holes, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →Before
AfterElk Grove Village kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen cabinet painting
The site: a postwar bi-level in Elk Grove Village. What we started with: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets. The main complaint was dark wood that made the kitchen feel small. 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. Work included sanding and repairs, reinstall and adjustment, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elk Grove Village →How the job 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 primeClean, sand, fill and prime — the steps that decide how long the paint lasts.
- Finish coatsTwo finish coats sprayed on doors; frames finished on site with dust control.
- ReinstallWe rehang, align and do a final touch-up walk with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting: common questions
Painted or stained cabinets — which is better?
Paint gives a clean, solid color and hides wood tone; stain keeps the wood look. Painted edges can chip with hard use, stained wood shows wear less.
Is it smelly?
Very little — waterborne coatings, ventilation, and the heavy spraying happens off-site.
Is painting cheaper than replacing cabinets?
Almost always. Painting keeps your boxes, counters and plumbing in place, so it costs a fraction of new cabinets and takes days instead of weeks.
How long does painted cabinet finish last?
Years, if the prep is right. Be gentle for the first couple of weeks while the finish fully hardens.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
Usually 4–7 working days, depending on the number of doors. The kitchen stays usable while the doors are in the spray shop.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.
DuPage County
Cook County
Kane County
Lake County
Will County
McHenry County
Helpful guides
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CabinetsCabinet Refacing vs Painting vs Replacement: How to ChooseIn cabinet refacing vs painting vs replacement, start with the boxes. Sound boxes and only a color complaint: paint. Sound boxes but a dated or…4 min read
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Costs and budgetingCabinet Painting Cost: What It Costs to Have Kitchen Cabinets PaintedCabinet painting cost for an average kitchen usually runs about $2,000 to $6,500, or about $30 to $70 per linear foot and $70 to $125 per door…3 min read
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CabinetsPainting Kitchen Cabinets: Options, Preparation and When to Hire a ProThe best way to paint kitchen cabinets is mostly preparation: remove the doors, degrease every surface, scuff-sand, apply a bonding primer, then two…3 min read