TLDNR: Anyone painted kitchen cabinets? Did you HVLP with a sprayer, or paint them by hand with a brush? Was it worth the effort of NFW you'd ever do that again?
Anyone done this before? Current cabinets are stained Oak. House was built in the late 80's so LOTS of stained oak (cabinets, solid oak wood floor, trim, baseboards, shutters, etc.) Wife wants to update the look of the kitchen and front room (which also has lots of wood built ins, beams on ceiling, wood panel 1/2-way up wall). Front room and kitchen are open to each other. She wants to paint the kitchen cabinets, front room built ins and wood paneling in the front room. For the wood floors, we would have the kitchen floor sanded and refinished (they are " solid oak). Current floor is a honey color and we'd have them stained a darker color and have new wood floors installed in the front room to match (not a DIY on the floors). We would not be painting the shutters in the front room and instead replace them with some blinds to let more light into the front room as it is kind of dark.
As far as painting goes, would you recommend a HVLP Sprayer or a good quality primer, paint and brush? I've painted plenty with a sprayer so I know how to use one (and have a large 11-gallon compressor that will work fine) but never sprayed indoors. Using a sprayer would require me to mask off EVERYTHING in the vicinity and I'd have paint fumes/dust everywhere and no good way to get it out (previous owners had new windows installed and THEY DON'T OPEN!). Concern with using a brush is getting a nice smooth finish on the cabinets. I know it can be done with a good paint, good brush and some patience.
I have plenty of time to do this. Kids are in HS and don't need a dad coach anymore. Also my middle son loves projects like this so I can rely on him for some help.
For those that have tackled a project like this, was it worth the DIY effort, or NFW you'd do that again and pay someone next time. The wife actually got one quote from someone to paint the cabinets and front room build-ins and it was $6,000. Even she said "yeah, NOPE!" to that amount.
Tentative plan is to refinish the half bath off the kitchen area which is the same wood floor, oak cabinets look as the kitchen, see how it goes and looks then decide on larger project.
Here is a good representation photo of what my kitchen looks like. The after has too much white for my taste but kind of where we are going.
Anyone done this before? Current cabinets are stained Oak. House was built in the late 80's so LOTS of stained oak (cabinets, solid oak wood floor, trim, baseboards, shutters, etc.) Wife wants to update the look of the kitchen and front room (which also has lots of wood built ins, beams on ceiling, wood panel 1/2-way up wall). Front room and kitchen are open to each other. She wants to paint the kitchen cabinets, front room built ins and wood paneling in the front room. For the wood floors, we would have the kitchen floor sanded and refinished (they are " solid oak). Current floor is a honey color and we'd have them stained a darker color and have new wood floors installed in the front room to match (not a DIY on the floors). We would not be painting the shutters in the front room and instead replace them with some blinds to let more light into the front room as it is kind of dark.
As far as painting goes, would you recommend a HVLP Sprayer or a good quality primer, paint and brush? I've painted plenty with a sprayer so I know how to use one (and have a large 11-gallon compressor that will work fine) but never sprayed indoors. Using a sprayer would require me to mask off EVERYTHING in the vicinity and I'd have paint fumes/dust everywhere and no good way to get it out (previous owners had new windows installed and THEY DON'T OPEN!). Concern with using a brush is getting a nice smooth finish on the cabinets. I know it can be done with a good paint, good brush and some patience.
I have plenty of time to do this. Kids are in HS and don't need a dad coach anymore. Also my middle son loves projects like this so I can rely on him for some help.
For those that have tackled a project like this, was it worth the DIY effort, or NFW you'd do that again and pay someone next time. The wife actually got one quote from someone to paint the cabinets and front room build-ins and it was $6,000. Even she said "yeah, NOPE!" to that amount.
Tentative plan is to refinish the half bath off the kitchen area which is the same wood floor, oak cabinets look as the kitchen, see how it goes and looks then decide on larger project.
Here is a good representation photo of what my kitchen looks like. The after has too much white for my taste but kind of where we are going.