It has been a HUGE project, lol.

I stripped my cabinets completely - by sanding to bare wood.  I began to stain and it was gorgeous.  However, even using wood conditioner, I wasn't getting it perfectly even.  There were what looked like drips? It turns out that they were likely areas that oil from cooking or a spill had soaked into the wood.  I could have continued to sand, but they were raised panel doors and it was my worst nightmare.  I wasn't willing to continue on knowing they'd have splotches.

So.... after much research on an awesome FB group that consists of pros giving tips to DIY people, I decided to paint.  I admit I was (and still am) sad about painting oak cabinets.  I adore wood grain.  However, it seemed like the best way to not end up with a final project I was unhappy about?  So.... I lightly sanded the newly stained and poly'd cabinets and the ones that had not yet been done.  I put on two coats of BIN primer, front and back and the frames.  Then painted three coats of Pittsburgh Paints 250/50 with cure times.  I am not a fan of white kitchens so that was super painful for me, but seemed the best route.  I went with a two tone.  We did Sherwin Williams White Dove on the top and SW Urbane Bronze on the bottom - which is a deep gray that seems to have brown undertones.  I love the gray.  I still don't love white cabinets, but I admit I like the White Dove, it's a warm white that doesn't look yellow.  Together? I like them.  But I wouldn't have wanted white lowers, I don't think? We have littles and middles that like to be in the kitchen and they are spillers, drippers, and crumb makers.  DH loves the white and so does everyone who sees it.  He says it makes it much brighter in there.  Odd because our kitchen has great natural light and a ton of can lights, so never felt dark?

It WAS a huge project. I still have a couple lower doors to finish this week.  But I am SO grateful I followed the pro advice because we are really hard on stuff and because it cleans like a dream! The hardest part was finding the correct replacement hinges and I suspect it was also the most expensive part of the job? I think we bought two gallons of primer and one gallon of each color and that was a TON of cabinets.  The hinges were a nightmare because they were double dismountables and it cuts into the cabinet door so that I couldn't replace with inexpensive soft close euro hinges? The hinges were over $300.  To do all over again? I think I'd be tempted to fill and paint.   Otherwise? Inexpensive project that was work/effort heavy but really turned out awesome. 😉