KNF-TX Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Am I going to regret painting my kitchen cabinets white? I have six kids that all love to cook but aren't very good cleaners. I don't want to be constantly looking at dirt on the cabinets, but I can't stand the heavy ash grain of my cabinets. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I have mine painted white and I love it. I does show up dirt a little easier, but it's also easier to spot and wipe off real quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzf242 Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I personally would be afraid of white, just knowing MY family. I painted mine dark green (gloss) about 8 or 9 years ago, and they are holding up well. Take care. Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Depends on how much you notice small messes and if you are willing to wash them often. I wash the fronts of my cabinets constantly, so it wouldn't bother me. But I have friends who don't like to mess with it...it wouldn't be a good choice for them. If you do, make sure to buy the most washable paint you can afford. It may need to be an oil based, to really get them to stand up against the washing. I would also consider the amount of dust in your house. Nearby construction, living on a dirt road, or in an arid environment all add to the natural dust in the air. That dust combined with moisture in the air from cooking, will make them dirty a lot faster. Another concern is if you have a vent hood and if you use it. The moisture in your kitchen and grease from cooking can make the cabinets hard to keep clean too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomesteadMommy Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 We painted ours white last year. I love how it brightens the kitchen, BUT I would never do it again! We will be repainting a slate blue ASAP. Every spot, scrape, nick etc done by the kids show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Mine are the original 1965 white that they were when this house was built. I *LOVE* it. They are flat-front cabinets, and they do not get very messy even when I have the mixer on and food starts getting thrown everywhere. I can use Magic Eraser on them and everything comes right off without any problem, and then I can see that they are well and truly clean. My kitchen is already big, but the white makes it seem airy and a wonderful space. I wouldn't trade it for anything - except maybe a new countertop. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 OMgoodness, if you saw the messes I make when I cook, you'd know why I'll never have white cabinets! I'd like to paint mine the color of tomato sauce; then the messes won't show so much!:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Did you use the Semi-gloss or super dee duper glossy paint? If so, you should be fine :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Kids + Magic Erasers = spotless white cabinets. I assign the chore to 2 kids. One cleans the wall cabinets and the other cleans the base cabinets. Last week, the dog dropped a large plastic bowl of spaghetti sauce when he was taking it off the counter. The splatter hit the ceiling, stove, and all cabinets on that wall. The dog has started a new business as a Magic Eraser testing service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Yup, semi gloss, white painted cabinets here. I love them! They wipe down easily and I keep a small jar with a little paint under the kitchen sink for touch ups. (I'm a bit on the OCD side.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy in Indy Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I painted my cabinets white but I painted the doors a deep red. I love how cheery my kitchen is...I still smile just walking in there. So much better than the previous color...pink! I used semi-gloss on the walls and gloss on the cabinets. They're very easy to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 My cabinets are a light cream color and I am cleaning them ALL THE TIME. Not only to do have to wipe down my counters but often my cabinets. However, it's really lightened up my kitchen, so there is a balance of pros and cons. I don't regret it but it is a work increase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Unless you sand those ash cabinets down, prime them, and do several coats of white paint, yes, you'll regret painting them when the paint starts to chip. Ask me how I know. We ended up having an Amish craftsman make new kitchen cabinets for us (hard maple....lovely!) but I suffered with the white chipping ones for too many years. I wish now I'd just left them alone because they really looked crappy. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SapphireStitch Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Unless you sand those ash cabinets down, prime them, and do several coats of white paint, yes, you'll regret painting them when the paint starts to chip. Ask me how I know. We ended up having an Amish craftsman make new kitchen cabinets for us (hard maple....lovely!) but I suffered with the white chipping ones for too many years. I wish now I'd just left them alone because they really looked crappy. Ria Yep, and unless you figure out a way to fill the grain or smooth it somehow, it will show through the paint anyway. We lived in an apartment with wood cabinets that had been painted over, and while it did lighten up the kitchen, they chipped super easily. My advice, FWIW, is to look at some decorating forums and see how popular woods like birch, hickory, and quarter-sawn oak are right now. It might make you appreciate your grainy cabinets more, even if Ash is not the grain that happens to be trendy at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 I've had white cabinets since we moved into this house, and just replaced the ancient ones with brand new cabinets, also white. I am *not* a particularly stellar housekeeper (sigh), but I don't think the white cabinets are a mistake at all. They keep my rather small kitchen bright and light and open. As others have said, anything that gets on them is easy to spot quickly and wipe off... I hated my old cabinets, but just 'cause they were horrid (and ancient). ;) The new ones are lovely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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