In the Chicago area, Painting in Partnership is known for its cabinet refinishing work. We have brought new life to scores of kitchen cabinets and created a myriad of different looks, from changing the color of stained cabinets (without stripping), to painting stained cabinets, to antiquing painted cabinets, to glazing cabinets and more.

Cabinet Refinishing - During

We do our cabinet refinishing work on the client’s premises, using brushes and rollers. To preserve the client’s living environment, we do not use sprayers. All the work is done by hand, from bonding coats to the clear coats. Another advantage of this approach is that the client does not need to empty the cabinets before we do our work.

When doing cabinet refinishing, there are two steps that are especially critical for the long-term success of the project. This first step consists of giving the surfaces a through cleaning. This may sound kind of basic, but it is often overlooked or not given enough attention. A kitchen is by definition a place that attracts oil from hands (or from pets’ coats), soap residue, fats from cooking and food particles. It is critical to clean the surfaces to be finished, even using degreasers if needed.

Cabinet Refinishing - Bonding Primer

The second critical step consists in the priming of surfaces with a strong bonding primer. Because the surfaces have often been previously been varnished and that they are susceptible to being hit by objects, it is essential to use the best available bonding primers. In the case where a change in the wood color is needed, a bonding clear coat can be used.

By taking these simple first two steps, Painting in Partnership ensures longevity, as well as beauty to its cabinet finishing projects.

Refinishing cabinets can have a dramatic impact on their appearance and the look of an entire room. A client in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago was not happy with the look of their stained oak vanity cabinets. They felt that the doors and trim being stained in the same reddish color as the cabinet, it made the room look too heavy and not interesting enough. They also wanted to find a way of incorporating the gold tones of their faucets and door hardware in the new look of their cabinets.

Refinished Cabinets with Gold Touches

This was the perfect assignment for Painting in Partnership’s team of craftsmen and decorative artists. The first step for such a house-painting project consists of developing a representative sample for the client’s review. Once the client approves the sample, our task consists of faithfully replicating it unto the cabinets.

Before taking any painting steps, it is important to remove all the hardware from the cabinets and clean the surfaces to ensure that oils and soap residue have been removed. The first painting step consists of priming the surfaces with a bonding primer, so that the finish coats will solidly adhere to the cabinets’ old finish. Our painting craftsmen then apply two coats of waterborne enamel.

Our next step is of a decorative finishing nature. We skillfully apply a very small amount of rubbing gold wax to the various edges of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, thereby creating a very subtle gold shimmer, as shown in the picture. For this client, just painting the cabinets would not have sufficed. The gold touches made it work perfectly.

Understanding the needs of clients, combined with painting and faux finishing skills can beautify a client’s space. This is the kind of work we do every day at Painting in Partnership.

Faux painting techniques give you wonderful options to refinish cabinets. What can you do besides just painting your cabinets? First, you have to decide what you do not like about your cabinets. Is it the color of the stain? Many times, people will get tired of the “golden oak” or the “pickled” look of their cabinets, but they like the idea of their cabinets looking like stained wood.

Cabinets Before Faux Painting

You are not limited by the color of your stained cabinets. Cabinets can be given the look of walnut or mahogany. This can be accomplished without having to strip your existing cabinets. Additionally, you can save at least $10,000-$20,000 in the process.

Our decorative finishers would first apply a coat of transparent bonding primer. Then one or two coats of a stain glaze would be applied to give you the color you desire. Our painters would then apply a coat or two of varnish.

Cabinets After Faux Finishing

“No, I am tired of the wood look. What are my options?” Painting your cabinets is a fine option. The new waterborne enamels give you a beautiful look, because of their ability to easily level off. The secret is to clean the surfaces well, use a bonding primer and apply a good measure of painting craftsmanship.

If you go the painted route, you have the option to apply a glaze over your cabinets and wiping it off and leaving it in the recesses of the wood for a beautiful expensive look. Our faux painters can produce finishes in an array of colors and styles.

Our faux painting service includes the development of a sample door for your approval before any work is done. After the sample is approved, our job becomes about replicating that sample unto your cabinet surfaces.