Painted Cabinetry

From classic white to deep-sea blue, there’s no denying the beauty of painted cabinetry. Color allows our individuality to shine through, creating kitchens that truly reflect who we are.

But, deciding that you want painted cabinets, and then finding your color is not the end of the journey. It’s time to think about how your cabinets will be painted. The method of application has a bearing on how your cabinets will look and live. Let’s take a look at the options.

Sprayed Finish

A sprayed finish is smooth and consistent. The end result should look silky and perfectly even when the paint is sprayed by a professional. A sprayed finish is perfect for a modern design especially because it has the option for a high gloss finish. The perfect spray looks stunning on a contemporary flat paneled cabinet.

Hand painted Finish

A professionally hand-painted finish is the gold standard of a traditional kitchen. Hand painted cabinetry looks as though it was built in place, this method is a little more labor intensive but gives a truly custom final product. There may be some visible brush strokes, so the looks is a little more classic and less contemporary.

Pros and Cons

In some instances the choice between sprayed and hand painted finishes is clear, and in others you’ve got to weigh the pros and cons.

Durability: Hand painted.
Hand painted cabinetry has been around for a reason, it lasts.

Fixability: Hand painted.
No matter how careful we try to be in our brand new kitchens, over time things get damaged. Small touch-ups are a lot easier to do yourself on hand painted cabinetry. Make sure your cabinets come with a color matched touch up kit. Sprayed finish cabinets can also be fixed, but typically this will require bringing in the pros.

High Sheen: Sprayed
If you’re looking for a shiny high gloss kitchen then spray is the way.

Speed: Sprayed
Spraying finish is a quicker process than painting by hand. So if you’re in a major hurry that might be the better option. However your timeline will depend on the specifics of your cabinet shop.

Indecision: Hand painted.
If you want the option of changing your mind, definitely choose a hand painted finish. Hand painted cabinets can be painted right on top of the existing finish with a new color.

Perfection: Hand painted.
All wood moves and some wood moves more than others. Maintaining the perfect humidity levels in your home is not always realistic, and hairline cracks are relatively common in painted cabinetry. Hand painted cabinets show these tiny cracks less and, as mentioned before, are far easier to repair.

Thoughts from the pros

JF lead designer Paula Accioly has some thoughts on the different kinds of painted cabinet finishes.
“In terms of style, I love to see the actual brush strokes. A hand painted cabinet resembles a piece of furniture and give s a sense of luxury to a kitchen. I see this as a more transitional or traditional design aesthetic, I do tend to recommend a sprayed finish for contemporary kitchens. But for a classic kitchenI really love hand painted cabinetry, it adds character”

What about the cost

The initial cost is the biggest hurdle to choosing hand painted cabinets, however over time the cost of sprayed Vs hand painted becomes more even. Up front a sprayed finish is less expensive, but any repairs of touch ups need to be done by a pro, thereby increasing your ongoing maintenance costs. Hand painted cabinets are far easier to touch up and small repairs can be done by the homeowner.

Need help?

We are here for you. Our gorgeous Boston Design Center showroom has displays in sprayed finish, hand painted as well as stains and tints – we didn’t even get into those! Our designers are super knowledgeable in all areas of cabinet finish and will help you choose the right one for you.