Step 1: Remove Cabinet Doors

• The first thing you should do is take off the cabinet doors, removing any screws and hardware and placing them where you can locate them when you're ready to reassemble the cabinets.

• Carefully sand off any rough areas on the doors and the cabinet base and wipe away any dust or sawdust from the surface.
  

  Courtesy of Lucie Rowe

Step 2: Clean the Cabinets

Let the surface air-dry.

Courtesy of Lucie Rowe

Step 3: Apply the Primer-Sealer

Using a disposable foam brush, apply an even coat of primer-sealer to the doors, beginning in the center and following the grain of the wood. (Primer-sealer eliminates the need to sand down and degloss the wood before painting.) It will dry in about an hour.

Courtesy of Lucie Rowe

Step 4: Apply the Paint

Use a good nondisposable brush to apply the paint: the better the brush, the better the finish. Add as smooth a finish as possible. Start at the center as you did in the previous step and follow the grain. Don't rush this part -- you'll need two or three thin coats in order to achieve a fine finish. Thin coats create fewer brushstrokes and give better drying time and adhesion. Allow the paint to dry for four hours between coats.

Another advantage to using a primer-sealer is that you can apply a water-based paint over it. High-gloss paint is often recommended for cabinets, but I think semigloss adds a richer finish.

Courtesy of Lucie Rowe

Step 5: Paint the Cabinet Base

Step 6: Apply Color-Glazing (Optional)

You may also want to try color-glazing on the cabinet. It adds a touch of color while allowing the wood grain to show through. It works especially well on the center panels of cabinet doors.

Step 7: Remove Excess Pigment

Use a second, clean brush to remove excess pigment -- you can remove as little or as much as you want. (This is called a negative technique.) Wipe off the brush with paper towels as you work. That's all there is to it!

Courtesy of Lucie Rowe