1. Gather Your Tools
   • Painter's tape for keeping paint off your walls and other surfaces
   • Drop cloth to protect floors
   • Cleaning supplies to work with a clean surface and rejuvenate hardware
   • Screwdriver or drill for removing cabinet doors and hardware
   • Caulk for filling any imperfections on your cabinets
   • Sandpaper for sanding down existing finishes or paint
   • Foam roller or paintbrush for applying paint and primer
   • Paint tray for an even paint application
   • Primer to make paint last
   • Paint for a finish you'll love
   • Gloss or finish to seal in your hard work
2. Create Your Budget
   • Include appropriate tools in your budget like painter's tape, drop cloths or rosin paper, liquid deglosser, silicon carbide sandpaper, a paint scraper, putty knife, gloves, sanding sponges, primer, siliconized acrylic latex caulk, and paintbrushes.
3. Choose Your Paint
   • Oil-based paint is more traditional but takes more time to dry. (dries with fewer visible brushstrokes and offers a more professional finish)
   • Latex paint takes less time to dry and gives a smooth finish.
4. Clean Your Cabinets
   • Remove all doors from the cabinets and keep track of hardware with labels if you plan to reuse them
5. Prepare Your Kitchen
   • Open up your doors and windows so the room has proper ventilation so paint fumes can dissipate. Then remove any furniture that could get in your way. Once your area is cleared, set down drop cloths to protect your floors, countertops, and any furniture you couldn't move out of the way. The last step to get your kitchen ready is to tape off your cabinets as necessary so your repainted cabinets have a perfect finish
6. Prime and Sand Your Cabinets
   • When sanding, move the paper in the same direction as the wood grain to avoid visible scratches
7. Paint Your Cabinets
   • Paint with even strokes, finishing back into the wet paint and feathering the edges. For the smoothest finish, paint in the direction of the wood grain. When you're done, use a small foam detail brush along the edges of the cabinet to smooth out any paint that might have gathered there. Paint the back of the doors before the front to avoid paint smudges in the most visible area.
8. Dry and Apply Second Coat
   • Lightly sand your cabinets between coats of paint, especially if you're working in a dusty area.
9. Add Finish or Gloss
   • Gloss adds a layer of shine.
   • Glaze creates dimension and settles into creases for an antique effect.
   • Lacquer smoothes surfaces completely for a glass-like shine.
   • Varnish protects cabinets without altering the finished look.
   • It's not always necessary to add a finish to your cabinets, but it will make your hard work last longer. A semi-gloss polyurethane varnish is your best bet for a finish that will protect your hard work without changing the painted effect of your cabinets
10. Add Your Hardware
    • If you have a larger drawer at the bottom of a set, install the bottom knob higher than the center of the drawer front to support the weight of the drawer better.
    • Install new hardware for an updated look

A transitional style kitchen seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary elements to create a casually elegant and timeless look. 

A transitional style kitchen seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary elements to create a casually elegant and timeless look. 

Shaker cabinets are the best cabinet choice when designing a transitional kitchen. While this cabinet style leans traditional, its simple design and clean lines won't clash with modern elements. 

Transitional kitchens almost always have a neutral or subtle color scheme consisting of white, cream, beige, gray, and black. Recently, "new neutrals" like sage green, navy blue, and olive have dominated transitional designs. 

Transitional kitchens are trending in 2023 - in fact, due to their very nature, this style of kitchen will always be popular. Because transitional kitchens blend both traditional and modern designs, the result is a timeless kitchen that'll look amazing for years to come. 

While your kitchen flooring may not always be the focal point of your room, the type of materials you choose will serve as a canvas for the rest of your design. Most transitional kitchen flooring leans toward warm wood flooring, but there are ways to add a touch of personality to this often-overlooked area of your kitchen. 

Set your flooring apart by installing wood planks or tiles in a herringbone pattern. This zigzag pattern creates the illusion of movement and can make your kitchen appear bigger, especially in those narrower spaces like between your kitchen island and countertops. 

Cabinet finishes are the last application of color or laminate that gives cabinetry the final aesthetic. Depending on your cabinet's material, the application's final appearance may fluctuate slightly. Options for cabinet finishes include: 

1. Waterborne UV Finish 

The waterborne finish is scratch-resistant, low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and formaldehyde-hazard free. Because waterborne finishes are dispersed in water, there is less downtime between the time of application and us

2. Stained Finish  

Stain is applied on wood to change the color, enhance the grain, or to protect cabinets from damage. 

3. Glazed Finish   

A glazed finish can be applied on top of paint or stain to accentuate the details in the species of wood in the cabinetry. 

4. Natural Finish 

A natural wood finish does not use stains or dyes and does not alter the color of the wood. Typically these finishes are clear so the natural color is visible beneath the protective layer giving a raw look. Depending on the species of wood, the durability will vary. 

5. Painted Finish 

Painted cabinets are also referred to as opaques. Many painted cabinets include a varnish top coat for added durability. 

6. Varnished Finish 

Varnish provides cabinetry with extra durability and heat resistance. All-natural cabinets will require a varnish, at a minimum, as a finish. Traditional varnish is a combination of oil and resin. As it dries, it undergoes a chemical reaction creating a hard, dissolving-resistant surface. 

7. Distressed Finish 

Distressed cabinets are a type of painting technique to give new furniture an aged appearance. The finish is created by making the paint coat seem worn or scratched using different techniques with the stain, paint, or glaze. 

Neutral colors like white, beige, gray, and cream continue to be the most popular kitchen colors, but expect to see more statement colors like navy blue, forest green, clay red, orange, and plum on trend in 2023. 

Earthy tones like sand, forest green, and deep shades of blue are some of the newest trending colors for 2023. With more people working from home, choosing colors that help create a serene atmosphere has been — and continues to be — a top priority for many homeowners. 

Muted or neutral shades like white, gray, or sage look best in small kitchens because they reflect the most light - making your compact space seem more open and bright. However, monochromatic color schemes like all-black or gray kitchens help reduce visual clutter in small spaces, while high-contrast combinations like navy blue and white can add much-needed definition to a tiny open-concept kitchen. 

Create contrast with dark cabinets by pairing them with light colors like white, taupe, or even pastels. Add even more flair by incorporating a patterned backsplash and accents in similar shades. 

Whether you're drawn to crisp, clean all-white kitchens, dramatic plum accents, or fiery red tiles, choosing the best kitchen color scheme for your space ultimately comes down to your personal style. While these color combinations are expected to dominate kitchen designs in 2023, don't be afraid to experiment with different shades, patterns, and textures to create a space you can't wait to spend time in.