As mentioned in our previous kitchen update, we decided to embrace the existing counters and opt for a tone-on-tone look for Phase One. Why not work with the mauve counters we already had? We prefer making smaller, intentional updates and living with a space for a while rather than gutting it immediately. That approach lets you see what truly needs changing and keeps projects manageable.
After completing five quick updates that made a noticeable difference, we turned our attention to the old, chipping cabinets. Painting them would refresh the whole room and reduce that worn-in look. We tested two mauve shades on a couple of doors and both liked the darker option that matched the counters almost exactly.
The chosen color was Sherwin Williams Artsy Pink, applied with their Emerald satin formula. Along with painting, we made a few additional updates at the same time, including installing hidden hinges, which improved the cabinet operation without a big expense.
Here’s how the kitchen looks now. We even painted the dishwasher to blend with the cabinetry, a small detail that made a big visual difference. The room feels more cohesive and much more like “us.”
For reference, here’s the kitchen when we bought the house. The transformation makes the space feel more open and welcoming, which matters in a kitchen that’s at the heart of our home and sees daily use.
This kitchen sits in the middle of our home and is where we spend a lot of time, especially with remote learning happening. Having a comfortable, functional space makes everyday activities—meals, homework, and projects—more enjoyable.
A fun coincidence: during demolition and soffit removal, we found evidence that this room had been mauve in the past. At one point the walls and even the cabinet toekicks were that color, which made our color choice feel almost destined.
Artsy Pink sits right next to another color we used elsewhere in the house, so the palette now feels cohesive across different spaces. That kind of continuity can make small homes feel more thoughtfully designed.
How We Painted The Cabinets
We have a detailed cabinet-painting tutorial elsewhere, but here’s a concise summary of our process. First, we removed all doors, drawers, hardware, and hinges. We replaced the old hinges with new hidden hinges to improve functionality and appearance.
Next, we cleaned every surface with a liquid deglosser to remove grease and residues that compromise adhesion. We also removed an old sticker tucked behind a door—evidence of just how long some of these finishes had been in place.
We sanded the doors with an electric sander to remove flaky spots and ensure the new paint would adhere. That step exposed a few areas with poor original adhesion, so it paid off. After sanding, both sides of each door received a coat of stain-blocking primer applied with a 4″ foam roller for a smooth finish.
With only seven doors and five drawers in this kitchen, the process moved quickly. After priming, we applied two coats of Artsy Pink and let the doors cure for about four days before reinstallation. Because the kitchen is small, the whole job used less than a quart of paint.
Back in the kitchen, we sanded and filled old hinge holes with wood filler, then primed and painted the cabinet frames. With the doors off, we also painted the interior surfaces of the cabinets. Painting the insides gave the cabinets a finished, refreshed feel that made a surprising difference.
We used two coats of semi-gloss white (Pure White by Sherwin Williams) on the frames and interiors. The finish brightened the space and made it feel cleaner and more intentional. To protect the painted interiors, we added thick clear shelf liners for durability.
All told, the supplies—including the quart of paint, rollers, wood filler, and the new hidden hinges—came in at about $96. That’s under $100 to refresh the entire kitchen cabinetry, a big impact for a small investment.
Up close, the difference is clear: the old scuffs and paint drips are gone, and the cabinet surfaces are smooth and refreshed, inside and out.
Painting The Dishwasher Mauve
We also painted the dishwasher to match the cabinetry. After lightly sanding the appliance surface, we rolled on the same Artsy Pink paint used on the cabinets. The paint has held up well through regular use and steam cycles, and visually the appliance now blends with the lower cabinets instead of breaking the run with a contrasting white.
Because this kitchen has far fewer cabinets than our previous home, we’ve been focused on smart organization to make the most of the smaller footprint. We’ll share a separate post detailing how we packed everything in efficiently, including pot and lid storage tricks.
Since this post, the kitchen received a full renovation with new cabinets and updated organization. For now, painting the cabinets and a few thoughtful details transformed this small kitchen into a brighter, more intentional space without a large budget or major demolition.
