If you are thinking about having your existing kitchen or a new installation professionally painted, choosing the right person to carry out the work is every bit as important as choosing the colour.
A kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the home, and painted cabinetry has to cope with everyday knocks, cleaning, moisture, heat and constant handling. Achieving a beautiful finish that will continue to look good requires much more than simply applying a couple of coats of paint.
As a specialist kitchen painter based in Nottingham and throughout the East Midlands, I am often contacted by homeowners who have a perfectly good kitchen but want to modernise its appearance without the upheaval and expense of replacing it.
In many cases, the cabinetry is beautifully made and still has decades of useful life ahead of it. The challenge is finding someone with the right knowledge and experience to transform it properly.
So, what should you look for when choosing a professional kitchen painter in Nottingham?
Look for a Genuine Kitchen Painting Specialist
Painting kitchen cabinetry is very different from painting walls, ceilings and ordinary woodwork.
Kitchen doors and frames may be made from:
- Oak
- Pine
- MDF
- Previously painted timber
- Factory-finished cabinetry
- Lacquered wood
- Veneered panels
- Bespoke handmade cabinetry
Each surface can require a slightly different approach.
The existing finish needs to be identified, the correct preparation carried out and suitable primers and topcoats selected.
A general painter and decorator may be very capable at decorating a room, including the woodwork, but that does not necessarily mean they have extensive experience in fine finishing kitchen cabinetry and painted kitchens.
When speaking to a potential kitchen painter, ask them how many kitchens they regularly paint and whether kitchen refinishing forms a significant part of their work.
A genuine specialist should be comfortable discussing preparation, adhesion, primers, topcoats and how different cabinet materials are treated.
Ask About Experience
Experience matters enormously when working with expensive kitchen cabinetry.
Over the years I have painted a wide variety of kitchens, from small gallery kitchens, modest existing wood or vynil wrapped kitchens through to bespoke handmade cabinetry and high-end installations, some costing in excess of a hundred thousand pounds.
The longer you work within the trade, the more unusual situations you encounter.
It might be:
- An unknown previous coating
- Oak tannins bleeding through paint
- Damaged edges
- Cracked joints
- Poorly applied previous paint
- Unusual hinges
- Obsolete cabinet hardware and failed drawer runners
- Surfaces requiring repair before painting
- Minor woodworking repairs and replacement
Knowing how to deal with these situations comes largely from experience. Knowing how to take a kitchen apart and put it back together, also comes with experience.
When choosing a specialist kitchen painter, look at how long they have worked in the trade as well as how long they have specifically been painting kitchens. Look at Testimonials / Reviews and a back catolouge of previous work.
You can view many examples of my previous work by looking through my blog.
In my own case, I am a time-served City & Guilds Advanced Craftsman and have spent over 40 years working within painting, decorating and fine surface finishing industry. I have been hand painting kitchens over 35 years and have worked and continue to work for some of the most prestigeous kitchen manufacturers and suppliers in the East Midlands.
That background has given me experience not only in painting kitchens and cabinetry but also in modern furniture restoration, traditional decorative paint techniques and fine surface repair and refinishing.
Preparation Is Everything
One of the most important questions you can ask a kitchen painter is:
“How do you prepare the kitchen before painting?” Dont just accept, I clean it down and sand it!
Preparation is what separates a professional kitchen finish from something that may begin to fail after a relatively short time. I see it all too often where customers have accepted a budget price and have not been happy with the finish or the paint has failed after a few months. Often resulting in the whole kitchen having to be extensivley prepared and re painted. I have invested heavily in dust free sanding equipment over the years.
Kitchen cabinetry naturally accumulates grease, cooking residues, polish and cleaning products.
If these contaminants are not removed properly, even an expensive paint may struggle to adhere.
A professional preparation process should always include whever necassary:
cleaning and degreasing
removing handles and hardware
sanding
dust extraction
filling damaged areas
repairing minor defects
priming
fine sanding between coats
The exact process will vary depending on the kitchen and its current condition.
What matters is that the painter understands why each stage is necessary.
I have always believed that the quality of the finished paintwork is determined largely by what happens before the final coat is applied.
Ask What Paint System Will Be Used
Not all paints are suitable for kitchen cabinetry.
Modern specialist water-borne coatings have improved considerably and can provide a durable, washable finish without the strong smell associated with many traditional solvent-based products.
A professional kitchen painter should be able to explain:
- which primer will be used
- which topcoat will be applied
- why the system suits your particular cabinetry
- how many coats are required
- approximate drying and curing times
- how the finished kitchen should be cared for.
Be wary of anyone who simply says they will use “a good trade paint”.
The important question is whether the whole coating system is suitable for kitchen furniture.
Hand Painted or Spray Painted?
You should also understand how your kitchen will be painted.
My own speciality is traditional hand-painted kitchens.
I prefer this method because it allows me to work carefully around cabinetry, mouldings and architectural details while maintaining the character of a bespoke or traditionally made kitchen. I can and I do spray if a situation requires it, but I do not feel its the right choice, whilst working in a customers home.
Spraying can produce a very smooth and uniform finish, but when spraying is carried out inside an occupied home it generally requires considerably more masking, sheeting up and containment. Aswell as good ventilation and extraction.
There is no harm in asking your potential painter exactly how the work will be carried out and which parts, if any, will be removed from the kitchen.
The important thing is that you understand the process and time scales before work begins.
Look at Genuine Before-and-After Projects
Photographs can be a good way of judging someone’s kitchen painting experience.
Do not simply look for one beautiful finished photograph. Also look for close ups and Zoom in!
Look for evidence of the entire process.
Ideally, a specialist painter’s portfolio should include:
- Kitchens before work begins
- Preparation and Masking
- Priming
- Work in progress
- Detailed close-ups
- Completed kitchens
- Different styles of cabinetry.
A substantial portfolio demonstrates that kitchen painting is something the tradesperson carries out regularly rather than occasionally.
Pay particular attention to kitchens similar to your own.
If you have an oak kitchen, look for examples of painted oak.
If you own a bespoke painted kitchen, look for previously painted cabinetry that has been professionally refinished.
Reviews and Recommendations Matter
Customer reviews can tell you a great deal about what it is actually like to have someone working in your home.
Obviously, workmanship matters.
But also look for comments relating to:
cleanliness
reliability
communication
punctuality
care within the home
attention to detail
how problems were dealt with.
Kitchen painting often takes place while people are still living in the property, so professionalism and consideration are extremely important. Being able to use your kitchen in an evening may also be a consideration.
A beautifully painted kitchen is not much consolation if the process of achieving it has been unnecessarily stressful.
I am fortunate that much of my own work comes from repeat customers and recommendations, something I have always considered one of the greatest compliments a tradesperson can receive.
Ask Who Will Actually Be Painting Your Kitchen
This is easily overlooked.
You may meet one person during the quotation process but have someone completely different arrive to carry out the work.
Ask:
Who will actually be painting my kitchen?
When clients choose Russ Pike Interiors, I personally oversee and carry out the work, so clients know who will be working in their home from the outset. I also have a lady painter called Sharon who works alongside me and has many years of experience.
For me, that continuity is important.
It means we can maintain the same standard throughout the project, from the initial preparation through to the final adjustments.
Don’t Choose on Price Alone
Naturally, cost is important. Be wary of painters who say they can paint your kitchen in a few days and the cost is half the price of the other quote. Something is being missed out!
But when comparing kitchen painting quotations, make sure you are comparing the same level of service.
A cheaper quotation may involve:
less preparation
fewer coats
different paint products
no cabinet repairs
no hardware removal
no adjustments when refitting.
A professional quotation should make it clear what is included.
When considering the price, also remember what you are protecting.
Many of the kitchens I paint were expensive when originally installed and remain extremely well made.
Saving a relatively small amount on the painting process makes little sense if it compromises a kitchen worth many thousands of pounds.
Can They Help With Handles, Hinges and Hardware?
A kitchen refurbishment often develops beyond simply changing the paint colour. It can involve minor joinery repairs, replacing kick boards and filling / redrilling existing holes to replace cabinet hardware.
Once the cabinets are being transformed, homeowners frequently decide to replace:
handles
knobs
cup pulls
hinges
soft-close mechanisms.
A kitchen painting specialist should understand how these changes affect the cabinetry.
If new handles have different fixing centres, existing holes may need to be filled, accurately templated and redrilled before painting.
Some bespoke kitchens may also use unusual or difficult-to-source hinges.
Experience with cabinetry and specialist ironmongery can make these seemingly small details much easier to resolve.
I work closely with a very reputable Ironmongery Supplier Slingers1858, they carry a huge amount of stock and can source just about any kind of Cabinet Hardware upon request.
Ask About Dust and Disruption
No kitchen refurbishment is completely disruption-free, but a professional specialist kitchen painter should make every effort to keep it under control.
Sanding should ideally be carried out using dust-controlled equipment connected to extraction, dramatically reducing airborne dust.
Work areas should be kept organised and the rest of the property protected.
Ask how the painter intends to work within your home and what steps will be taken to minimise disruption.
This becomes particularly important if you have:
young children
pets
open-plan living areas
people working from home.
Consider Colour Advice
Colour can completely change the character of a kitchen.
A specialist who has worked with hundreds of kitchens will have seen how colours behave in many different environments. They will probably even have examples of kitchens completed in similar colours.
When choosing your new cabinet colour, consideration should be given to:
natural light
direction of the room
worktops
flooring
splashbacks
wall colours
handles and hardware
the age and style of the property.
I generally encourage clients to narrow their choice down to two or three colours and look at larger painted samples around the kitchen before making a final decision. Buy sample pots and do brush outs on A4 size pieces of card.
A colour viewed under artificial light at night can look very different from the same colour in morning daylight.
Taking a little extra time at this stage is worthwhile.
Check Whether the Painter Understands Older and Bespoke Kitchens
Not all kitchens should simply be treated in the same way.
Older bespoke kitchens can contain details that require particular care.
They may have:
solid timber doors
hand-built face frames
decorative pilasters
cornices
glazed cabinets
freestanding dressers
special hinges
custom mouldings.
Part of the skill involved in professional kitchen refurbishment is understanding what should be retained.
A good-quality kitchen should still look like a good-quality kitchen after it has been painted.
The aim is not to disguise the craftsmanship.
It is to enhance it.
A Local Kitchen Painter in Nottingham
Choosing someone local also has advantages.
As a Nottingham-based kitchen painter, I regularly work throughout Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands.
Areas such as West Bridgford, Wollaton, Bramcote, Beeston, Edwalton, Southwell and the surrounding Nottinghamshire area contain many properties with precisely the type of quality wooden and bespoke kitchens that can benefit enormously from professional hand painting.
Using someone based within the region also makes initial visits, consultations and project planning easier.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Your Kitchen Painter
Before making your final decision, I would suggest asking:
How long have you been painting kitchens?
Is kitchen painting a specialist part of your business?
What preparation will my cabinets receive?
Which paint system will you use?
Will you personally carry out the work?
Do you use dust extraction when sanding?
Can I see examples of similar kitchens you have painted?
Can you replace or reposition handles and hardware?
How long is the project likely to take?
What care does the finished kitchen require?
A genuine specialist should be happy to answer these questions.
The Right Person Should Give You Confidence
Ultimately, choosing a specialist kitchen painter is about trust.
You are allowing someone to work on an important and often valuable part of your home.
You should feel confident that they understand the materials they are working with, have a proven preparation and painting process and will treat your home with care.
A professional hand-painted kitchen refurbishment can give a well-made kitchen an entirely new lease of life.
Done properly, it allows you to retain the cabinetry and layout you already enjoy while completely transforming the appearance of the room.
And that is why choosing the right kitchen painter matters.
Looking for a Specialist Kitchen Painter in Nottingham?
I’m Russ Pike, a Nottingham-based City & Guilds Advanced Craftsman and specialist kitchen painter with more than 35 years’ experience in hand painted kitchens, period home decoration and fine surface finishing.
I specialise in the professional hand painting and refurbishment of existing kitchens and bespoke cabinetry, including new installations throughout Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and the wider East Midlands.
If you have a well-made kitchen that is beginning to look tired or dated and would like to explore what could be achieved through professional hand painting, I would be very happy to discuss your project. If you are planning a new installation and it is going to require painting, I can help with that too. Please feel free to Get in Touch.
I am a member of the Traditional Painter Network and HPKUK – Hand Painted Kitchens UK