I am pretty sure there is a special primer for laminate. That will help a lot.

Sure, you can paint it. Just be sure to use a high-bonding primer and prep the surface well with degreaser and sanding.

I don't know about painting over laminate, but if you choose not to, I would paint the wood a colour other than white. The freshly painted trim might make the panels look dirty.

this kitchen would look fabulous if you took the wood off of the cabinets then painted them!

Yes, you can! I painted the wood trim and laminate on my cabinets, and they look brand new!

I'm so glad that you asked this - I was wondering about painting my laminate cabinets too! Good luck!

If you are going to keep the 'island' blue, you can paint the upper cabinets maybe a softer shade of blue or even a mint green. You can even cover the cabinets with a really pretty print contact paper.
Good luck but most of all have fun or your project won't come out as wonderful as you hope.

Yes you absolutely can paint over laminate, I've done it several times, the key is using the right primer, I highly recommend Zinsser Cover Stain - it's oil based but clings extremely well to laminate surfaces.

I painted my laminate cabinets and they look awesome. Used degreaser and oil-based, high bond primer, then oil based semi-gloss paint. Uppers are off white, lowers are dark brown. Glass tile backsplash, granite counters, chrome hardware gleams like jewelry. Looks fab.

I'd suggest a creamy white for all the cabinets, and simple brushed nickel hardware to integrate those great chairs. Whatever color you want to use as an accent (appliances, counter top accessories, art, etc.), find a fabric and reupholster the chairs in something fun. Whatever you do, paint the front of the island the same color. That blue is just not gettin' it as currently, your kitchen looks a bit like an ice cream parlor.

Hope this helps.

yes, i've painted over laminate with good results. sand, clean, prime, and paint two coats. typically found it easer to cut in with a brush and paint the field with a mini roller. and it's definitely way easier to remove the doors and all the hardware then painting them installed on the cabinets.

Are you keeping the wood grain? if not, a nice two-tone cabinet with fresh white on the inside with a soft beige/gray over the wood could look soft/fresh

like this (without the shabby/chic finish): http://tinyurl.com/6o2cq3p

Paint them white, but be sure to do something about the walls if you can. I'd suggest a light grey.

scuff the laminate, brush on an oil based primer, sand that to get it smooth, then you can use whatever you want on top.

I'm so tired of painted white kitchens. How about mounting wallpaper on the doors instead and then painting the frames to match?

Since you are painting them white, why not just paint the wood trim to match the laminate insert?

I have similar cabinets in my condo, and I painted them about four years ago and they've held up well. I used latex.

First, you need to clean, clean, clean. I used steam, as well as a product called Awesome, to get the grease and dirt off the cabinets. Then there was a light sanding, followed by another cleaning with a tac cloth. Next went on a coat of primer, and when that dried I sanded again, another wipe-down with the cloth, and then another coat of primer.

The paint color I used is called Gallery White, which has a bit of blue in it. After each coat of paint I did a light sanding, as well - except for the final (third) coat. The hardware I used is a brushed nickel. I think it looks great, and I've received many compliments.

In all, it took me about two weeks to complete the kitchen. I did a test run on a bathroom vanity that was the same cabinetry. I figured if I ruined the vanity, that would be easy enough to replace. The color I picked for the vanity is Library Brown.

Good luck.

Home Depot has a paint called "Gripper" and it will adhere to anything. My 1920 home had kitchen cabinets painted with an oil based paint from goodness knows when. Like pre 1940. Nothing would stick to it, paint just peeled off. I tried the gripper and no more problems. It is for indoor and outdoor, comes in light gray and a darker gray. Covers easily with the paint of my choice. Good luck with whatever you do.

Benjamin Moore has a paint product called Advance specifically for painting cabinets wood or laminate. I haven't tried it yet. I picked up a brochure because I hope to use it on my kitchen cabinets later in the spring.

Yes, I've done this before using the primer for laminate.

I went from rose pink to off white in my master bath and it still looks good 10 years later.
Good luck!

I've had the same question. Once painted, do you notice any peeling or chipping? Are you able to still wipe down the cabinets with a rag?

Hi,

I have done it and it looks good, my cabinets were brown and I sanded them a bit and painted them with pale yellow Melamine paint, I did this 12 years ago,Lately I got a few tiny chips but amazingly they still look very terrific. Good luck, be daring do it...

decogirlmontreal.com

I had an old ugly kitchen once. You can paint it by following the steps everyone suggested above (deglaze, scuff, prime paint). There's also another option. Change the door fronts with paintable mdf doors. They don't have to be expensive and you can pick the door style that suits your tastes. MDF Shaker doors are dirt cheap. Paint them creamy white and then all you have to do is make the rest of the cabinet match. You will be able to live with your old kitchen a lot longer.

I had great success painting mine. First I used 2 coats of Kilz acrylic and then painted with acrylic indoor house paint. The Kilz really keeps it from peeling later.

my partner and i are also in the process of closing on a lovely home with a not-so-lovely-laminate kitchen. i've been considering trying this product: http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/

i'll be curious to see how yours turns out! please keep us posted.

I have painted these many a time. Use XIM acrylic bonding primer first and Benjamin Moore Advance satin as your finish coat. It's my new favorite paint! Your doors will look sprayed. It's amazing.

I would offer that if you are keeping the white countertop bring home a range of white paint samples and make sure the white you are choosing for the cabinets goes well with the white of the counter. Whites are very nuanced, and if you don't match them well they can make each other look dingy. Pair them nicely and everything will look fresh and clean.

This is why I love APT therapy! A great community sharing ideas! KHINNJ - that's a great suggestion to look up new doors, especially because (i'm sorry to the homeowner) they're hideous. I looked up Shaker Doors and they're about $20 plus shipping.

Garden web has a topic on it: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg091545401030.html

I've done it.
1. Clean them very well with a grease cutting cleaner.
2. Sand everything with a medium or fine grit sandpaper to provide a surface for your primer to adhere to.
3. Use a primer. Regular Kilz worked for me.
4. Paint using preferably a high gloss paint. Shiny may not look as nice in the opinion of some, but remember, you're going to need to scrub that same grease off your cabinets sometime down the road. High gloss paints are harder and better resistant to cleaners.

That's all you need. No chips or scratches in the 5 years since I did it.

I would take off all the drawers faces and cabinets doors and replace them with new ones. If you stick to them, all of the comments above are rights: it is easily possible.

I had a similar ugly laminate L in my kitchen, and I just covered it with some beadboard and trimmed it out. MUCH better and easily painted whatever color you choose. Good luck!

Sorry, I got lost in the comments and forgot what your original question was when I posted that comment above ;) But, there's an idea if you don't want to keep the blue =)

Have you considered just painting the laminate? I think they would look really nice with a same colour blue as the lower kitchen, but with more grey added to the tone, and leave the wood as is? Just an idea. :)

beach80, I'd be curious to see what that looks like!

Just pack up the kitchen and bring it over to 2126. I'd love to have that kitchen just as it is.

Oh heck yeah. I painted two rooms of wood paneling - Sherwin Williams makes a great primer. I didn't have the time to scuff anything up, and it worked great!

This is a great site to get ideas. This woman paints EVERYTHING. :)

Here's her laminate bookshelf project.
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/04/go-right-ahead-and-paint-that-laminate/