As we mentioned in our previous kitchen update, we decided to embrace the existing counters and go for a tone-on-tone look for Phase One. With mauve laminate counters already in place, it felt right to lean into the color rather than gut the room immediately. We prefer making smaller, thoughtful updates and living with the space for a while before making larger changes—this approach stretches the budget and lets you live with design choices to see what actually works.
After completing five quick, easy updates that refreshed this kitchen a few weeks earlier, it was clear that painting the old, chipping cabinet doors would make the space feel much less worn. We tested two mauve paint samples on the doors and both agreed on the deeper tone that nearly matches the counters. The winning color was Sherwin Williams Artsy Pink, applied using their Emerald paint in a satin finish. Below we share the full cabinet-painting process and a few additional tweaks we made at the same time—like installing hidden hinges—which had a big visual impact for a modest cost.
Here’s how the kitchen looks today. We also painted the dishwasher to blend with the cabinets so the lower run reads more cohesively. The overall result feels brighter, more cohesive, and much more like us than the dated look we inherited.
For reference, here’s the kitchen when we bought the house. The transformation to the current look has opened up the space visually and made it much more pleasant to spend time in—especially since the kitchen sits in the center of the home and is a daily hub for work, learning, and family time.
A funny discovery during the project: while removing soffits and patching the floor, we found evidence that the kitchen had been mauve at different times—wall paint and even a mauve toekick showed up during demo. The color choice for the new cabinet finish therefore felt like a true full-circle moment.
Interestingly, Artsy Pink sits next to the neutral we used on our duplex doors—it’s literally one shade deeper on the same color swatch. That kind of unintended coordination across projects made the choice feel even more satisfying.
How We Painted The Cabinets
If you want a step-by-step walk-through, we have a very thorough cabinet-paint tutorial, but here’s the concise version of what we did in this kitchen:
- Removed all doors and drawers, and took off the existing hardware and hinges. We installed new hidden hinges as part of this update to get a cleaner look.
- Cleaned surfaces with liquid deglosser to remove grease and ensure good paint adhesion. Kitchens collect oils and buildup that interfere with paint sticking properly.
- Lightly sanded each door with an electric sander to remove loose paint and level drips—this also helps the new paint to adhere where the original finish was failing.
- Primed both sides of every door using a stain-blocking primer, and applied primer and paint with a 4″ foam roller for a smooth, brush-stroke-free finish.
- Painted both sides of each door with Sherwin Williams Artsy Pink, let them cure for about four days, then reinstalled. The longer curing time makes the finish more durable and less prone to dings.
Because this kitchen has only seven doors and five drawers total, the project moved quickly and used less than a quart of paint—despite applying two coats. Small kitchens can be a real advantage for DIY updates: less surface area means lower material costs and shorter project times.
Back in the room with the cabinet frames removed, we sanded and filled old hinge holes with wood filler, then primed and painted the frames. With the doors off, we also painted the inside faces of the cabinets—this small extra step makes the interiors look finished and fresh instead of raw plywood boxes. We used two coats of semi-gloss white (Pure White by Sherwin Williams) inside and out for a clean, wipeable surface.
To protect the freshly painted interiors, we added thick clear shelf liners. Small installations like this help the paint job stay pristine longer and reduce wear from daily use.
All told, a quart of paint, a few supplies (rollers, sandpaper, wood filler), and the new hidden hinges came to about $96—so this entire update cost under $100. In person the improvement is striking: scuffed, tired doors now look smooth and cohesive, and the kitchen reads as a deliberately designed, enjoyable space.
Close-up, the difference is even more noticeable: previously scuffed finishes are now smooth and refreshed, inside and out.
Painting The Dishwasher Mauve
We also painted the dishwasher to match the cabinets so the lower run feels continuous instead of interrupted by a stark white appliance. We lightly sanded the dishwasher, rolled on the same Artsy Pink paint, and have been pleased with the adhesion and durability through regular use. Painting the appliance keeps the visual flow consistent across the base cabinets and makes the space feel less “choppy.”
If you’re working in a small kitchen and thinking about downsizing or reorganizing, this space has only about a quarter of the cabinetry we had in our prior kitchen—yet everything we need fits here. We’ll share a dedicated post on small-kitchen organization with the exact storage tricks we used to make the most of limited space.
Update: the kitchen was later fully renovated with new cabinets and a refreshed layout; we kept the mauve tone in subsequent repainting projects.
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