[FONT=verdana][B]I did read "[COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana][URL="http://www.doityourself.com/forum/furniture-wood-cabinetry-finishing/292105-ideal-cabinet-repaint.html"]The Ideal Cabinet Repaint[/URL]" thread and searched this subforum for "kitchen." I still have questions as you can see.Please link me to relevant prior threads if they exist.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/FONT] [HR][/HR][FONT=verdana][URL="http://imgur.com/a/tlIbl#0"] Current Kitchen.[/URL] [URL="http://i.imgur.com/j2xrEIN.png"]Planned Kitchen.[/URL][/FONT] [FONT=verdana] [B]Specs:[/B][/FONT] [FONT=verdana] Our house is less than ten years old. The kitchen is very functional, but I'd like to do some upgrades over time to improve the aesthetic.[/FONT] [LIST] [*]Two adults and two dogs; no kids. [*]Approximately 10' x 10'. [*]Appliances, counter, and backsplash are staying as-is for now. Plan to upgrade over time; no reason to rush. [*]Flooring will be changed to [URL="http://imgur.com/a/FnIis#0"]white ash[/URL] in late March. [*]Want to add [URL="http://www.lowes.com/pd_96199-65561-90740800032_0__?productId=50147996&Ntt="]this crown moulding[/URL] via this tutorial******. [/LIST] [HR][/HR][FONT=verdana] [B]Questions:[/B][/FONT] [LIST] [*][B]Should I do this before installing the new flooring or will it not matter?[/B] We're painting the doors and door frames, but not the interior of the cabinets. [*][B]Other trim and doors throughout the house are white. Should I try to match the white, or not? [/B]I know this is purely opinion, but I want your thoughts. [*][B]Which primer or how important is primer for this application? [/B]Our cabinets are in good condition; no pealing or problems with the finish anywhere. Research has lead me to believe that spending a bit of time and money on [URL="http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=45662-90-901&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3610420&catalogId=10051#BVRRWidgetID"]Zinsser BIN[/URL] will help the paint look better and last longer. Is that correct or do you have a better recommendation? [*][B]Latex or Alkaloid paint? [/B]What are the benefits of one over the other? It seems like latex is the way to go, but I've read recommendations for some alkaloid paints. [*][B]Spray, brush, roll? [/B]I cannot afford an airless sprayer; I'd be using [URL="http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-high-volume-low-pressure-gravity-feed-spray-gun-47016.html"]a HVLP sprayer from Harbor Freight[/URL]. I've not used one before, but reviews seem positive and I like the idea of speeding up the process and reducing brushstrokes. Am I crazy to consider it? Should I stick to brushes? Can I use rollers? Is there anything different or to know about picking brushes and rollers for this application? [*][B]Which finish paint is best for kitchen cabinets?[/B] Brand or keyword specifications are truly appreciated. If you have personal experience or wisdom to share please do! I am willing to pay more than Home Depot brand prices [I]if[/I] it is worthwhile. I want durable paint that I won't have to redo in a year or two that will look nice when dry and not yellow. [*][B]Do I need a coat or two of polyurethane?[/B] Will this ruin the look? It is necessary? [/LIST] [HR][/HR][FONT=verdana] [B]Tutorials I've been looking at:[/B][/FONT] Thank you!

I am trying to update my old kitchen cabinets. They are old and look dated, but they are still in good shape. I don't have the funds to replace the cabinets, so I am hoping to use General Finished Java Gel stain to basically cover up the doors and make them look a bit more updated. We are also replacing the hinges and hardware. Here's my issue, the old hinges that were on the doors did not have any stain under them when we took them off. Add to that, we tried the Java Gel stain on an extra door we had, and you can see exactly where the old hinges were. Do I need to sand the doors down a lot more or do even strip the old finish off (typically, you don't need to do that with the gel stains, from what I can read). Or do you have any other suggestions on what I can do? I did sand to the point where the doors are smooth and there are no bumps where the hinges were, but the "shine" doesn't seem to be the same there. Any help would be appreciated. What the old hinges looked like: [ATTACH]49115[/ATTACH] What it looks like once we took the hinge off (and with wood filler in the holes): [ATTACH]49116[/ATTACH] What it looked like on the practice door after two coats of the stain. [ATTACH]49117[/ATTACH] Thanks for you help!