A fresh coat of paint transforms an existing space like little else. In the kitchen, cabinets are the de facto walls and need just as much attention as any other wall. New paint – either in the cabinets’ existing color or in an all-new hue – will bring life and energy to a room that gets much attention, and H.J. Holtz & Son’s experienced team knows how to tackle the job.

If you’ve never had kitchen cabinets painted professionally, the team at Holtz & Son want you to know what to expect. Recent customer Brice Bowman offers her perspective, too.

In-home consultation. A Holtz & Son representative will come to your house, take measurements and photos, and discuss paint options. A paint finish that is at least semi-gloss is usually suggested, because the surfaces are handled often. A high gloss color from Fine Paints of Europe cleans easily and can make a bold statement. Bowman chose Benjamin Moore’s Paper White in satin finish, for a polished look.

If you wish to leave cabinet contents intact, feel free. But emptying them brings added benefits. “It felt like a good time to reorganize my kitchen, go through items I no longer needed and have a fresh start when the project was finished,” Bowman says. “Plus, I didn’t want dust on the contents of my cabinets!”

The process really gets underway when the cabinet doors are removed. These are taken to the Holtz workshop in Scott’s Addition, where they are cleaned, sanded, primed, and painted in a controlled space, to minimize dust and ensure a smooth finish. If necessary, the team will fill old hardware holes and drill new ones. “I loved that Rick came that first day, introduced me to the guys and made sure they were set up and we were all on the same page,” Bowman says.

Inside the house, the team will bring drop cloths and a ventilation machine, because cleaning and sanding of the cabinet frames – or boxes – happens on-site. Once those surfaces are ready, team members will paint and prime, by hand. “The team was very professional, courteous and clean,” Bowman says. “I was able to use my kitchen in my evenings. I set up a station with coffee, toaster, plates, utensils and cups in my dining room, so we were still able to make breakfasts and lunches for school.”

When the cabinet doors are fully dried and cured, they are brought back and reinstalled. Carpentry services are also available to fix problems such as an irregular drawer or door that’s not hanging quite right.

From start to finish, most kitchen cabinet projects will last about 10 days. At the end, both you and the project manager will have to be satisfied before the job is considered complete.

Bowman says: “We loved the layout of our kitchen, but had recently made a few changes by updating appliances and countertops, and adding a bar area. As a result, painting our cabinets made the most sense for us to get the updated look we wanted. We were incredibly pleased with the quality of [H.J. Holtz & Son’s] workmanship – the result is just beautiful!”