Many kitchen remodels start with demolition. This one started with paint. In a transformation shared by Instagram creator @pezzottipainting, the original orange oak cabinets received a dramatic update with Benjamin Moore Steam on the upper cabinets and Behr Bering Wave on the lowers, creating a two-tone finish that completely changed the look of the space.
New brushed brass hardware completed the makeover. The kitchen still has the same layout, countertops, flooring, and appliances, but the combination of white upper cabinets, blue lower cabinets, and brass accents creates a completely different appearance.
Orange Oak Cabinets Dominated the Original Kitchen
The original kitchen featured rows of orange oak cabinets across the perimeter with a full-height pantry cabinet beside the back door.
The warm wood finish covered much of the room and became the dominant visual element. Combined with granite countertops and a matching wood hood, the cabinetry created a traditional appearance that drew attention away from the kitchen’s generous size and functional layout.
The space offered plenty of storage and workspace, but the finishes felt dated.
Matching Cabinet Wall Extended the Same Finish
The second wall continued the same orange oak finish across another full run of cabinets.
Glass-front doors added variety, but the matching stain covered every cabinet from one end of the room to the other. The continuous wood finish made the cabinetry the strongest feature in the kitchen.
Rather than replacing the cabinet doors, the existing fronts remained in place.
Blue painter’s tape marked each piece before spraying, showing that the remodel focused on refinishing the original cabinetry instead of installing new cabinets.
Spray Painting Created a Smooth Factory Finish
Rather than brushing the doors by hand, he used a spray gun after masking the kitchen with plastic sheeting.
The preparation protected the countertops, appliances, windows, and surrounding surfaces while creating an even finish across every cabinet door and drawer front.
Benjamin Moore Steam and Behr Bering Wave Gave the Cabinets a New Identity
The most dramatic change came from the cabinet colors.
Benjamin Moore Steam replaced the orange oak on the upper cabinets with a crisp white finish, while Behr Bering Wave covered the lower cabinets in a rich blue. The two-tone palette adds contrast and highlights details that previously blended into the wood grain.
The same cabinet doors remained in place, yet the kitchen took on a completely different personality.
Brushed Brass Hardware Added a Luxury Detail
The new hardware plays an important role in the transformation.
Brushed brass pulls create strong contrast against both cabinet colors. Their warm metallic finish stands out on every door and drawer front while introducing another layer of detail.
The combination of the two-tone paint and brass hardware gives the cabinetry a custom-built appearance.
White Upper Cabinets Changed the Balance of the Room
The new paint scheme introduced contrast throughout the kitchen.
White upper cabinets brighten the room and separate the cabinetry from the ceiling, while the blue lower cabinets anchor the space below the granite countertops. The two colors balance each other without changing the kitchen’s original layout.
The contrast between the upper and lower cabinets became one of the defining features of the remodel.
Existing Cabinet Details Stand Out More
The painted finish brought another layer of detail to the cabinetry.
The raised-panel profiles and recessed center panels stand out more than they did with the original oak finish. Instead of disappearing into the wood grain, the cabinet construction becomes part of the design.
The paint helps tie the major finishes together.
Before and After Shows the Full Transformation
The side-by-side comparison shows how much the cabinet colors changed the room.
The layout, countertops, flooring, appliances, and cabinet configuration all remained the same. Paint and hardware alone created a kitchen with far more contrast than the original oak finish.
Every Finish Now Works Together
No walls moved and no cabinets were replaced.
Instead, the transformation came from a series of carefully selected updates that work together as a complete design. The two-tone cabinetry established the new direction, while brushed brass hardware completed the look.
Together, those updates turned a kitchen defined by orange oak into a space with far more contrast and a custom-built look.
All credits go to instagram creator @pezzottipainting.