Dark wood cabinets covered nearly every wall of this kitchen, from the stainless steel range to the refrigerator. White countertops and subway tile were already in place, but the brown cabinetry and golden wood floors dominated the room. The makeover changed one of those finishes and left the other untouched.
In a transformation shared by Instagram creator @pezzottipainting from Norwalk, Connecticut, the existing cabinets received SW Bright White with Renner Wood Coatings 851 in a 25-sheen finish. New black hardware and soft-close mechanisms completed the update.
Dark Wood Cabinets Covered the Original Kitchen
Brown raised-panel cabinets stretched across the cooking wall, continued around the back corner, and surrounded the refrigerator. Matching crown molding reached the ceiling, while a large island carried the same stained finish.
White stone-look countertops with gray veining, stainless steel appliances, and glass pendant lights contrasted with the traditional cabinetry. Wooden counter stools lined the island’s seating side.
From the range, a wide aisle separated the perimeter cabinets from the island. Storage continued around the sink toward a tall pantry beside the refrigerator, with a dishwasher installed beneath the counter.
White Countertops and Subway Tile Were Already There
The sink wall had a white subway tile backsplash with contrasting grout lines, a black double-bowl sink, and a traditional faucet beneath the window.
Decorative turned supports framed the sink cabinet, while the countertop extended around the corner to provide another work surface. None of these finishes required replacement for the cabinet makeover.
Raised-Panel Cabinet Doors Stayed in Place
Close-up photographs show detailed door profiles, raised center panels, and molding along the upper cabinets. Small round knobs matched the dark finish, with narrow doors surrounding the built-in microwave.
Rather than replacing these fronts, the painter retained the existing cabinet construction and prepared it for a new coating.
SW Bright White Changed the Entire Kitchen
After painting, white cabinetry runs from the range wall across the sink and refrigerator sections. The island received the same finish, replacing the large brown cabinet surfaces with white panels.
Black bar pulls provide contrast against the new paint, while the original countertops, stainless steel appliances, and pendant lights remain.
The cooking aisle shows how the new finish extends across the drawers, lower cabinets, and tall pantry. Existing cabinet dimensions and appliance positions were retained, avoiding changes to the kitchen’s established arrangement.
The Sink Wall Now Matches the Countertops
White paint covers the cabinet doors and turned supports beneath the sink, connecting them with the existing countertop and subway tile.
The black sink, stainless steel dishwasher, faucet, and window trim remain, providing contrast against the painted cabinetry.
Black Hardware Replaced the Original Knobs
Long black pulls replaced the small dark knobs on the cabinet doors. The upper cabinets retain their raised panels and decorative trim, while the white finish makes the profiles visible without the contrasting brown stain.
Pezzotti also installed soft-close door and drawer mechanisms, improving how the existing cabinetry operates.
Golden Wood Floors Were Left Untouched
The finished kitchen still has honey-gold flooring with prominent wood grain. Against the white island and perimeter cabinets, the floor becomes the room’s main wood finish.
The island’s seating overhang remains, and the open floor area around it shows the contrast between the retained wood and painted cabinet bases.
Before and After: Brown Cabinets to Bright White
The side-by-side comparison shows the effect of replacing the dark cabinet finish without changing the countertops, backsplash, flooring, appliances, or layout.
A closer comparison of the upper cabinets confirms that the raised-panel doors, crown molding, and microwave surround were preserved. Bright White paint and black bar pulls give the existing cabinetry a new appearance without replacing the doors.
The makeover kept the golden wood floors rather than refinishing them to suit the new cabinet color. With the brown cabinetry gone, the white counters and tile no longer compete with dark wood surfaces across the room.
Would you have kept the golden wood floors, or changed them to match the new white cabinets?
Image credits go to @pezzottipainting.