I know the original post is nine years old, but I found this post through a Google search about painting latex over spray paint (which I am encountering in a totally different situation.) I do have experience with painting over spray paint on a metal door 4 years ago (with great success) and we are once again doing this right now, so I thought I would share our technique/product in case someone else is in this situation. We used (and are once again using) Rustoleum Professional High Performance Enamel in a CAN (rather than spray paint.) It is an oil-based paint for metal. When we first used it 4 years ago, we were applying over faded spray paint. Spray paint is pretty durable for an exterior door but can fade terribly. We sanded any rough spots or scratches, and then used a spray primer over any bare metal. We waited a full 24 hours to do any more work. Then, we used a very fine nap small roller to apply the paint, using a small brush where needed (as it was a panelled door.) One coat of a deep red gave beautiful coverage over white primer. We waited a full 24 hours to rehang the door. The door today is as glossy and flawless as it was 4 years ago when we painted it, and it gets full sun, with temps well below freezing in the winter, and hot summers. This time, we're painting over another spray-painted door (should have done them all at once 4 years ago, but didn't.) We're also painting over a door which has never had anything but the factory-applied primer. In both cases, we are again sanding as needed, priming if needed, and applying the oil-based enamel with a fine nap roller and brush. This paint is durable, gives great coverage, and is beautiful.

Thanks pinkpowertools. My painter had told me last year to pound in the nail (which makes a bigger but shallow depression) and do at least 3 passes of joint compound, but never explained how to get the texture right. he told me then to just put 2-3 coats of the same paint (no need for primer) but I found that w/o primer the compound just soaked up the paint and the sheen was never right. I'm using BM Regal Matte so it's not shiny paint. I just had to fix a dozen more screw (not sure why screws would be popping as the house settles) pops in MBR. I'll do another coat of paint over the 1 primer, 1 paint in those areas but told DH that we may just have to paint the whole wall again like they did with our DR and study in order to hide the rows of nail pops in those rooms. Monaw - I've had seams (and settling cracks, but mostly seams) taped professionally 9 months after building, a year later they're back. Think it's just that the house is still settling? DH says we have to wait a few more years then fix and paint again - how long should it take a house to settle enough to make a repair permanent? Thanks

This is a fun post. I will say that in my busy working military life, I could get up, shower, shave underarms (daily), legs (3x weekly)makeup (eye shadow, mascara, foundation, powder, lipstick), hair (washed and blow dried, very short), dressed and out the door in 25 minutes. Now, years later, I use far less products and it seems to take far longer. When I was stationed in Spain I could get waxed, from top to toes, for about $7 so I never had to shave of pluck or anything. That made getting ready for work a real breeze. Now, in a typical morning I use: face wash - I use an Oil of Olay-type face cloth. hand wash - Dial Complete on all the sinks, two baths, mudroom, and kitchen. bar soap - I use a liquid soap; DH still uses the bars. :( shampoo - Daily conditioner - Perhaps once a week. hair serum - Never heard of it. hair mouse - No, but I keep a can of hairspray for the 3-4 times I year I might use it. toothpaste - At least five times a day. floss - Yes, but should more often. mouthwash - Listerine; twice a day for gum protection. shaving gel - Ha! The few times I shave I use shampoo. deodorant - Kept in both bathrooms and the bedroom. Wherever I dress I'm ready! body lotion - Rarely, but more so in winter. foot powder/or lotion - Gold Bond all over. face cream - No; but Mom says I should. foundation - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. blush - I'm taking treatments for Rosacea so I'm good on the natural blush! LOL powder - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. eyeshadow - Very rarely; 2-3 times a year. eyeliner - No; never liked the look. mascara - Can no longer wear. lipstick - Every day. I love lipstick with colour, but not the pale, dead looking non-color most gals are wearing now. I wear earrings daily, too. I love lipstick and earrings. And that's the daily stuff, add to that the occasional: hair coloring - I stopped coloring three months ago. I'm liking the "salt and pepper," heavy on the salt look! tooth whitening strips - No. nail polish/ base coat/top coat - I cut my nails as short as possible and push the cuticles back once a week. When I worked I kept them short and polished with a pale pink color. I did it my self. I do get medium length dark red gel nails for the Christmas season. nail polish remover - No need cuticle cream - No, but about every four months I'll get a manicure that does not include polish or false nails. They just soak, trim, work off the cuticles and do a hot wax dip. hand lotion - I keep bottles on each sink

Thank you for all of your comments and compliments... You have reminded me not to rush into changing things. The house has alot of trim work throughout, including on the dining room ceiling, dining room walls, living room, windows, entry/foyer, doorways, etc...In those areas, all the trim has been painted white, but it appears to be the same style and type as what's in the kitchen/family room. I guess I was thinking that the rest of the trim work should be white too. But, I see now that it doesn't have to match and will leave a bit of character to the family room! The wood for the built-ins do appear to be an upgrade over the kitchen cabinets. As much as I love the look of all white trim, the family room has such a warm feeling, as is, so I will probably just keep any furniture in the room light for contrast and accent with color. I will definitely not rush to change to quickly! Some of our main reasons for choosing the new home is because it was custom built, is loaded with trim work and moldings and is in an older neighborhood with lots of large trees and yards. Of course, there is also plenty of shiny brass in all of the bathrooms, door handles and foyer lighting that we will be busy replacing. And, the landscaping needs some updating from the overly manicured large bushes surrounding the front entryway of the home. I may have trouble with interior design/decor, but I am in my element with landscaping and yard work! I appreciate all the comments about the kitchen...My husband and I have done a lot of work ourselves in our current home. He does most of our home repairs too; he hates hiring out! Life has gotten extremely hectic these days, so we have less time for DIY work like the time it would take to do paint the cabinets. But, I think we can easily handle the backsplash and modifying the cabinets with beadboard on the sides, but will find someone for counters/sink and help with whatever we do to the cabinets. It sounds like if we have to hire someone to paint the cabinets, it might put us way over our current budget. While I still love my inspiration kitchen photo, I may entertain the idea of darkening the stain/refacing the existing cabinets, possibly painting the center island as one of you mentioned and updating the counters, sink and adding backsplash and other details. This would buy us time (and save us money), until we can afford to get the wood floors we want and the painting of the cabinets the way GreenDay detailed. I appreciate all the advice.