Satin impervo is great paint. It is either applicator error, or maybe there is something wrong with the paint.

He could have used cheap brushes. Didn't sand sufficiently. Maybe didn't use the recommended primer for satin impervo. He may have thinned the paint with paint thinner instead of using penetrol. Paint thinner will make oil based paints have a dull sheen, even if they come out of the can glossy.

Assuming the paint is right, the work needs sanded smooth and re-coated. No paint thinner, only penetrol, and good brushes.

Is the guy who painted a friend* of the cabinet maker, or an associate?

*some guy down on his luck who needs some money.

Based on your description, I'd be willing to wager money he used paint thinner to make the paint brush easier instead of penetrol. There is no reason to use a glossier paint. A properly applied satin impervo finish is top notch.

I sure hope he had a can of thinner nearby if using oil paint. How else would he clean his brushes, and drips and whatnots?

I believe there is a full gloss version of impervo.

Does not need to be sanded down to bare wood.

Sanding can be done via hand or machine. Perhaps both will be required. Make sure he vacuums and wipes all the sanding dust up..

I've painted plenty using satin impervo, and without much effort the stuff is pretty fool proof.

Quote "I've painted plenty using satin impervo, and without much effort the stuff is pretty fool proof." exactly my thought. It also takes about a week till the full satin sheen develops. I do not think is comes in any other sheen

Yeesh. What a shame, new furniture that you had built and this is what happens! I am a simple DIY'er and have painted my bathroom cabinets and am working on a bedroom set and haven't had that kind of trouble. And you are paying the man for this work! Just amazes me. I've never used Impervo but have only heard good things about it. I avoid alkyd paints myself, simply because I can't stand the smell and since I usually use white/ivory colors, I am concerned about yellowing with alkyds, which is not an issue with latex paints.

A photo of the surface would be helpful -- as would the species of wood. Some woods like oak require significant grain filling prior to priming to achieve a smooth surface.

Sanding between coats is only part of the process. In order to get that final smooth finish you're looking for, it is also necessary to give the entire surface and all adjacent & surrounding work area's a thorough vacuuming. I can't stress this enough. Totally dust free. After he vacuums it, he should tack all the surfaces to be painted with tack clothes. And finally, don't forget to strain the paint. I always run the paint thru strainers and if I need to add any penetrol to the mix during the day I will even run that thru the strainer. If you have any hot forced air heat vents in your work area, that too can sometimes create problems, so you may want to cover any exposed vents if any air is blowing out of it. I've been painting houses for a living since 1977, and been using Satin Impervo forever. It's an excellent product, but it's all about the prep, especially when you're dealing with an extended drying period. Any dust floating around in the air, is going to settle into the wet paint, which will leave you with a dirty and rough finish. Good luck to you...