We are in the middle of this project! We are doing it partially DIY - we removed the doors, cleaned, patched and repaired, sanded, and send them off to be painted by a pro in a spray booth. The cabinet boxes we are painting ourselves using a microfiber roller. We ended up going with Insl-X STIX for the primer, and Ben Moore Advance for the cabinet paint. It's self leveling, which does help to fill in some of the shallow grain. I'll be posting pictures of our finished product - probably not until around the end of the month, since vacation is coming up. :) I think if you get a professional to do it all the way, you'll get what you pay for. A pro will be able to fill in the grain for you so that it's almost invisible, but don't expect it to be cheap! That's why we're going the partial DIY route.

"I had thought I decided to add hardware and wait until after the floors are finished, new ss appliances are in, new counter top is installed and hope that I wouldn't even care anymore about the cabinets but then today I started seeing some beautiful white cabinets." FutureMrsR, I think your heart is speaking pretty plainly here. From all the other posters, it sounds like there is significant work involved but that good results are possible. The problem I have with your plan is that let's say you put in new hardware, floors, appliances and countertops, but in the end, you still want painted cabinets. You have just made your job harder. You've got to sand and use lots of TSP and other chemicals on the cabinets and not get any of it on your brand new floor. You also would have a MUCH easier time prepping and painting those cabinets if your counters were off. Also, you've got to unscrew all that new hardware off the doors. Better to fill all those new holes in the doors and reattach the hardware in another spot after the prep and painting is done. Sorry to play devil's advocate.

Just have to comment that I cannot believe how superb the living room looks with the paint shop paint job by Sophie.

Hi Susan - Sorry I just saw your response. Your kitchen looks GORGEOUS. We also had ours professionally painted, but went with B.M.s White Dove.