d-zine.dude29's Profile

What you could do is maybe have new doors constructed for the cabinets, since you said the actual cabinet is in good condition. If you didn't want to do that or spend the money, it wouldn't be too hard to implement the same idea on your own.

First, take down all your doors and sand REALLY GOOD. I think you'll be surprised at how much grease and dirt can build up over time.

Second, buy wood filler and fill in all those grooves. Painting alone would help to improve the look but ultimately I feel the grooves in the cabinet doors are what date the space. After you've filled in the grooves, sand each door down so that you don't have a wavy look. You might want to invest in a small hand-sander anyway. They don't cost much and save a lot of time.

Thirdly, and this is what will really change the look. Go to your local hardware/home-improvement store and buy strips of lath. At Lowes they will come bundled. Nail/glue a strip on each side of each door to achieve a Shaker-style cabinet front. Sand again, the you're ready to paint.

Hardware will also improve and help you achieve the ultimate look you're going for.