How to paint kitchen cabinets WITHOUT sanding

Let me begin by saying, painting kitchen cabinets requires one characteristic above all: ENDURANCE.

These cabinets took me more than three weeks doing myself, between working and juggling other clients and my family. What took so long? I rolled the paint on. Most people would have sprayed them, but who would get any enjoyment from being done in a couple of days? Plus I avoided spraying massive amounts of chemicals in my clients home. 

Here's what I used:

Step 1: Clean all cabinets thoroughly to remove dirt, grease, and food splatter. I used simply green. 

Step 2:  Label all cabinets with a number using painters tape and a diagram of the space.
              
Step 3: Remove doors and drawers. Keep all screws in a baggie. If the screws are different, lay them in the cabinets closest to where they were previously installed. Lay doors on a solid surface that can be bumped with paint. I used moving boxes as the door stands. Drawers you can put on the counter with the face hanging off, so you don't have to empty out your entire kitchen.

Step 4: Prime or sand. Liquid primer can be sprayed, but it is highly toxic. I find that rubbing the cabinets down with a paper towel dipped in liquid primer works like a charm with a tenth of the stench. I prefer not sanding cabinets without a grain to refrain from scratching the finish. If there is a porous grain on your cabinets, that's when you sand.

Step 5: Take one section at a time. Using the foam rollers, gently roll on to the body of the cabinets. The first coat can be messy. Just make sure it's even and not too thin. If you're going lighter, you will need at least two coats, if not three. As the cabinets dry, coat the first side of the doors. I recommend doing the inside of the cabinet doors first, especially around the hardware, to get the hardest and least seen part done, first. Let dry.

Step 6: Repeat coats in layers, letting dry in between. Make sure your coats are even and sand or rub with liquid primer any areas where too much paint dried without you noticing.

Step 7: Protective gloss. This can be rolled on just like the paint, except you will only need one coat.

Step 8: Hardware. Make sure you get hardware templates to help guide you before drilling holes. Reference your kitchen diagram to help you know which is the top or bottom of any given cabinet door.

Step 9: Rehang doors and replace drawers using new bumpers. You don't want your doors and drawers scratching up your paint. The stick on bumpers will protect the paint from wear and your doors from cracking or smacking too hard against the cabinets.

Step 10: Follow the diagram to rehang doors, making sure they are hung evenly to match one another by the level of the door and the hardware.

Step 11: Enjoy brand new, freshly painted cabinets! Don't forget other updates like a backsplash and lighting. Those are next for this client and her beautiful kitchen!