1

Get the cabinets ready to paint. Remove doors and drawer fronts by backing out the screws. Do same for hinges, knobs and pulls. Wash cabinets thoroughly with painter's detergent to remove grease, food residue and the glossy sheen of the old finish. Use a "TSP substitute" detergent.

2

Prime everything. Use a primer made to make slick surfaces rougher so paint will stick. When it is dry, sand all the surfaces again lightly.

3

Install all the new hardware. Use the combination squares to locate the holes for new handles on each door, mark with a punch or pencil. Determine placement for new hinges the same way. Use a drill to make pilot holes, attach the new hardware and rehang doors and drawer fronts.

4

Fill all the holes. Use the epoxy filler mix. Put painter's tape over the back side of the screw holes, then use a putty knife to press the mixed filler into the holes and scrape off any excess. Let filler dry, then sand it and the rest of the cabinet — any surface you plan to paint.

5

You're ready to paint. Now apply a high-quality, semi-gloss latex paint, using a brush for detailing and edging and a small roller for flat surfaces. When that coat is dry, sand lightly again and apply a second coat.

6

Assemble what you need. Screwdrivers, buckets, sponges, rubber gloves, blue painter's tape, two-part epoxy wood filler, painter's detergent, putty knife, fine-grit sandpaper, paintbrushes, slick-surface primer, semi-gloss latex paint, 2 combination squares, new hinges, knobs or pulls.

Source: "DIY To The Rescue: 50 Home Improvement Projects," Lark Books, $19.95.