Many kitchen updates focus on new cabinet colors, but the trim around the cabinets can change the finished result just as much. While crown molding achieves a similar finish, the eye stops separating the cabinets from the wall above, making the entire installation seem more cohesive.
Reddit user u/BakedPenna Discovered that a two-month DIY kitchen makeover was completed for less than $500 in paint, tile, hardware, lighting and other materials. Instead of replacing cabinets, the project relies on careful prep, painted crown molding, a new backsplash and hidden lighting to give the existing kitchen a cleaner, more finished look.
Honey oak cabinets define the original kitchen
The kitchen started with honey oak cabinets, dark granite countertops, black appliances, and bare painted walls between the counters and upper cabinets. Crown molding stopped above each cabinet, disconnecting the top from the rest of the room.
Although the layout works well, each cabinet appears as its own separate box. Without hardware, backsplash tile, or decorative trim connecting the walls, a kitchen relies almost entirely on cabinet color for its appearance.
Cabinet doors closed before any paint got on
Preparation became the biggest part of the project. Doors and drawers were removed while the appliances remained in place, allowing every visible cabinet surface to achieve the same finish. Masking protects countertops and surrounding areas before sanding and primer begins.
Keeping the original cabinet boxes eliminates demolition while creating a clean foundation for finish coats. The photos show how much of the project is based on preparation rather than installation.
Open cabinets reveal how much trim was being added
After removing the doors, the cabinet frames exposed another important change. New crown molding and upper trim pieces were installed before the cabinets got paint, giving each run more height and a stronger connection to the ceiling.
The collage shows the transformation taking shape before the white finish appears. Additional trim changes the proportions of the cabinet, making the upper section read as one continuous installation rather than individual wall cabinets.
The white paint changed more than the cabinet color
Once the paint covered each cabinet, the room began to read as one connected composition rather than several separate sections. Black countertops and appliances remain, creating a contrast that defines the new cabinet profiles.
Simple black hardware also introduces depth to each door and drawer front. The handles created coherent shadow lines highlighting the Shaker-style design without adding decorative ornamentation.
Crown molding gave the cabinets a furniture look
From the front view, the added crown molding becomes one of the strongest visual upgrades. Instead of being finished with a flat top edge, the cabinets are now finished with layered trim that resembles built-in furniture found in custom kitchens.
A tall center cabinet above the microwave reinforces that effect. Instead of leaving the appliance hanging below a short wall cabinet, the surrounding trim creates a balanced focal point on the kitchen wall.
Hidden wiring went inside the wall
Instead of attaching the LED strips under the cabinets with exposed wires, the homeowner opened narrow sections of drywall under the upper cabinets and routed the electrical wiring inside the wall. After the cables were installed, the drywall was patched, sanded, and repainted before the backsplash installation began.
The collage follows each stage of the process, from exposed drywall and fresh repairs to subway tile covering a patched wall and a continuous wash of under-cabinet lighting in the backsplash. Once completed, the cabinets look built into the kitchen rather than adding lights after they are installed.
A subway tile is attached to each cabinet run
The backsplash filled what had previously been uninterrupted painted drywall. White subway tile now extends behind each work surface, connecting separate cabinet sections into one continuous backdrop.
Under-cabinet lighting emphasizes the texture of the tile while defining the entire countertop perimeter. Instead of isolated walls between cabinets, the backsplash creates a continuous architectural band around the room.
Replaced black hardware cabinet doors
The final front view shows how the cabinet faces changed without changing the doors. Small round knobs and bar pulls define each drawer and door, giving each section a stronger profile than the original slab of uninterrupted oak.
A finished backsplash also changes the balance around the cooking area. Instead of painted drywall around the range, white tile frames the workspace and creates a clean transition between the dark countertops and white cabinetry.
White paint reveals details hidden by the original finish
A side-by-side comparison reveals details that almost disappear in the original kitchen. The center cabinet above the microwave becomes a stronger focal point, while added crown molding and trim create clear vertical lines across the wall.
Painting each cabinet the same color also draws attention away from the grain of the wood and onto the design of the cabinet itself. Door profiles, trim, hardware and proportions become the features that define the kitchen rather than the finish applied to the wood.
Image credits: Reddit user u/BakedPenna And imgur.
