Spraying your doors and drawer fronts will save a ton of time! If you don't want to invest in a paint sprayer you can certainly just use the roller and brush method, or you could spray paint them with cans of spray paint like Not Just a Housewife!  If you want to invest in a paint sprayer, here are some of the paint sprayers that were recommended:

The kind of primer and paint you use does indeed make a HUGE difference in your outcome. Oil based paints leave a wonderful finish but are harsher on your lungs, the environment, and your paint sprayer. There are pros and cons to all paints and everyone seemed to have their personal preferences so take all recommendations with a grain of salt. Here are the list of tried and true favorites:

• Zinsser 123 water based and Zinnser Stain Cover oil based primers seemed to come out on top. I have personally used both, and I prefer the oil based for it's factory-like smoothness but the smell is STRONG. In fact, I just used this last night in the (very drafty) basement to prime some shelves for the bathroom and the entire house still smells. The 123 has mixed reviews on furniture/cabinets. You have to wait a long time for the paint to cure if you really want to do it right.

• Sherwin Williams Adhesion Primer This latex primer prevents the need to sand and sticks well to glossy surfaces. One DIY'er said that it is her go to primer for cabinets, built ins and furniture.

• STIX Waterborne Binding Primer Again, no one in the group had actually tried this primer but the description sounds similar to the Sherwin Williams Adhesion Primer. It is an acrylic/urethane primer and is supposed to adhere well to even the toughest and glossiest of surfaces. It cures in low temperatures, is said to dry with a "hard film", and can be easily cleaned up with soap and water. I definitely will be trying it out in the future.

• If draping plastic everywhere is impractical or intimidating, it was suggested to brush paint your surround and island with primer and then use a paint sprayer for the doors and drawer fronts. Many also suggested that after everything is primed, use a roller/brush to apply your paint for the most even control.
• A few suggested priming and painting the surround/island yourself but contacting a professional to paint your doors and drawer fronts for you. This way you can ensure a professional finish on the most noticeable part of your cabinets without all the DIY work involved.

For some fantastic posts that give you step by step instructions on painting cabinets check out the following:

I'll keep you posted on any exciting kitchen updates over here! Meanwhile, let me know if you have any favorite sprayers, primers, paints, products, or tips to add to the list!