You'll need some patience and some time (this isn't a one- or two-day project), but in the end, your kitchen will look totally different and "new" in your eyes. You'll want to take the time and do it right, rather than rush through it and regret it. Consider working in stages. Start with the doors. When you're finished with the doors, tackle the drawers. Rome wasn't built in a day either. The time and effort that you put into this project will pay off in the end -- you'll love your kitchen!

Here's what you'll need to get the job done:

-Sandpaper -- the finer the better. An electric sander is recommended, but if you're willing to put in a little manual labor, that'll do the trick.

-Cleaning products. Murphy's Oil and Pine Sol will cut the grease without damaging the wood.

-A pail of warm water

-Tack cloth

-Primer. This is a "must-do" step so that you turn your old cabinets into a "blank slate" before applying the paint.

-Latex paint. Choosing the color may be the longest part of this entire process. Have fun but choose carefully you might not want to do this project again in six months when you tire of the color.

-Paintbrushes

-The better days (or decades). Not only can you replace the handles that you can see, but you may also choose -- while you're working on this project -- to replace the brackets on the inside of the cabinets. In case you splurged on some really high-end paint brand, handles and brackets can often be purchased at overstock stores for next to nothing.

Now that you've got the supplies, you're ready to start. Let's go!

1. Remove all the doors and hardware.

Note: If your cabinets have many layers of old paint, you should use a furniture stripper to get to the original cabinet before starting the next step. If there are too many layers, you might consider having a professional stripping business dip the cabinets to remove the paint. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

2. Clean every cabinet's surface with the cleaning products and water (as directed on the product).

3. Dry every surface thoroughly.

4. This is a good time to let your hardware -- if you're keeping the old handles and brackets -- soak in the water to get that old grime off.

5. Gently sand out the scratches from all the cabinets, and then use the tack cloth to wipe off the dust caused by the sanding.

6. Apply the primer to all the cabinets, drawers, and doors -- inside and out.

7. Allow the primer to dry completely. The time required will be noted on the primer can.

8. Once everything is dry, apply the latex paint. You'll want to apply two or three coats. Allow for drying time between each coat.

Tip: You might decide not to paint the inside of the cabinets the same color as you're painting the outside. You may decide to leave the inside white. Aside from giving the cabinets a smooth look, the white paint will create a level of brightness on the inside, making it easier to find things.

9. Once the last coat of paint is dry -- really, really dry -- mount the hardware and put the cabinets back their place.

Congratulations! You're done! Enjoy your "new" kitchen!