Vintage kitchen, new counters

Often, yes. Roll-out trays and slide-out shelves install into most existing base cabinets, knobs swap to 3-inch-plus pulls in an afternoon, a lever faucet replaces a twist handle, and plug-in under-cabinet lights need no electrician. Full replacement earns its cost when the boxes themselves are failing, when the layout blocks the clearances you need (a too-narrow aisle cannot be retrofitted), or when you want structural features like a lowered seated section with knee space and drawer banks throughout.

Partially. Active work typically runs 3-7 business days, during which the cabinet zone is tented in plastic with masking over counters and appliances; the refrigerator is usually reachable but the range often is not, and doors and drawer fronts are away on spray racks or at the shop. Plan simple meals, clear your countertops before day one, and expect modest odor with modern waterborne systems.

Yes - interior work happens year-round in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana - but the calendar changes the timeline. Waterborne enamels want roughly 77 degrees and 50 percent humidity; in a chilly kitchen or a muggy July week, recoat times stretch from 16 hours to 24-36 hours, which can add days to the schedule. Good crews run dehumidifiers and fans and keep the house at normal room temperature, and shops that spray doors off-site sidestep the problem for the doors entirely. The real red flag is a painter promising the same three-day schedule in every season - drying chemistry does not negotiate.

Usually not with results worth paying for. Thermofoil is a vinyl film bonded over MDF, and paint adheres poorly to that plastic skin; add the common problem of foil already lifting near ovens and toasters, and a painted thermofoil door tends to chip and peel early. Most pros will steer you to replacement fronts instead; at roughly $30-$80 per door for new MDF or thermofoil doors (as of mid-2026), replacing often costs about the same as quality repainting and lasts far longer. The cabinet boxes can typically stay and be painted or left as-is.