Painting vs. a full refinish
Cabinet painting is a type of refinishing: you keep the doors and change the finish, usually to a solid color. A full refinish can also mean stripping back to the wood and restaining so the grain shows. If you want a painted look, ask about a cabinet-grade paint system and how edges and high-touch areas will be prepped. Read how long a refinish lasts, and painting vs. refinishing.
Why prep matters more than the color
Kitchen cabinets collect cooking oil, hand oils around pulls and years of cleaner residue. Paint that goes over that, or over a slick factory finish with no primer, is likely to peel. A contractor should explain how they clean, sand and prime, and whether doors will be taken off and finished in a shop or painted in place.
What painted cabinets can and cannot do
Paint is a strong way to lighten a dark kitchen or shift a dated color. It will not hide badly damaged doors or fix swollen laminate. Deep grain, dents and old hardware holes may still show unless they are repaired first. Ask to see how the contractor handles those details on a sample door if you have one to spare.