We're redoing our little 40's galley kitchen on a small budget. We're adding wainscoting in the eating area, replacing the countertops and the worn cabinet doors, and painting the cabinets.

We're just a little confused about the timeline. We plan on putting up the wainscoting first. We'll toss the old cabinet doors, fill and sand old screw holes. Then drill and mount the new doors and then take them back down to paint.

The first debate is do we paint the cabinets ourselves (brushed oil base paint) or hire it done (sprayed laquer)?

Secondly do we have the countertops installed before or after the cabinets are painted? I'm worried about the cabinet finish being scratched when the countertops are installed.