Introduction:
Tired of that outdated Avocado green bathroom? Kitchen Cabinets looking kind of drab? Lets brighten things up a bit with a new painted finish,perhaps even add a decorative Faux finish. We'll show you how.

Before we get into this you need to understand that adhesion is not the problem, you have to keep in mind that the finished product is only as durable as the paint film itself.

Your automobile has one of the toughest finishes available but you would not go sliding a can of green beans across the hood without expecting some major damage.
Expect the same results from the paint on your countertop or ceramic tile.
Now if you exercise a little care and common sense, the finish will give you years of satisfactory service.
Use your cutting board, avoid harsh cleansers, soft scrub works great, a coat of paste wax once a year or so will do wonders for protecting your finish.

Painting bathtubs, toilets and appliances is best let to a professional. There are kits available but the materials involved and chemicals necessary for preparation are not only dangerous but require extensive knowledge regarding application.
Save yourself a lot of grief and contract it out to a pro.
Keeping that in mind lets get started.

First, wash the surface to with a 50/50 solution of household ammonia and water to remove soap films from bathroom surfaces or grease from kitchen walls. I also recommend you wash with a mild acid solution which is used to clean ceramic tile of excessive grout.  This can be found in the tile section of most home centers,Ace hardware and tile distributors. Rinse well with plain water, and let the surface dry thoroughly.
Next, prime it with a high-quality adhesion-promoting primer like Zinsser's latex-based Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer-Sealer. Bulls Eye 1-2-3 adheres tenaciously to ceramic tile, glass, and other hard-to-stick-to materials.  The primer provides an "anchor" for the topcoat so it can't be rubbed, chipped or scraped off easily.
If the area is going to be subjected to a lot of water such as the tile in the tub area, use BIN an alcohol base primer for maximum durability.
Follow the primer with one or two coats of a high-quality finish paint. In moisture-prone areas alkyd (oil base) finishes are preferred, as they provide a harder finish than water-base paints and are more washable and durable. There are also several epoxy coatings that are excellent for durability but require extra safety and application procedures.
Check with your local paint supplier for availability.  
If you want to paint the grout a contrasting color, you can go back over it with an artist's brush.

Your finished project will be fully cured in appx 2-3 weeks and you should avoid harsh abrasive cleaning agents,  soft scrub is a good general cleaner for painted surfaces.

Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer-Sealer can be found paint stores, hardware stores, and home centers across the country. For more information, visit Zinsser's  web site.