Painting Kitchen Cabinets, Etc.
March 10, 2010
A few weeks ago you all saw the new color I painted in the refreshed kitchen ! Every morning it’s like a breath of fresh air walking into this space, and I’m so glad I took the time to add new paint and accessories. So I thought I’d break down the step-by-step on how I painted the kitchen cabinetry, specifically the island, and wrap up a few other details as well.
Here’s a quick reminder of the island, Before and After:
Here are the steps I followed for refinishing my kitchen cabinetry in oil with a brush technique. For projects larger than this, consider renting a professional paint sprayer for quicker and smoother application.
The steps I followed for refinishing my kitchen island:
1) Remove all hardware, doors and drawer fronts.
2) Clean any dirt, grime or grease off the cabinets, then lightly sand them with a sander or sanding pad. Medium grit (#80 – #120) should work just fine.
3) Tape off all of your appliances, and inside of cabinets if necessary, and prep your area for priming and painting.
4) I recommend oil based primer on kitchen or bath cabinetry because it has a bonding agent and a harder finish. It’s also necessary to use oil based primer if you plan to use oil based paint (see Step 4). In addition, it also helps to use a conditioning additive like Penetrol to lengthen the time you have to work with your oil based primer and to minimize brush strokes.
5) After your primer is dry, sand any brush strokes that do occur with a medium to fine sanding pad.
6) Apply two coats of oil based paint. I chose oil over latex because I believe it’s better to use oil based paint on cabinetry in high traffic areas like kitchens or baths because oil based paint is typically more durable over time. Note, oil based paints can amber or yellow over the years so if you’re using a shade of cream or white, consider using a water based or latex paint designed for kitchens. I used semi-gloss for its shine and a surface that’s easy to clean.
Wait the full drying time between coats. For me, it was 24 hours. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can use an additive called Japan Dryer to speed up the drying time of your oil based paint.
Lightly sand between coats with fine grit sanding pad. Pay careful attention with your second and final coat and concentrate on avoiding drips and minimizing brush strokes. Many people use a roller to apply the paint, and a brush to fill in the crevices, but I find since you have to go over the roller marks with the brush anyway, why not just dirty up one tool instead of two, especially when working with oil based products.
7. You need to clean up any oil based product with mineral spirits or paint thinner. One thing I like to do with smaller projects using oil based products is buy the 5 for $5 dollars Rubbermaid paintbrushes at Target, then toss them out when I’m done rather than dealing with cleanup. (I do toss them out with the other toxins that go to the toxic waste disposal site due to the residue on the brushes.) Clean up any oil based paint off your hands with simple vegetable oil, no need for chemicals!
And now if anyone wants to see a video of me talking about this kitchen project, I put a few clips together. I cannot guarantee anything special, in fact the quality of the video somehow deteriorated in transmission. See the video right here.
Other Kitchen Upgrades:
Now y’all know I’m a big believer in the transformative power of spray paint. BIG believer. I was playing around with a vignette for above the mantel and fixated on the idea of a mirror in the kitchen. I found the mirror and the candlesticks at a discount store and gave them a coat of my best friend, Rustoleum’s ‘Heirloom White’.
I also found this wire basket on clearance – I liked it in blue and loved the modern shape, but the color was not right for my kitchen.
Rustoleum’s American Accents in ‘Oregano’ to the rescue.
I recovered my barstools with some botanical themed fabric, and the breakfast peninsula bench with a soft green tweed. Did I bother to remove the fabric underneath ? Nah.
I also created this simple no sew valance for the kitchen garden window.
It’s a pale mushroom colored silk like fabric with a hint of green and a bit of shimmer. It was on clearance at Joann’s Fabrics for $5/yard. For the no sew valance above the window, I followed these steps.
1) I recycled the 1” x 2” birch strip from the old valance I made last year. 2) I clipped two strips of fabric for the swags. 3) Then I used fusible web to give the edge of the fabric a finished seam. 4) Then I measured my desired length of fabric for the fall in front of the window.
5) I cut my fabric to the desired drop length (times two) then folded my length of fabric in half then stapled it to the top of the birch. I wrapped the fabric around the edge, secured with a staple, then covered the staple with the fabric from the top (as shown). Then I secured the valance to the window with the ‘L’ brackets from the old valance. 6) I pressed the strips of swag fabric with an iron, then used fusible web to seal the fabric together. 7) I used fabric glue to secure the trim to the swag fabric strips, then finally (8) I used a staple gun to secure the swag strips to the underside of the valance.
No sewing !
So that’s the final post about all the details that went into the transformation ! You can see the original reveal right here, and check out this follow up article with your questions answered.
Have any of you refinished your bathroom or kitchen cabinets ? What was your experience ?
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Hello, I’m just new to your blog and I love it! The cabinets looks great and those little tea towel pillows you make are so sweet…I just love them! I’m off to see some more, Deb
Looks fantastic. Nice video also.
As always, great job and thanks for all of the helpful suggestions. It would be a shame for someone to go to all the trouble of painting their cabinets only to have them turn out looking amateur. I’m sure I speak for many when I say thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and your home with us.
The kitchen looks fab!! Amazing what a coat or more of paint can do to bland or nasty coloured pieces. Would you be OK with me blogging about it?
Ack, I forgot to tell you how awesome your video was after I watched it yesterday! Loved it, you were so cute and your painting tips were so helpful. :)
As always…clever, clever, clever! Love the towel in the basket idea!
just finished a kitchen reno and LOOOOOve the results! I am def a “painted wood/cabinets” girl…..
check out the reno:
http://shimmerandtulle.blogspot.com/2010/03/getting-my-cooking-groove-and-kitchen.html
Great renovation! Loved the shabby chic look. I was recently in the kitchen renovation mode and came across a great site to help with refurbishing my kitchen. It is:
http://www.kitchen-cabinet-design-ideas.com/kitchen-cabinet-decor.html
Love everything but the mirror catches my eye because I am redoing my office and am looking for one to paint turquoise and that one would be perfect. Where did you get it?
Thank you for all the wonderful tips, your make-overs and such informative posts! We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen and this information has come in extremely handy.
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Oh the paint tips are so helpful. I wish I checked in sooner. I’m renovating our bedroom, into an all-white heaven of my dreams, and am painting a lot of furniture. I painted latex all my bookshelves only to find out the the water-based varnish that went on top yellowed the white. How disappointing it was after slathering latex for 3 days. Thankfully, my lovely husband, suggested an oil paint. It took only one coat and it looks great. Had I read your posts on time, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble.
Kate, your kitchen island looks professionally painted without the professionals. You’re doing an incredible job. I can’t say the same about my unfortunate bedroom vanity make-over. Not looking what I envisioned. Oh well, there is always time for another oil paint layer later, right?
Kate, Your kitchen is awesome! and your video is also very cute and informative! I need help!!! We just bought our first home and it’s in perfect condition.. not! It screams 1970′s with the laminet green & orange kitchen floors.. and the cabinets are in really good condition, but they are ugly.. would you be willing to lend some design advice?
Love the color of the cabinets…they are a creamy white, but not yellow AT ALL! Do you mind sharing the shade of paint that you chose?
[...] Roll your primer on your piece of furniture, then follow up with a brush in all the crevices. This primer dries really fast, but if you want a longer time to work with your primer and minimize brush strokes, use an additive called Penetrol that I’ve talked about here and here. [...]
I’m curious as to whether you can see brush strokes on your cabinets. We are considering having ours painted and the painter told us we’d be able to see brush strokes.
So beautiful! What color did you paint your island? I’m painting my cabinets soon and am looking for the right color!
[...] considered using oil based paint for my cabinets like I did in my kitchen, but this time I decided to try a water based paint on these laundry room cabinets, since they [...]
Finally got a settlement date, YEAH !!! July 7th!! I’m ready for the Divine Dump. I love your home so much. Thank you for putting my vision in photos. I have wanted an all white kitchen for sooo long (well more like a creamy kitchen) Anyway, thought I’d tell you about a little trick I’ve been doing for awhile. If your ever interested in making real easy cornise boards, use the light weight, pink foam insulation boards. All you do is cut to size with a hand saw or an old electric carving knife works well to. The side panels can be duct taped or stapled. I’m thinking of using some of that real strong shiny roofers tape or ductwork tape. Then all you do is cover in batting and fabric. Either staple it or use quilters T pins. They are so light weight, You’ll change the fabric with the seasons, I’m sure. So, thanks again Kate. I love your site!! I’m hooked. And I too have the most handy of husbands. He’s been making concrete counter tops. I want them white with white marble chips. I’ll be stopping in with you real soon. God Bless & God Bless America! Cheers.. Scotty
Love all of the ideas. Love the before and after pics. Great job!!!
We are currently painting our kitchen cabinets white,,,from a very old, dark wood stain. We have been ‘discussing’ whether or not to paint the underneath of the cabinets. I say ‘yes’,,,he says ‘no’. Is it just a preference,,,or requirement?!
Thanks,,,Grace
[...] brush. With oil based primer, I also use an additive called Penetrol that I’ve talked about here and here to condition the primer and minimize brush [...]
I an picking out a vanity color. What color did you put on your island? I could see its BM paint but not the color. Thank you and it is beautiful!
Layla Lair
I love that simple swag for the kitchen window. I am absolutely going to try that for my kitchen window! Thanks for sharing!! I also really love the way your kitchen turned out. I actually had a professional come and refinish our cabinets since they were old pine ones and I was worried about the coverage, but it turned out better than expected. I recommend oil-based paint as well for the high-traffic cabinetry! Great tips!
Very well done! I love the before and after picture of the mirror in the kitchen. It’s crazy how much of a difference it makes. I’m going to have to use some of this in my kitchen remodeling.
Another good site I came across recently in my research for my kitchen research was:
http://custom-kitchen-cabinets.com
Hopefully its useful for some of yall, too ;)
I love your kitchen! What color or white did you use? I can’t seem to find it any of your posts! Thanks a bunch!
[...] used them this past year when I refinished my kitchen cabinets and my laundry room cabinets, and for all sorts of projects working with long pieces of [...]
I love your eating area that you have pictured. By chance could you share with me the measurements of it? I have the perfect spot for something like this in my kitchen! It sure would open it up!!
[...] repainted my kitchen island and walls. There are more improvements on the horizon next year for this space, including a new [...]
what color is your kitchen island? looks great!!! we’ve tried painting or in the process for the last few months and it’s already chipping.
Hi Kate! You were the original inspiration for my painted kitchen cabinets. Boy was it hard work, but the results are well worth it! If you have time, please check it out (http://www.carnoustielane.blogspot.com).
Thank you for all you do!
Tania
Hi Kate!
lov e your cabinets! looks great! i’ve read that you should caulk the crevices/cracks on the cabinets before painting so it looks more professional. Did you do this?
What a great transformation. Would you recommenced a certain paint brand? Did you use a paint brush or spray?
Just discovered your website..Love It.. I am considering redoing my kitchen..Could you tell me exactly what brand and color the kitchen walls are (the picture with your husband painting) as well as the color and brand of the island paint..Thank You.kathie Powell
1. What did you use on each of the surfaces of the drawers? paint or stain or did you leave them as they were? By each surface of the drawer I mean the insides of the kitchen drawers, the outsides of the drawers and the outside back of the drawer.
2. Do you consider the humidity levels when you paint? Do you run a dehumidifier when or after you paint? Our house does not have air conditioning and paint seems to take forever to dry.
Thank you
I really love what you were able to do with the kitchen cabinets! They really look great
Kate, I am mesmerized by all you do. I am keeping all your instructions on file. So many of them apply to my needs. It’s just a matter of working them into my busy schedule. Thanks so much for sharing! I look forward to each and everyone of your mailouts and share them with others. I love your recipes as well. You are amazing and so talented.
Kate,
You kitchen cabinets are just lovely. Please do tell what color you used. It looks exactly like the right white for me.
Thank you!
Michelle
you really did great with the renovation. it’s like brand-new. and i like the new color more. thanks also for the tips