Courtesy John Wollwerth/Hemera/Thinkstock |
I’m thankful that our 100-year-old kitchen was remodeled before we purchased our home. I love the new appliances, countertops and flooring, but I have to admit that the cabinetry has never thrilled me. I wanted something that screamed “farmhouse” when you walked through the door, and the builder-grade oak never quite achieved that.
After many hours scouring the Internet, I finally worked up the nerve to repaint my cabinets last winter, and I’m so glad I did. If your cabinets are in need of a face-lift, consider adding a fresh coat of paint rather than ripping them out. It’s far less expensive, and the transformation can be stunning. Allocate plenty of time for the process—it will more than likely take several weekends to complete.
Step 1
Remove all doors, drawers and hardware, and set up a sanding/painting station in your shop, garage or barn.
Step 2
Sand all surfaces with 100-grit sandpaper. I highly recommend using an electric sander for this step. Many shortcut methods found online eliminate the sanding process, but I didn’t want to take the chance of the paint not sticking, so I did everything the “hard” way.
Step 3
Wipe off all dust and grime with a damp rag, and allow to dry.
Step 4
Apply a liquid de-glosser. This coats any leftover finish to ensure the primer will stick.
Step 5
Apply at least two coats of a high-quality primer to the doors, drawer fronts and boxes. Let it dry completely according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 6
Apply at least two coats of high-quality paint. I chose a self-leveling latex paint. It was costly, but absolutely worth the price, as it was easy to work with. I also purchased small foam rollers for the smoothest finish possible. Allow the paint to dry completely according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 7
Reattach the hardware and hinges, and hang the doors.
It was a lot of work, and my kitchen was chaotic for a while, but the end result was absolutely worth it. To get more of my kitchen-painting tips and see before and after pictures, visit my blog, The Prairie Homestead.
