Kitchen Cabinet Painting Update

Hello Cottage Friends,

I used my staycation last week to paint my kitchen cabinets and I completed the project. Wait! No, I must have dreamed that. I didn't even come close; barely scratched the surface. Well, maybe that's too negative. I did complete a cabinet that I consider to be my "statement" piece in the kitchen.



I changed the door handles to knobs, so that meant filling in one of the screw holes with wood putty and sanding before I could paint. I purchased the knobs from Knob Treasures on Etsy. They are handmade historical French postmark reproductions.





The photo below was taken right after I purchased my home. Can you see the gold metal trim inserted in the crown moulding? No? Look closely, it's right in the center of the moulding.


"Oh, bliss! How wonderful to have gold metal trimming on all the cabinets throughout my home!" Said no one. Ever.

Seriously, why did mobile home manufacturers 20 years ago do things like this? Did designers sit in brainstorming meetings and intentionally plan to make perfectly fine cabinets look tacky? 

Ok, I'm done venting.

I removed all the gold trim after I moved in. Last week before the painting began, I repaired other trim and properly reinstalled the crown moulding, which had apparently fallen off at some point and the former owners tried to reattach with gold screws. Cuz, you know, that makes the tacky cabinet look less tacky, right? (Oops, I said I was done venting. Sorry.)
 
The faux brick wall is a work in progress. (Whew, doesn't it seem like everything here is "a work in progress"?) I'll blog about that at some point. Bear with me, I have so little time to tend to all these things, and it takes twice as long with only one pair of hands.

All this is loosely based on my inspiration photo.


There will be only this one black cabinet in the kitchen. The others will be white. I played around with one of the other cabinet doors to get a look that pleased me.



 I will tell you that this kitchen cabinet painting is no small task, and there are much better ways to tackle it. If I had a garage I would have taken all the doors off and lined them up in the garage and with one fell swoop painted them all at once. However, I don't have a garage or anywhere that I can do that. So, I'm doing it in sections and using my dining table and craft table as staging areas. I could have spray painted them, but that's something that needs to happen during a renovation, before you have new countertops, painted walls, etc.. Also, I'm going for a particular vintage look, which involves chalk paint and in the case of the black cabinet, dark antique wax. It's going to take awhile folks, but I'm okay with that. I will eventually get the job done, and I know I'll be happy with the results. Actually, I'm contemplating painting the inside of the cabinets while I have the doors off. I know, I know. One more step in the process, but really, doesn't it kind of make sense to live with the pain to end up with a well executed result? Tell me what you think.

Hugs,




12 comments

  1. Hi Nancy
    I love what you are going for here. Those knobs are fabulous. Hey as the saying goes Rome was not built in a day and you are only one person. So it will get done but not lightening fast. I agree I think you will be so much happier with your results when you just take your time. If I were by myself with out my super handyman Terry I would not get things done like I do now. We work great as a team. If I were all in this myself like you are it would take much more time. So be gentle with yourself and know you are doing a great job. Have a great new week. xoxo Kris

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  2. It looks beautiful!
    I have done all my cabinets and I know it’s hard work!

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  3. What! You removed all the gold bling provided by a concerned and artistically conscious
    manufactor , unheard of, lol. I am sure that added to the work you are doing. The black cabinets
    look really good with the brick above. And the white ones will really offset the look when you
    are finished, one day soon soon soon in the future. Seriously, you are doing so much work
    on your home, but as each project is finished, you will certainly enjoy the reward of it all.
    Thank you for sharing your home renovation with us. I enjoy seeing your work and can say
    I am glad it is you and not me. I gave up on the paint brush years ago. Lynn and Precious

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    1. I don't mind the act of painting, and actually find it kind of therapeutic. What I don't like is all the prep work. Have a great day, Lynn!

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  4. I love the look of your kitchen redo! The finished product will be so wonderful. I know it's a huge labor of love, but you will get there because you have the Best Helper imaginable! Thanks so much for sharing these pics. It inspires me to keep on plodding with my projects. Take care!

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    1. Thank you, Pam. You are absolutely right about the "Best Helper". I am relying on His strength and wisdom as I tackle this project. Especially rehanging the cabinet doors and nailing the crown moulding to the top of the cabinet. Not having another human to help has pushed me to lean on the Lord, and that's a good thing! Some people may not understand this, but Philippians 4:13 is so true: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." xx

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  5. Hello...yep, if you think painting the inside is the right thing to do, I say do it. I love your inspiration photo, look forward to seeing it all come together. I also like how you took the insert out of the cabinets over the stove, that looks so nice. One step at a time always brings you to the end.

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    1. Thanks, Wende. The cabinets over the stove have glass inserts, original to the home. Which is one reason I felt inspired to paint it a different color. Have a great week!

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  6. How brave to mix and match the color of your cabinets. I'm sure it will be beautiful! Looking forward to seeing more - the inspiration photo is gorgeous as well.
    Amalia
    xo

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  7. I love the inspiration. Actually, your hand-painted brush strokes work better with the look you are going for than if it been sprayed. I love the colors you are working with.

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  8. I love it! Can't wait to see more.
    ~Adrienne~

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  9. I got inspiration to do to my kitchen

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