Refinish Cabinets
Part 2 of Fireplace Makeover
Paint Cabinets
you could also use these directions for kitchen cabinets
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This is part 2 of our fireplace makeover. When we purchased the house, it was as shown below. Vintage 1970’s.
FIREPLACE PROJECT:
Part One: Whitewash The Fireplace
Part Five: Build Shelves & Mantle (coming soon)
ALSO SEE:
Install Baseboards (coming soon)
Install Floor (coming soon)
CABINET PAINTING SUPPLIES
Paint Choice: Behr eggshell finish - untinted (just pure white, as it comes in the can)
NOTE: choose color and finish you prefer. There are many shades of “white”, as well as color. I went with satin because I do not care for glossy finishes. I needed a color that was really white due to the lightness of the walls (Tailor’s Chalk eggshell finish by Behr). However, the higher the gloss, the more durable and washable the surface.
sandpaper - 220 grit and 100-150 medium grit (for hard to reach areas)
power sander (I used this on all surfaces that were easily accessible)
paint brushes - I prefer an angle brush, synthetic, soft - use your favorite
gloves & mask (optional)
broom, or shop vac for clean-up
tack cloth for cleaning dust off the cabinets after sanding
tarp or drop cloth - if you need to protect the floor
wood filler (for repair - if needed)
baby wipes - I keep these handy for all jobs
Work in a well ventilated area
Click images for larger view.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prepare Cabinets
Pull the cabinets out from the wall if possible (paint them in place if not). Our cabinets were free standing, so I pulled them away from the wall. The upper shelves and cupboards were donated.
Remove the doors from cabinets. Remove all hardware.
Clean the cabinets with a damp cloth (or TSP if they need a good de-greasing). Let dry.
Sand all surfaces , using the 220 grain sandpaper. This will de-gloss the surface as well as smooth any rough areas. I used my electric sander as much as possible, and used sand papers and blocks in harder to reach areas.
Remove dust with a tack cloth.
CHAOS
Lopez Island, WA
We were also pulling up old floors, whitewashing the old bricks of the fireplace, and removing the sparkly ceiling - all while I was refinishing the cabinets. We lived in quite a mess. Every now and then, I would set up the room in some semblance of normalcy. I recommend doing that. Clean up every now and then, put things away, and take a day “off.” Get out and look at nature - get away from the mess. This is so important when living in the house you are remodeling.
2. Apply Primer
Paint on the primer - I painted interior and exterior of the cabinets. Let dry 24 hours, then sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Using a tack cloth, wipe off the sanding dust. Repeat for a second coat.
In the third photo below, you can see that the sparkly ceiling has been removed and the electrician has installed the can lights. The fireplace is not yet whitewashed, the hearth is not yet refinished, and we still have the old flooring.
Lay out the doors. Follow the same steps as with the main cabinets. I left the hinges on the doors, and used one of my tiny, artist brushes to paint around the hinges.
3. Apply Top Coats
I followed the same steps with the top coat as I did the primer. It took 2 coats of top coat paint.
Use a roller for the larger, flatter areas, and the angle brush to get into grooves and corners. Let dry 24 hours. Sand with 220 grit sandpaper. Clean off the dust. Repeat for second coat.
TIP
I do not believe the water base paints are as durable as the old oil base enamels my father used, but I like the fact that they are easy to clean up (brushes can be cleaned with water). I always keep lists of paints in a notebook, and I keep some extra paint on hand for any touch-ups needed.
Wait 48 hours (for proper curing) before installing hardware.
ON-GOING WORK
As mentioned, we were also pulling up the floor while refinishing the cabinets (we usually had several projects going at once during our house remodel). We tore out the linoleum, then pried up the subfloor. Hundreds of subfloor staples remained. It was NOT fun to pull those up. We had also whitewashed the fireplace at the time the following photos were taken.
See links above on removing flooring and whitewashing brick, and to see our other projects.
Finished Cabinet
I love, love, love the new look. Bright, cheery, and cozy.
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