Kitchen Crashers Phase 2

Phase 2 has started....painting of the cabinets! 


Painting kitchen cabinets is not the same as painting furniture...the kitchen is the heart of the home and is the room in the house that we are in the most. In a house full of boys..these cabinets need to be  scratch resistant and easy to clean. We thought about trying the Rustoleum Cabinet Transformation kit, but after looking into it, it wasn't the look we really wanted.  Ric and I do a lot of furniture refinishing and we love the antiqued look that you get when you pair chalk paint with a wax polish.   Chalk paint (originally created by Annie Sloan) is very expensive but surprisingly easy to make.  Ric and I did not mix our own chalk paint for our kitchen (cause we already purchased the paint prior to learning how to mix it ourselves)...but we have mixed our own paint and used it on some furniture pieces around the house.  Ric and I have experimented with a few "recipes" but have settled on one that seems to be the best consistancy.


                  Chalk Paint
1 1/2 Cups Paint (we use flat paint in whatever color you are trying to achieve)
1/2 Cup Hot Water
1/2 Cup Plaster of Paris
Tip:
(Dissolve Plaster of paris in hot water and then mix into paint)

The amazing thing about chalk paint is that there is no sanding, & no priming needed....it dries quickly with a matte finish and it distresses easily.

Here is the process we are using:

 1. Prep- wipe down all surfaces to be painted -make sure all dirt and residue is removed.
 2. Paint- chalk paint does not show brush strokes but it does dry fast so make sure you don't leave drips. Start with the back side of the cabinet doors and work from the inside out. Allow to completely dry before applying a second coat. (paint until you no longer see wood, and you achieve the color and coverage you want) We used about 3-4 coats (It sounds like a lot but the chalk paint dries sooo fast so it really wasn't bad)

Tip: when painting the cabinet doors- lay doors on two boards to paint-which allows you to paint the edges much easier.

3. Polish- After you have all your coats of paint on and your cabinets are completely dry you are ready to apply the polish. Apply the polish with a dry soft cloth. We started in the middle and worked out way out. Basically rub it on the wood and wipe off excess until desired color is achieved. For the creases and corners it works better if you use your finger to apply.

 

 

 

 **We use "The Polish" in Walnut by Rethunk Junk (a local women's company  in Woodstock, Ga.)** She also makes and sells her own Chalk paint and it is less expensive than Annie Sloans.  We purchased the paint for our kitchen from her in the color "Linen"** Check out her website!! www.rethunk-junk.com

 

 

4. Protect- when painting kitchen cabinets or bathroom cabinets you need to seal the paint to protect it from wear and tear and make it easy to clean. Ric and I have experimented with a few products to protect the cabinets while keeping the dull finish of the chalk paint and polish.  The best thing is to seal it with a Polycrylic Protective Finish in Clear.  If you brush it on it shows brush strokes so we found that the best method is to spray it on.  It is definietly more expensive that way but the result is well worth it. You will want to put a few coats of the Polycrylic so just make sure you let it completely dry between coats.

 

Below are some of our progress pics! Enjoy!

 

 

(we put all the cabinet hardware in the red solo cups)