How To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets With Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
After 12yrs, and doing hundreds of kitchen and bath remodel projects exceeding 60k, we have perfected a restaining and restoration process that reduces cost and increases efficiency. This process of refinishing kitchen cabinetry does not involve stripping finish down to raw wood. This process saves the homeowner money, and us time and headache from using toxic stripping chemicals.
Oh and it bears noting that if your cabinets are anything but solid wood (laminate, veneered, etc) you should definitely take off a door or a drawer and bring it with you to your local hardware store and ask the paint pro there what they recommend. There are some great oil-based primers and enamel paints out there so it might be possible to get a semi-durable finish (although none as long-lasting as solid wood paint jobs). The key is really roughing up the surface so it’s less glossy and then priming and painting with the best stuff they have (usually oil or enamel based). Oh and don’t forget to let everything dry for a while so things can cure up and get super durable for the long haul.
Any house painter should know that the greatest preventative measure against paint mishaps or bulging paint is to properly prep the cabinets. In this case, you'll want to carefully remove any hardware, such as knobs or handles and then take off the cabinets from their hinges. Lay the cabinets in a safe place for the time being. Using a sponge and a cleaner (i.e. TSP), wipe down the cabinet doors and frames. Once the cabinets have dried, smooth any dings or scuffs.
Whitewashes and antiques glazes will give your cabinets a weathered or antique look that is popular even in modern kitchens. Whitewashing leaves cabinets looking as if the paint has faded to a lighter color. The antique glaze makes cabinets look old, with an overall tint of color that ages the cabinets and darkens recesses and inset areas. Paint the cabinets with either a light or a dark glaze and then use a rag to remove some of the glaze. Apply these finishes over the existing paint, or paint the cabinets with a new base coat before applying the finish.