Cabinets finished!!!

We are finally finished with our kitchen upgrade! We never took before pictures, but they looked like our bathroom cabinet, so that will have to suffice. If you're not that interested in the process, scroll to the bottom for pictures. :)

Step 1—Routine cupboard cleaning: Scrubbed white cupboards to clean them; white paint came off, revealing grey paint; cupboards look worse than before cleaning them

Step 2-Take down doors

Step 3—Remove Paint:Attempts-5, lasting several weeks (1. Sand with palm sander, took too long 2.Sand with industrial belt sander, melted paint 3. Lacquer thinner and scrape 4.Lacquer thinner, scrape, sand 5. Paint stripper, sand)

Step 3-Cut and apply trim Attempts-2, lasting about a week (1. Borrow friend’s tools 2.Use extra trim from work 3.Cut all day 4.Don’t have enough. 5.Buy 1x3 6.Cut to right size at work 7.Fill nail holes 8.Wait to dry.)

Step 4-SandAttempts-1, lasting about a week (Sand corners of doors for “distressed look”. Sand excess nail filler.)

Step 5-Wall paperAttempts-1, lasting 1 evening (Drive to 2 different Lowe’s to find bead board wall paper. Moisten and apply. Scrape extra glue. Let dry)

Step 5a-Unexpected new sink(about 2 weeks) See that the sink has rust stains coming through where a previous owner cracked the sink and attempted to repair it. Find new sink on KSL for fraction of cost of new sink. Plumbing needed to be partially replaced. Other problems ensued. Remove and replace cabinet base due to water damage. Scrape wrist apart (still healing). Replace sink. Love it!

Step 5b—Decide that you’re not doing any more big projects for a long time.

Step 6—PaintSeveral attempts, lasting longer than expected (Find out friend’s paint sprayer is only for lacquer paint, which is very expensive. Think for awhile. Find latex paint sprayer for $10. Find 4 gallons creamy latex paint for $20. Problem solved. New problem: paint sprayer not good for fine application. Think some more. Find paint roller for smooth application. Coat #1 on back. Wait to dry. Coat #1 on front. Wait to dry. Repeat 2 more times. )

Step 6—GlazeAttempts-2, lasting 1 day (Find Sherwin Williams store. Find glaze. Apply on tester spot. Too dark. Buy paint thinner. Perfect solution. Apply glaze and wipe off with paint thinner. Reapply paint thinner following day to clean it up. Beautiful!)

Step 7—Top coat Attempts-several (similar process to painting: apply a coat, wait to dry. Keep Camden from climbing on, driving trucks across, or otherwise destroying doors)

Step 8—Hinges Attempts-4, lasting all day (Hinges were painted white, and we wanted to return them to the original bronzy finish. 1. Scrape off dry paint. 2. Boil in water and baking soda, then scrub. Boil again. Scrub. 3. Try vinegar and baking soda. Scrub. 4. Try Magic Eraser. Scrub. 5. Try WD-40 and steel wool. Sigh of relief.)

Step 9—New screws. Everything needed new screws. One trip to Home Depot. Then Walmart. Then Lowe’s.

Step 10—Attach hinges, drill new holes for screws, hang doors (lasted several days)

Step 11- Paint knobs red (2 coats red paint, 2 coats clear lacquer)and reattach knobs (several days)

Step 12-Enjoy!!!

Here it is!