(Yet Another) Budget Kitchen Remodel

July 2013 BEFORE -- November 2013 AFTER

Summer 2013 - I wanted to give the kitchen an inexpensive facelift.  My budget wouldn't allow the Full Monty (granite, stainless, glass tiles), and professional painting estimates were too high ($3,500 to $4,000) so I decided to paint the cabinets myself. 

BEFORE:  Glossy orangey lacquer finish over grainy tiger-striped oak with out-of-date brass hardware.

July 2013 BEFORE.  Oak cabinets with antique brass handles & hinges.

"The Mess" -  Started with the lower cabinets.

Did I mention "The Mess"?

Success!  The lower cabinets turned out great.

 Cabinetmaker told me I couldn't replace my old hinges with hidden hinges, not enough of an overlay.  So I just replaced them with satin nickel hinges from eBay.

 

The most helpful hint I found online:  To eliminate brush strokes when painting, add "Floetrol" to the paint.  Best thing since sliced bread for noobs like me.

Cabot wood stain "Foothill" 3 coats.  Varathane Satin polyurethane 3 coats. Smooth sheen, not glossy.

I like the contrast between light countertop and dark cabinets.

I painted the upper cabinets with Cabot wood stain "Seacoast Gray" 3 coats followed by Varathane Satin polyurethane 3 coats.

Beginning the upper cabinets.  The Mess Part 2

 

Pattern Number: KE29951

Book Name: Kitchen Elements

Page Number: 12