Our kitchen is so tired and old looking. We would love new cabinets but the expense is keeping us from doing that right now. Plus we want to move in about a year. I know you get your money back with kitchens but here in NJ the real estate is so high to start with I am sure we wouldn't get that much more.
I live in a split level (ugh) but it is as country as I can get it. I would like to just paint what we have. My husband just added a new wood floor so anything will go with it. And then we can just add a new counter top.
Does anyone have suggestions for painting cabinets. I don't want shiny paint, my husband suggested lacquer. I really do not like that look. I love the old look, sanding areas to look worn and all. He does not like that. We need a compromise. Ideas anyone?
Valery
Since you are planning on moving, you need to have as neutral an appearance as possible to please the lookers. Why don't you have a real estate agent come take a look at your house, discuss improvements and see what is suggested. (08/02/2005)
By Holly
We sanded down our cabinet doors and stained them with an oak stain. Then we changed the handles to real country looking handles. They turned out great. My friend updated her cabinets with a really cute idea. They removed the cabinet doors, cut out most of the door and replaced it with glass. On the bottom cabinets (where pots and unattractive kitchen wares were kept)she added a very small cafe rod on the inside of the cabinet door and hung cute curtains. On the top shelves she just arranged the dishes pretty. Good luck (08/03/2005)
By Klr2080
I painted mine with the best semi gloss paint that I could get from Sears and that was 20 years ago and they still look good. Sanded the doors and the front of cabinets. Put on 2 coats of paint, the very best. (08/03/2005)
By LissiMeme
How about a semi-gloss paint in a solid color with no wear, like he likes, but in a country color that you like, maybe an antique blue?
Or what do you guys think about stenciling? Or decoupage?
Or paint the doors and drawer fronts one color and the rest another color. Or paint the rest a neutral color and the doors and drawer fronts in different colors that go together.
Or how about some solid color with a metallic color rubbed on in spots?
Or what about some kind of faux paint technique?
Or what about painting it the way he likes, and then replacing the knobs with some that you like?
Removing the doors to expose the shelves can also give you a beautiful country look, but note that your dishes will have to be neatly organized and they will get dustier and greasier than if kept behind doors. (Keep the doors in case the next owners want to replace them.) (08/03/2005)
By Debbie
i painted my cabinets all white and then sponge painted the doors a light sandy peach color. I get lots of compliments on them! (08/07/2005)
We recently redid our cabinets from a dark wood shellac-type finish to a soft green -- not a pastel, but the color of leaves in spring. First we used something called "Liquid Sandpaper" to strip the cabinets, then an application of bonder (ask the guy in the paint department), then the semi-gloss paint. I don't like shiny paint, and thought I wanted flat, but the paint department guy explained that flat paint would show every splatter and fingerprint, whereas with semi-gloss it's only a little bit shiny, and you can wipe it off to keep it clean -- makes sense for a kitchen paint job!
The part I was proudest of -- the hardware was a copper-toned color, the shapes/designs themselves were OK, but I thought silver or pewter would go better with the new, lighter cabinets -- and then I freaked out when I saw how expensive the hardware was! The fancy pewter handles were $1.39 each, and I needed almost 3 dozen -- plus the hinges. Again, our brilliant neighbor to the rescue! We removed the hardware, spread it out on newspaper, and spray painted it with Rustoleum "hammered finish" spray paint in a silver tone, $2.25 a can.
By Becki in Indiana
This is something that I did in my bathroom I am sure it would work for your kitchen cabinets as well. I purchase inexpensive material. I then cut the material to be just bigger than the cabinet doors and used a hot glue gun around the edge to secure the fabric (on the inside of the door). I then glued netting at the top and bottom of the door and gathered in the center with a bow. As for the actual cabinet I just painted to match my wall color. It has been up for over 5 years with no problems yet. (09/29/2005)
By Pattie
Whoa! I hope you haven't invested in a lot of frills and unconventional cabin et appearances since you posted. Rethink your idea that those cabinets won't improve your value!
Kitchens are the MOST important room in a house as far as home sales go, and what occupies most of the space in a kitchen?
However, replacing them isn't the only option. Provided the cabinets themselves are in good shape, why not REFACE them? It's much cheaper and the results of a well-done refacing are nothing less than spectacular!
I can't emphasize enough -- tired cabinets, strange decorating schemes, these things lose a LOT of sales and devalue houses dramatically. As the poster before me advised, get a real estate agent's or broker's advice -- and be sure the person is NOT a friend. You need brutal frankness if you're planning to sell your house any time soon.
Good luck! (10/10/2005)
By Teri
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