If the kitchen is indeed a place you would decide to remodel, then perhaps the most ideal place to start is with the kitchen cabinets which you could quite easily define the whole look of your kitchen and make or break the the ideal look that you are looking for, especially if you are not particularly keen on new designs and styles that will be integrated or incorporated in the kitchen area.

In many cases it would not always be a necessity to replace the whole cabinet in order for you to be able to improve and upgrade it to what you would want it to be. If you perhaps try to do a refinish on the kitchen cabinets then you may even save quite a bit of money if you learn hot to paint these kitchen cabinets. Not all people are however familiar with painting kitchen cabinets, and if you do fall into this category then there are a few very simple ideas that you could consider to make sure that you will have a finished product that is quite sophisticated and classy, yet it will reflect your personality.

The Short Easy Steps

Most people think that learning to paint kitchen cabinets is ideally left to wood workers, and other craftsmen or professionals. This concept however, it wrong because it is actually one of the easiest remodeling jobs you can do on your own to create a great look for your kitchen. In addition, being able to learn to paint kitchen cabinets can save you quite a bit of money and time, and in some cases a great deal of money since you will know that you don;t always need to hire professionals to do all the work in remodeling.

When you begin to learn how to paint your kitchen cabinets, there are a few simple things you can start with such as using a screwdriver to remove the cabinet doors at the hinges and then finding a safe place for them to be stored. Storing them in a safe place will help you later on as you can quite easily find them whenever the time comes that you will need them. When that is done, you can then follow through with removing the metal fixtures that are on the doors be it door knobs, plates or any other accessories. The use of a sander may come in handy so ensure that these are available because you will need them when the time comes for you to remove the old paint of your kitchen cabinets.

After the woodwork has been completely sanded, you should not forget to tape the edges of the cabinet so that the new paint does not stick to the walls of your kitchen. Finally when it comes to completing you task of learning to paint your kitchen cabinets, ensure that you prime them and the cabinet doors with a good base coat in a slightly lighter shade from the final color that you intend to have if this is necessary, and lastly apply your final color as the concluding step in painting your kitchen cabinet.

The post Simple Steps in Learning to Paint Kitchen Cabinets appeared first on Independent-Painting.

Maybe your kitchen cabinets are in need of a refresh. Cabinet painting can be a fantastic way to make your kitchen look great at a very cheap price. A long weekend, and you could make this happen yourself. If you need assistance however, please don’t hesitate to contact our cabinet painting professionals at Independent Painting.

Supplies Needed to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

First off you’ll need to gather supplies up to get ready to paint your kitchen cabinets. Here’s a nice list to get you started.

Materials

• Sandpaper- Various grits, from coarse to fine.
• Wood filler – In case you have to make any repairs
• Paint – High Quality paint that is suited for your cabinets.
• Primer – Choose a type that is suited for your cabinets
• Drop Cloths – For your painting area
• Painter’s Tape – Especially used to protect the ceiling and floors
• TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) – A cleaner and degreaser(important for kitchens)
• Paint Stripper (Optional) – If you need to remove the previous paint
• Shelf Liners (Optional) – If you’re going to put them down afterwards
• Cabinet Hardware (Optional) – A cheap way to upgrade the look of your freshly painted cabinets

Tools

• Shop Vacuum – Home remodeling is messy.
• Drill / Driver and Bits (Optional) – You’ll be removing the cabinets
• Buckets – For trash and for gathering hardware
• Paint Roller Frames and Foam Covers – Well we are going to paint, right?
• Painter’s Trays and Liners
• Dust Mask / Painting Safety Mask – Especially if the cabinets are older and might have lead based paint
• Putty Knife – For applying the wood putty
• Paint Brushes – Don’t go cheap here, get good brushes
• Painter’s Tripods – This is a cool tool that is necessary for painting cabinets. They allow you to prop the cabinet doors up while painting
• Rubber Gloves – Some of the materials are caustic so make sure you wear protection.
• Eye Protection – You should always wear eye protection when doing home remodeling work
• Work Gloves (optional)
• Screwdrivers – For removing the cabinet doors
• Sponges – For cleaning up messes
• Ladder – To reach upper cabinets easily

What to know about Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

• You may need a specific type of paint for your cabinets. Depending on whether your cabinets are Wood, laminate or some other type of material.
• Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. Do not forget this as the paint won’t stick if you don’t prime it well.
• It’s not necessary to buy special cabinet paint, any high quality paint should work if applied correctly.
• You should use acrylic not vinyl paint. Acrylic paint applies evenly and is easy to clean in a space like the kitchen.

What finish should I use in my Paint?

• Gloss finish is shiny but will show any imperfections in the paint.
• Flat finish is very difficult to clean.
• Semi-gloss or Satin finishes generally give the best results for cabinet painting.
• Always read the instructions for your paint.

Prep your cabinets for painting

First check to see what condition your cabinets are in. If they have previously been painted then you can generally paint over them. If the paint that is on them now is in bad shape you may have to strip the cabinets to prepare them.

You should remove the cabinet doors from the cabinets with a drill or a screwdriver. Make sure you keep all of the hardware and screws in a safe place. Label the doors with a clear indication of where they should go after they are painted. Use painter’s tape to label the doors.

How to Strip and Prepare Cabinets

1. First clean the cabinets of any grease on them. Use Trisodium Phosphate if necessary.
2. Apply a Paint stripper to the cabinets. Wait until the paint starts to react to the stripper.
3. Using a plastic scraper, remove the paint from the cabinets. Be careful not to press too hard and damage the underlying wood.
4. Let dry
5. Use sandpaper to remove any remaining paint.
6. Always beware of lead-based paint if it was possible the paint is from pre-1978.

Make any repairs you need for the wood using wood putty and a putty knife.

 

You’ll want to also sand the cabinets and cabinet doors with a medium grit sandpaper. Try folding the sandpaper to get the nooks and crevices of the doors.

Finish up by using your shop vac to remove all dust from sanding. You absolutely have to make sure you don’t have stray dust as that will mar your paint finish.

Prime Your Kitchen Cabinets

Priming your kitchen cabinets is one of the most important steps you’ll have to take. It’s vital to making sure that your cabinet paint gets applied correctly to the cabinets and that you get a long lasting and beautiful finish.

Primer is more about getting an even coat on the surfaces, it doesn’t have to look pretty it just has to have full coverage.

After you’ve applied the primer, go back over the painted area with a dry roller. This is to remove the excess paint, this is called “laying off”.

Painting the Kitchen Cabinets

Now comes the good part, painting the kitchen cabinets. It’s important that you’ve done the proper steps above so that when it comes time to paint your cabinets you can do it well.

Professional cabinet painters like Independent Painting use paint sprayers. For most people it’s better to use paint brushes and paint rollers. Use a high quality brush for smaller areas and foam rollers for larger areas.

You should start with the cabinets first, and then follow up with the doors and drawers. When working on the doors start with the back first, and then work on the front. Make sure you make use of the painting tripod, it really does make the job much easier.

 

What to do with Cabinet Hardware

This is usually a pretty good place to spend a little extra to upgrade your existing hardware. When we say hardware, we mean the hinges as well as the door handles. It’s a great place to invest in something that will give you a little pizzazz.

Alternatively you can refinish the hardware. Many older cabinets have brass fittings that could be polished to bring back the original shine. You can also choose to paint the hardware as well. Using more or less the same steps as you would approach your cabinets.

Reassembling the Kitchen Cabinets

If you wanted to put shelf liners into the cabinets, we recommend doing that before you reattach your cabinet doors. The shelf liners are great for giving an updated look to the interior shelves.

Now that you have the cabinets completed, feel free to get ready to reassemble the cabinet doors on the cabinets. We recommend making sure that you match each door to it’s home BEFORE you start attaching. There’s nothing worse than having to take everything back down because you put it in the wrong place first. The labels we applied earlier in the process will help tremendously at this point.

And that’s it, you should have a fantastic kitchen that looks almost like new.

If this process looks too complicated, feel free to call us about our professional cabinet painting services.

Independent Painting
1724 Planters Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 729-5059

Watch this video for more specific information: https://youtu.be/HeIT8gTwAP8

The post How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets – Cabinet Painting Step-by-Step appeared first on Independent-Painting.

The good news is there are several options available to you that can easily update your kitchen with a modern look. Some options are expensive and others are more economical.

If you like the cabinet layout and the cabinets are in good condition, refacing or resurfacing your kitchen cabinets may be a good choice for you.

Refacing or resurfacing consists of replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new ones and then treating the cabinet frame with a matching veneer. There are many types of woods and plastics available for this, so your options are virtually unlimited.

To get the best results, it’s always best to hire a professional to do this work. It can be quite expensive, though, ranging anywhere from $3500 to over $10,000. The work usually takes 2-4 days, depending on how many cabinets and drawers are involved.

If your cabinets are weak or damaged or you just want to change their design, replacing them entirely is another option. Replacement cabinets may not cost much more than refacing/resurfacing them, either. Brand new cabinets can add more usefulness to your kitchen and increase the value of your home, as well

If resurfacing or replacement of your kitchen cabinets doesn’t fit your budget, there are much less expensive alternatives.

My first choice for renewing the look of kitchen cabinets is paint. What a difference a coat or paint can make!

For a retro look you can use splashy colors such as pink, turquoise or orange. Be brave and paint designs on the cabinets or use stencils or a faux finish. Add some matching hardware and you’ve got new cabinets for less than $300!

Another idea is to permanently remove all the cabinet doors. This wouldn’t be appropriate or even functional for every style of kitchen. It might work well for a cottage kitchen design or even an antique Victorian design. You could line the shelves with lace or doilies that flap over the edge to add to the look.

An alternative to completely removing the cabinet doors is to replace them with old windows that are the right size. You could also create new doors from different types of materials such as bamboo or fabric.

Another idea for resurfacing kitchen cabinets is to wallpaper them or apply contact paper. A plain pattern is best and, of course, make sure it is washable. You don’t necessarily need to cover the whole surface. You could cut out different shapes or patterns and apply them to the cabinet surface. This would be a good short-term solution to freshening up your kitchen.

So there you have it. There are many ways to make your kitchen cabinets look great without breaking the bank!

The post Make your cabinets look great for less appeared first on Independent-Painting.

If you decide to paint your kitchen cabinets, keep in mind that the work could well spread over a period of three days. This will mean three days of eating out, so plan the work when it is most convenient.

The first thing is to decide on the color. For this, consider factors such as the color of the kitchen walls as also that of the tiles. The size of your kitchen must also be considered. Also keep in mind that light colors give the impression of spaciousness.

Next, decide if you want to paint both inside and outside the cabinets. A paint job involves a minimum of three days, and if you decide to paint the insides as well, you’ll have the additional task of emptying out the drawers.

The first step in the paint job involves the cleaning process. That means you have to remove the dust and grease stains. Remember that cleaning for a do-it-yourself paint job is different from the usual hygienic cleaning pattern that you follow.

Cleaning ensures a uniform and even finish to the paintwork.

Examine the surface carefully for any cracks and damages because paint will not cover these blemishes. Use coarse sandpaper to clean the surfaces and file down the scratch marks and cavities with wood putty.

Once this is done, prune old enamel surfaces with a primer. You have the choice between oil-base primer and water-base primer. Choosing an oil-base primer is a better option because the paint readily sticks to it.

While painting the stiles, cover the counter top with a masking or a painter’s tape. Begin the paint job from the least accessible points and work outwards. Next, paint the inner surfaces first and then move to the outer ones.

You can also consider using spray paint to give your work an even and uniform look. When you are done, allow plenty of time for the drying up process and then reassemble the cabinet back to its original position. The new, fresh, clean, and aesthetic look will provide you with joy of a day’s work well done.

The post Cabinet Painting Tips for 2020 appeared first on Independent-Painting.

1. What is the MAIN reason you are considering remodeling?

A. Just want a fresh new look

B. Need more counterotop work space.

C. Need more storage or to add an ‘eat in space’

D. Need new appliances, sink of floor covering

E. Cabinet drawers stick or otherwise don’t work or other cabinet problems

2. Is the value of your home rising?

A. No

B. Yes

3. Have others in your neighborhood remodeled the kitchen in the past 5 years?

4. How long do you plan to stay in your home?

A. One year or less before we sell

B. Plan to stay 3-5 years before we sell

C. Plan to stay in this home indefinitely

If your answer to more than one of these questions is “A”, refacing might be the right choice. “Refacing” is a general term for a process of replacing doors and drawer fronts and includes placement of a veneer to match the new wood species and finish on the cabinet frames. (Some refacers also offer optional replacement of the entire drawer and drawer glide system and adding other interior functional features.)

Positive Results You May Obtain by Refacing Your Cabinets

• Costs less than cabinet replacement
• Fresh, new look for your cabinets
• More pleasant or up-to-date environment
• Possibly interior functional features for extra cost
• More appealing to potential home buyers

Refacing Cautions

• Same old traffic, workspace and storage problems have not been improved upon.
• Future decision to do the complete job and make floor plan improvements would mean replacing the countertop and sink a second time. The same for floor coverings and wallpaper.
• No opportunity to enhance the kitchen with specialty cabinets like dish or wine rack, etc.
• Interior of cabinet remains the same; so does interior maintenance
• Warranty is for new products only. Basic cabinets are not covered

Positive Results You Can Expect by Replacing Your Cabinets

• The opportunity to improve the traffic, work patterns and storage space in your floorplan
• One time sink and countertop replacement. (If a few years after refacing you decide to tackle the entire kitchen and make general improvements, countertops and sink cannot be re-installed on new cabinets
• Stronger, more durable cabinets throughout
• Solid wood face frames, not veneer applied to the surface
• The possibility of enhancing the beauty of the kitchen by adding specialty cabinets such as a wine rack or display cabinet
• Light, attractive easy to clean interiors
• Warranty on the entire cabinet, not just the doors and drawers

Best Advice

The price difference between refacing and replacing may be minimal when the overall value is considered. Replacing cabinets does dictate the replacement of countertops, sink, built-in appliances and probably floor covering. The additional cost for completely new cabinets compared to refaced old cabinets may be quite small. In some instances, the difference is as little as 10%. Be a wise shopper!

The post Replace or Reface cabinets? appeared first on Independent-Painting.

This means that they are making mistakes that are going to cost them a lot of money to repair or which do irreparable damage. If you are one of these people who is considering to renovate their own kitchen, you need to make sure that you are going to know these top mistakes, before making the commitment to go ahead on your own. This is the only way to make sure that everything is going smoothly and that you have a great end result with the kitchen renovation.

1) Trying to do everything yourself

This is the biggest mistake that everyone is making. To think that they can do everything themselves. Yes, there are some of the things that aren’t hard to do, and that can be done by anyone. However, then there are those things that should be installed by a professional kitchen renovator. Even, if you are trying to do the remodeling yourself.

If you know that you don’t have any experience in renovating a new kitchen, then you should make sure that you are considering hiring an expert to do it for you. The best way to get the right results. Just admit it if you can’t do the renovation all by yourself.

2) Not making sure that you have enough money in your budget

Another huge mistake is to not make sure that you have enough money in your budget before you start with the kitchen design project. Half-way through the remodeling project, you realize that you ran out of money and you can’t continue. Leaving your kitchen not complete.

This can become a serious problem because you might not have a functional kitchen where you can work in. And, you can’t do anything about it, because you have run out of money. Ending up in a disaster.

3) Not having a proper plan in place

Planning the layout and everything else before you start with the renovating of a kitchen is essential. There are many things that you need to fit into the kitchen. This is another hugely expensive mistake that those without renovation experience often make.

This means that when you don’t plan before starting, you will not know if your idea is going to work and if you are going to fit everything needed into the kitchen. It also might mean that you will need to start all over again.

4) Making changes at the last minute

You have planned the layout and everything that you’ll need. You even made sure that you have enough money in your budget for everything you need to do. So, you are fine and will complete the renovation successfully. But then you decide to make some changes at the last minute.

There goes your budget out the door. And, the planning of the whole kitchen as well. Mistakes are being made by many DIYers the moment when they start making changes at the last minute. Huge changes will have an influence on the amount of money and the layout of the kitchen. The results: A kitchen that didn’t go as planned as when you planned your kitchen remodeling project.

There are so many things that can go wrong when you are remodeling your kitchen. These are some of the common mistakes that DIYers are making because they don’t have the right experience in remodeling. It is important to consider everything before you start remodeling your kitchen. And, to make sure that you don’t get yourself into trouble by making one of these common mistakes that other DIYers are making.

If you need help with your kitchen renovation project, don’t risk your time and money by attempting to do it yourself. If you have a great idea but no experience, leave the job to an industry-leading kitchen designer who can help transform your idea into the ultimate new kitchen.

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Good layout is defined as unity of layout as well as a timeless appearance. Yet to achieve unity and an evergreen look one need to provide consideration to all the principles of style. Redesigning your kitchen and bathroom is so much greater than selecting fixtures as well as painting the walls. An excellent remodel will have a well thought out layout principle that begins with the principles of style as its structure.

The concepts are balance, rhythm, emphasis/focal point, scale, percentage, as well as harmony/unity. In order to have a far better understanding of these ideas we will consider each at it concerns shower room remodel preparation as well as kitchen area preparation.

Allow’s begin with balance which is the distribution of the visual weight of items, colors, structures and also room. On a recent washroom design a client requested ceramic tile to be set up over the vanity right up the wall as well as considered tiling the whole wall surface not simply above the vanity. The lavatory being really tiny might just aesthetically support a small amount of floor tile without making the room feel bulky or heavy. Based on the principle of balance we opted for less is a lot more as well as decided not to do the whole wall. Thought was also provided to the light necklaces we selected, once again wishing to keep the room balanced we selected improve lights that had really little bulk and clear glass to maintain the equilibrium of the room feeling light. These decisions helped the style of this little space feel roomy even with the absence of square footage.

Moving onto rhythm. The easiest means to produce rhythm within a space is to duplicate elements of design which can include line, shape, appearance, color, pattern as well as light. In a current bathroom job we used floral like mosaic in the shower, on the flooring and on an accent wall surface. We duplicated the pattern in several areas over mute color ceramic tile to provide the shower room rhythm. In a recent kitchen we used straight lines on the closet doors, equipment, lights and also furniture to develop rhythm as well as flow. The concept is to keep the eye moving in an all-natural way that makes one feel unwinded and comfortable in the space and also never ever bewildered.

Emphasis/focal factor is just one of my preferred concepts of design to collaborate with. Right here the idea is to display a part of the layout as well as hold the audience’s attention. Frequently referred to as the “wow” variable one can be as creative as they want as long as thought is offered to the remainder of the style principles. One of my favored layout tasks was a master restroom that was developed in all marble. The whole shower room was jaw dropping so producing a centerpiece implied we needed to obtain creative. The service was building a false wall surface to house a fire place as well as wall to wall niche tiled in herringbone which was highlighted with sun from a skylight. Though the whole space was awesome everybody that went into held their focus to the incorrect wall we produced. Focal point attained!

Scale describes the relationship of 2 or more items, one that has a generally recognized size. In a cooking area we understand the typical prep sink is 12×12. When selecting a tap for this sink it would not be appropriate to pick a big goose neck or commercial kitchen faucet.

Percentage is an obvious concept as well as very easy to find if it’s not determined appropriately. Basically, one can not have a nine foot stroll in shower in a washroom that is only 8×9. The percentage of the shower is frustrating as well as as well large for the space. Likewise we would not use a gigantic chandelier meant for cathedral ceiling in a cooking area with 8 foot ceilings. Scale as well as proportion go hand in hand as well as are an extremely important part of good style.

Consistency is all the different elements integrating to develop a well thought out as well as stunning style. In a current mid-century transformation we offered thought to every component we included in the room. We picked dark blue floor tile, strong gold fixtures, walnut tinted closets and millenium lights. When all the aspects were combined the harmony of the space was apparent. We would certainly not have actually added polk-a-dots or nickel finishes to this style. Anything outside mid-century would certainly have interfered with the circulation.

Layout has countless possibilities as well as with the appropriate treatment provided to the principles of design any kind of washroom or kitchen area can be developed into a showplace!

Independent Painting 1724 Planters Rd Jacksonville, FL 32207 (904) 729-5059 Independent-Painting.com

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Painted wood is the trend right now in both furniture and cabinets. In fact, chalk paint has become all the rage. There are websites galore that provide instructions and even instructional videos on how to paint a piece of furniture with chalk paint. The look goes especially well with cottage style decor or shabby chic.

My kitchen cabinets are the old oak cabinets you see in just about every house built in the 1960s-70s.

They are also starting to look pretty shabby. I’ve decided ready for a change, so I’m going to paint my cabinets to look antique.

With kitchen cabinets, chances are they have already been varnished or otherwise coated to give them a glossy look, so, before doing anything else, you need to rough them up so your paint will stick. This can be done one of two ways: either by sanding them very thoroughly or by treating them with a chemical, such as Krud Kutter Gloss-Off, which is a great all-in-one cleaner and deglosser. It will get all the excess “crud” off your cabinets. Sometimes sanding and using something like Krud Kutter both are necessary to get the job done right.

Once you have prepared the surface, you are ready to start painting. But first remove the cabinet doors. It will look far more professional in the end if you remove the hardware and perhaps even update it. Another very important point is to use high quality paint, either an oil based or something like Benjamin Moore’s Advance, which has the qualities of an oil-based product (like sticking well to the surface being painted) even though it is basically still a latex.

You will want to do a primer coat and a final coat in an acrylic or semigloss. It’s also a good idea to paint the inside of the cabinets first. That way you’ll get used to the character of the paint and, if a paint gun, you can work out the kinks on the part of the door that won’t show.

After all your cabinets have dried it’s time to do the antiquing. Wrap a sanding block with 80-grit sandpaper and sand the corners and edges, allowing the bare wood to be exposed in spots. Some put a little Vaseline along the edges and corners before that last coat of paint. This makes it easier to remove that last layer, giving it an older, worn look. Don’t be afraid. Just eyeball it to decide when it looks weathered enough. You can always repaint and start again.

Next you rub or paint on an antiquing glaze. Let that sit for maybe five minutes, then rub it off with cheese cloth. Again, this will call upon your artistic eye to determine if it has the right look. Finally, dip a paint brush in some stain; squeeze out the majority of the moisture, then spatter it across the surface. This will give the appearance of aging. A good whipping with a heavy chain and a nail hole or two and, voila’ – you have yourself some spanking new “aged” wood cabinets.

The post How to Paint Cabinets to Look Antique appeared first on Independent-Painting.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets and cabinet doors in a kitchen can bring new life to old cabinetry. The process of re-facing them can be a little time consuming but, very worth it in the end. They can be painted in one solid color that matches the decor theme of the room or, even in two different shades. Painting the cabinet doors in two matching paint shades can give them a great deal of depth.

To start the refinishing process the cabinet doors need to be removed from the cabinet. This can easily be accomplished with a screwdriver or a drill. Remove the screws in the hinges that are on the back of the door and put them in a safe place to reuse again later. The doors then need to be cleaned thoroughly and dried. Once they are completely dry they will need to be sanded.

This will help to give texture to the cabinet so that the paint has something to grab onto. The small handheld sanders work perfectly for this job. After the cabinets have been sanded, they will need to be cleaned once more to remove all bits of dust from them. The doors will need to be primed next. A primer is used to give the paint more of a lifespan and tends to stick to the cabinet doors better than paint alone does. When the primer has had time to dry the cabinet door is ready to be painted. Enamel paint is the best option when it comes to painting cabinets.

It is easy to find and comes in several color options. The enamel type paint holds up well in kitchen conditions where moisture and grease are sure to be found. It can be applied to the door with a small brush or a tiny roller. The tiny rollers that are sold in most home improvement stores are a great option as they leave behind no brush strokes. Use a little paint brush to get into the corners of the cabinets. Apply a second coat of paint after the first one has had time to dry. Once all of the cabinets have been painted and dried they can be hung back onto the cabinets.

The post Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets- Hints and Tricks appeared first on Independent-Painting.

The first thing you want to do when refinishing cabinets is to create a plan of action. You want to choose what color you’re going to paint your cabinets based on the rest of your kitchen and the decor of your home. Watch TV, read design books and magazines and search the internet for design ideas. If you’re planning on moving out of your home within the next few years, pick something that will make a dramatic difference, but will be neutral enough to please a majority of people. If you’re choosing to paint your cabinets, pick a high gloss paint in the color of your choice. High gloss is better for kitchen surfaces because its sheen makes it easier to clean.

The first thing you want to do is to remove all the cabinet doors and hardware from the cabinets. If you have doors that are the same size, make sure to mark them so they go back where they came from. Clean the doors and faces of the cabinet with a household cleaner to remove any built up dirt, grease or grime. If the cabinets were previously stained or painted, you must use a paint stripper to remove the old color. Go to your local paint store and ask for a wood stripper recommended for kitchen cabinets and follow the directions on the package.

Now its time to sand the cabinet surfaces. Sand all the areas to be painted with a coarse sandpaper to start (around 80-100 grit paper). Continue sanding for 2 more complete passes with higher grit paper each time. First using a 150 grit, then moving on to a 200-220 grit paper. A good sand job will leave the cabinets smooth when your hand is rubbed against them. Make sure to get all areas that will be painted.

The most important part of any paint job is the primer. When painting cabinets, a quality primer is even more important because they are getting opened, closed and slammed several times a day. The primer makes the color stick and look better. So by using a good primer you give your paint a better surface to stick to, which insures a longer lasting coat of paint. When priming and painting, remember to be conscious of dripping paint that will create ugly paint drops in corners and one the sides of cabinets. Also remember to make long strokes lengthwise along the cabinet and doors. Once primed once or twice (depending on if you can see grains in the wood or not) continue on with the paint.

Make sure the primer is completely dry before painting and continue on with a layer of paint. Again make sure not to have drip marks, and go along the cabinet lengthwise with the brush for the most professional look. Make sure the paint is completely dry before you add a second coat and add a 3rd if needed.

With a weekend, a little help and some hard work, you can transform your kitchen to something you can be proud of. Best of all, when you sell the house, more money will go into your pocket because you saved money by doing it yourself!

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