It is easy to do, relatively inexpensive and fun. Change your kitchen from dull to glam in minutes. Try indulging in your 1960’s avocado green kitchen by cleaning and refinishing the rich walnut cabinets and drawer fronts and adorning them with brushed metal knobs. No your kitchen has kitsch and modern appeal at once. Replacing your kitchen cabinet hardware is one of the easiest ways to refresh a room.

There are many shapes, sizes and material to choose from in your quest for a new and improved kitchen. The best place to see the largest selection is by shopping online. Rather than dragging yourself from hardware store to hardware store only to be disappointed in the choices available you should try shopping online from the comfort of your favorite chair. Not only will you find the best selection of kitchen cabinet hardware, but you will also find the best prices.

One of the most popular accents for cabinets these days is the European bar pull. Usually made of silvery metal like steel or chrome these long bars will give your kitchen a fresh and decidedly modern look when placed on your cabinets and appliances. And don’t forget the hinges. You can match them in material and finish to your pulls or knobs or simply choose ones that are completely concealed.

Since there are so many types of kitchen cabinet hardware available you should try to narrow your search down by material, type or finish and then go from there. For example you may want a Victorian look so you could accent your cupboards with glass or porcelain knobs. Then you could narrow it down by color or shape. You could match your granite counter top with granite knobs or have a little fun with fruit and vegetable shaped knobs in a variety of finishes including enameled. For a fifties look, you could try oil-rubbed brass latches and matching hinges.

It has never been easier to change your kitchen décor. Whether you want your kitchen to be garden fresh with flowery knobs and pulls or reminiscent of a north woods cabin with branch shaped knobs and pulls. You can do it with ease. Choose to breathe new life into your kitchen with new kitchen cabinet hardware from knobs and pulls to hinges and more.

It has been said that the beauty is in the details and with kitchen cabinet hardware this has never been more true. Whether you choose the warmth of wood or the coolness of metal or glass finding new cabinet hardware is an adventure. There is so much to choose from that looking at all the options is just the fun beginning of your journey to a kitchen make over.

The post Kitchen Cabinet Hardware – Give Your Kitchen A Look of Distinction 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.

Those are the most common questions most home owners have when they want to remodel or consider remodeling their bathrooms. Some people would decide that a brand new bathroom make over isn’t right without a new centerpiece. Most people consider the bathroom vanity the center piece of a bathroom. Many people consider remodel the bathroom vanity saves some time and money. If you are on a budget when you decide to remodel your bathroom it is a good idea that you just remodel you original vanity to save money. There are many easy and low costing things you can do to your bathroom to make it brand new.

First step into remodeling your bathroom is to figure out the problem in the bathroom. Is it the mirror, or the hinges, or the shelves inside? Remodeling a bathroom vanity can be fairly easy it just takes time and can save a person some money. There will be a few tools that might be needed in remodeling your bathroom vanity they are very specific tools. The problem will be very specific and the individual will be very glad on remodeling there bathroom vanity that they are remodeling. If the individual vanity is in a shape that there is no way to remodel it, well the only other option to do is to replace the whole vanity. This will vary from person to person and what kind of shape their vanity is in.

One thing to remember is that bathroom vanities are similar to kitchen cabinets in that one can leave the basic structure in place and just replace the fronts. This is a very cost effective way to improve the look of the vanities while keeping costs down at the same time so don’t neglect this important suggestion that could save you hundreds.

The post How To Decide Whether To Replace, Refinish, Or Remodel Your Bathroom Vanities? appeared first on Independent-Painting.

Not all kitchen remodels have to cost a fortune. The following are the five ideas a homeowner can use to update a kitchen without busting his or her budget.

1) Replace the flooring. Install laminate floor over old linoleum, vinyl or chipped tile. It costs just $1 to $5 a square foot and there are many modern, easy-care styles that look like wood, stone or tile and don’t include the hefty price tag.

2) Modernize and replace the lighting. Nothing dates a kitchen like outdated lighting. A new ceiling fixture costs less than $100 and will brighten up the kitchen. Adding some under-the-cabinet lights or pendant lights over work areas will illuminate work surfaces and brighten up the whole kitchen.

3) Give the cabinets a new life. A coat of good paint and new hardware is the cheapest way to go. If the budget is not too tight and the homeowner is able to spend from $4,000 to $6,000 on the project, hire a refacing company to replace the doors and drawer fronts. Make sure you replace the old hardware with some new hardware and you’ll be on your way to adding a fresh face to tired old cabinets.

4) Don’t forget to refinish the appliances. For a few hundred dollars, an appliance refinisher will re-enamel your stove, refrigerator and dishwasher door in the color of your choice, including a stainless steel look-alike. Go to an appliance store or home to inform yourself on the latest kitchen appliance colors. Make sure you get rid of colors like gold and avocado, which are a throwback to the 70’s, and repaint with fresh modern colors.

5) Make sure you update the backsplash. Replace the space between your cabinets and the countertop with fashionable stone, inexpensive wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint. A fresh coat of coordinating paint throughout the kitchen will give the whole kitchen an updated, new feel. Try to stick to neutral colors if you are planning to sell your house in the near future.

All or a few of the above ideas should make a dramatic change in a kitchen and provide the homeowner with a good return for the money invested when it comes time to sell.

The post Five Low Cost Ways To Revitalize A Kitchen Without Busting Your Budget 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.

The post Common Mistakes during kitchen renovations appeared first on Independent-Painting.

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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