Paint

12.13.2021

Why I Repainted my Chalk Painted Cabinets

If you are considering using chalk paint on your cabinets, this is a must-read. Don’t make my mistake! Learn from why I repainted my chalk-painted cabinets.

When we first moved into our home, I painted our kitchen cabinets with chalk paint. This is what they looked like before (the first time I painted them):

And here is a photo of how our kitchen cabinets originally looked when we first moved into our home:

Why I Repainted our Chalk Painted Cabinets

The chalk paint itself has held up really well. There was little to no chipping. Chalk paint is amazing for DIY projects because it requires no prep work and eliminates the need for priming.

However, I made one mistake. Unfortunately, it was a big mistake – so big that I had to repaint the cabinets.

I used wax as my sealer.

It is hard to see in photos, but the clear wax was next to impossible to clean in the kitchen. Dirt, grease, dust, and grime were getting caught in the crevices, and the wax did not clean up easily.

I had to repaint my cabinets.

I used chalk-type paint again, and I painted right over the previously painted cabinets sealed with wax. I would recommend using sandpaper and/or a coat (or two) of primer if you paint over cured wax. However, most likely you are not painting over the wax and will not need a primer. To apply the paint, I used a brush for the crevices and a roller for the flat areas.

How to Correctly Seal Chalk-Painted Cabinets

I painted everything with two coats of paint (allowing the first coat to completely dry before I added the second coat) and finished with two coats of sealer. I applied the matte sealer the same way I applied the paint, but you can also use a water-based sealer like a polyacrylic (found at any hardware store).

I have already noticed such a difference between the sealer and the wax. Now when my kids sit at the bar, I don’t have to worry as much. All the dirt they kick up can now be easily wiped away!

If you are considering painting your cabinets with chalk paint, don’t make my mistake (which is why I repainted my chalk-painted cabinets).

Use a top coat other than wax in the kitchen.

I know people often love the look of dark wax to provide that more lived-in, distressed look. However, try antiquing your cabinet doors with a dark glaze so you don’t have to use wax as your sealant.

Here’s my supply list for this project:

Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint
Amy Howard at Home Sealer (I used the matte)
2.5″ Flat Brush
Small Foam Roller
Painters Tape
Drop Cloth
Screwdriver (to remove the hardware and hinges)

Did you know you can also apply chalk paint in a sprayer? I HIGHLY recommend this method when painting cabinetry to avoid brush marks and for a smooth finish.

See how my laundry room cabinets turned out by going HERE and for the spraying chalk paint tutorial.

This post was originally published in April of 2016.

Painting our kitchen cabinets helped me love the space until we could remodel it:

See the full DIY kitchen remodel reveal (and journey) HERE!

Go create something!

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

*This post contains affiliate links and is a sponsored post by Amy Howard at Home. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.

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Decor

10.21.2021

Decorating with Brown

Today we’re talking about decorating with brown. Now before you decided to leave, brown is a hardworking neutral that works with just about every color. When used in the right environment, it can create a warm, stable feeling in any room.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I partnered with Amy Howard Home to share their Color of the Month.

The Color of the Month Club is a monthly subscription where Color of the Month subscribers will receive a new color every month exclusive to the club. This month’s Color of the Month is Southern as Pecan Pie, and it is a dark chocolate brown which is perfect for fall – which is why we are talking about decorating with brown!

An excess of brown can create a dark, heavy feel in your space which is why it’s important to integrate shades of brown into a color palette with colors and shades that complement it. It’s all about knowing the colors that go with brown, and the best ways to incorporate them.

The Color Theory Behind Brown

Despite all of these meanings and uses, you won’t find brown on the color wheel or in the rainbow. It’s a composite color made by combining usually 3 other colors (black, red, and yellow for example, or red, yellow, and blue in certain ratios). Together with low brightness or low saturation, we get brown, instead of a clear shade of another color. Its composite nature makes it a natural background color, and you can find a shade of brown to complement any other color well.

Brown is the color of earth, wood, stone, wholesomeness, reliability, elegance, security, healing, home, grounding, foundations, stability, warmth, and honesty, is a natural, neutral color that is typically associated with the seasons of fall and winter. It is a warm color that stimulates the appetite. While it is sometimes considered dull, it also represents steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, and health.

Brown is believed to help create a wholesome feeling, a connection with the earth, and a sense of orderliness and convention. Brown is a stable and grounded color that is known to make people feel safe and comfortable.

Brown & White

White goes with just about every color, and brown is no exception to that rule. Pairing any shade of brown with a white will give you a classic and clean contrast that works well in a room like a formal dining room or living room. If white and brown are your two main colors in any room, make sure you vary the shades to keep it interesting and from being too monochromatic.

Brown & Orange

Since brown and orange are such similar colors you might shy away from pairing them together – but don’t! When placed in a primarily brown space, orange accents will serve as the perfect energizer for the room. A pop of orange in a brown room is very sophisticated and glamorous, especially against darker woods. For a more warm, sophisticated color scheme, you can try pairing a dark chocolate background with orange and cream accents.

Brown & Green

Brown is a color perceived as natural and neutral so pairing it with green plays just makes sense. Lighter shades of green like mint soften the darker furniture in a room. Using darker shades of green paired with dark brown accents or wooden furniture creates a darker, moody vibe that would work for a den or office space. There are few combinations of green and brown that wouldn’t compliment each other thanks to the two colors being natural in nature.

Brown & Yellow

Consider pairing yellow with brown. Pairing brown with yellow creates a contemporary vibe in a bedroom or sitting room. Using the 60-30-10 rule would work well when pairing yellow and brown. 60% of the room should be a neutral shade such as white, with 30% of the room decorated in various shades of brown, while 10% is reserved for yellow accents.

Brown & Purple

A more unexpected pairing is brown and purple. Deeper shades of purples and browns can make larger spaces feel warm and rich. When pairing purple and brown, always focus on the opposites. Darker woods like walnut pair well with pastel purples, and lighter brown woods pair well with deep shades of purple like plum or bright shades like amethyst. Brown and purple work very well in a room with gold accents and the colors can create a cozy, moody, and luxurious space.

Brown & Blue

You won’t find brown on the traditional color wheel, but since its closest shade is orange, blues is an obvious complementary color for brown. Combining blue and brown tones can make a relaxing environment. Brown paired with dark navy blue makes a room feel refined with the dark colors, whereas pale blue paired with beige or a lighter wood creates a more serene environment. The cool tones in shades of blue mix well with the warm browns of darker wooden furniture without leaving the room feeling too dark or heavy.

Brown & Pink

Brown and pink may be an unlikely pair, but they work really well together. Pairing brown with shades like rose or fuchsia creates a feminine space without overdoing it. If you’re going ahead with a pink room, the natural order would be to start with a brown base and brown or wooden furniture, using shades of pink as your accents in things like pillows, curtains, or artwork.

Brown & Black

Brown and black are neutrals that work well together and create a classic color palette in any room. When using black as one of your main colors, you must make sure to balance it well. Lighter shades of brown work better so the room doesn’t appear too dark. In spaces with black furniture, brown accents can add depth and interest to the room, while black can create drama against brown furniture.

Brown & Red

When it comes to pairing brown with red, it’s all about the shade of red that you choose. A room such as a home library or study might call for a moody color palette centered around darker hues of red, whereas a clean, modern bedroom can benefit from a pop of color in the form of a bright red throw blanket or reading chair.

The color brown is a wonderful neutral that can both carry or accent a room design. From deep rich chocolate to soft, muted taupe, brown is the great equalizer and goes with everything.

If you want to see more info on the color of the month club or purchase any of the specific paint colors I mentioned, go to Amy Howard Home.

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Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

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Decor

09.24.2021

Decorating with Red

Today we’re discussing decorating red because it is such a powerful accent color. Red captures attention and is the color of extremes. It’s the color of passionate love, seduction, violence, danger, anger, and adventure. Our prehistoric ancestors saw red as the color of fire and blood – energy and primal life forces – and most of red’s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past.

It is one of the most visible colors, second only to yellow – which explains why it is used on fire engines and stop signs to trigger alertness.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I partnered with Amy Howard Home to share their Color of the Month.

This is a new monthly subscription where Color of the Month subscribers will receive a new color every month exclusive to the club. This month’s Color of the Month is When in Doubt Wear Red, and it is a beautiful deep red with blue undertones perfect for fall – which is why we’re talking about all things red!

The cabinet I showed earlier is one I found at a roadside sale for $10. It’s amazing what some paint can do (and new hardware):

RED COLOR THEORY

On the color wheel, red is a warm, primary color and sits between blue and yellow. Primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

The three secondary colors (colors created when primary colors are mixed) are green, orange, purple. And there are six tertiary colors, which are colors made from primary and secondary colors, such as blue-green or red-violet.

Warm colors include red, orange, and yellow (and variations of these three colors). Warm colors are the color of fire, fall leaves, sunsets and sunrises, and are generally energizing, passionate, and positive.

Generally speaking, the most complementary colors are those that stand opposite each other in the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow.

Red has the longest wavelength of any color. It’s the first color babies can see, and it’s the very first color to vanish as the sunsets.

Red is the opposite of blue (read all about decorating with blues here). While blue calms, red can speed up our heart rate and is a physical stimulant.

Red calls us to action, gets us motivated, and wearing red lets people know we feel confident. Red is associated with luxury – think about a red Ferrari.

Red also has negative connotations in that it can indicate anger and red is associated with financial loss.

SHADES AND TINTS OF RED

Blue-based reds are berry reds.
Yellow-based reds are tomato reds.

Generally, females are more attracted to blue reds while males prefer yellow reds.

DECORATING WITH RED

In design, red can be a powerful accent color. It can have an overwhelming effect if it’s used too much in designs, especially in its purest form. It’s a great color to use when power or passion want to be portrayed in the design. Red can be very versatile, though, with brighter versions being more energetic and darker shades being more powerful and elegant.

LESS IS MORE WITH RED

Red is the perfect way to add a splash of color to any space and is a beautiful accent color. Use it to enhance a room by painting a piece of furniture or adding it as a decorative piece (think artwork, vases, and throw pillows).

COLOR SCHEMES THAT WORK WITH RED

All of the colors I share below are from Amy Howard at Home’s One Step Paint Line.

Red, Navy, and White

There’s a reason so many flags are red, white, and a deep, navy blue. Red, white, and blue is a classic combination, but because red and blue are both primary colors, the combination can be overwhelming. A more sophisticated combination is primary red and a deep navy blue.

Red and Turquoise

Red and turquoise the perfect combination for people who want bold decor. These two vibrant shades are loud on their own but somehow, they neutralize each other when styled together. Turquoise is an example of a tertiary, and they tend to work well with red.

Red and Green

Since red and green are complementary colors, it’s only natural that they pair nicely in your home. The colors create levels of high contrast but be careful to not make your space look too jolly. Try mixing several different greens versus only the primary green.

Red and Orange

Try mixing colors with red on the same color spectrum – like orange. The result is warm and inviting.

Red, Black, and White: Retro Classic

Black, white, and red is a reliable color combination that results in a sweet, retro attitude. It is a classic approach to decor.

Red and Blush

If you want a modern decor look, try mixing red and a subtle blush. The blush acts as a neutral so the red stays the center of attention.

Red and Purple

Located on the opposite ends of the color spectrum, red and purple aren’t the first two colors you’d think to put together. This unlikely duo can really work but make sure the two colors are in the same tone range. If you select a red and purple with the same saturation, it will look balanced in the room.

What is your favorite combination with red? Want to learn more about the color of the month club or check out all of Amy Howard at Home’s

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Decor

02.19.2021

Beautiful Cabinet Color

I am asked all the time about the color of our kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately our cabinets came finished in this beautiful cabinet color, and although I had them color-matched, I was never able to direct you to a specific brand or color – until TODAY!

I partnered with Amy Howard Home to share their Color of the Month, and I was thrilled when I opened up the can.

This month’s Color of the Month is Front Porch Swing, and it is a beautiful, bluish-gray which is almost an EXACT match to my kitchen cabinets!

In order to gain access to this color and any of the past colors, you will need to join The Color of the Month Club. The Color of the Month Club is a monthly subscription where Color of the Month subscribers will receive a new color every month exclusive to the club.

It’s just slightly bluer and a little darker, but it’s REALLY close.

This paint (Amy Howard Home One Step Paint) is like magic. It goes on smooth and requires no sanding, prepping, or priming. I have One Step Paint on our laundry room cabinets, and it has held up so well for years. I like to seal it with this Matte Sealer. One Step Paint is perfect for everyone from beginners to professionals.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I painted a stool (which you can find HERE) in the color Front Porch Swing, and it is SO pretty!

If you’re not already decorating with blue gray, you’ll want to consider adding it into your decor – and possibly even your cabinets since it is a beautiful cabinet color. It’s a color that works with most decor styles and brings calm to any space.

Let’s talk about the color theory behind blue gray.

Blue gray is a simple as mixing a little blue with a little gray.

Gray is an intermediate color between black and white. It’s a neutral color or achromatic color that means without color because it’s derived from white and black.

Now, gray doesn’t stop here. There are cool grays (like the blue gray we’re discussing) and warm grays.

When infused with blue, gray has the ability to take on the hues of these colors in a way that gives gray a completely fresh look.

Blue is the perfect addition gray. It’s a primary color and can build a sense of calm. It’s the most loved color which is why it’s so great for decorating.

History of blues and grays…

A little history behind gray: in the Middle Ages, gray was the color of undyed wool and the most common color worn by the peasants on the poor.

During the Renaissance, gray began to play an important role in fashion and art. Black became the most popular color of the nobility, particularly in Italy, France, and Spain, and grey and white were harmonious with it.

Grey became a highly fashionable color in the 18th century, both for women’s dresses and for men’s waistcoats and coats. It looked particularly luminous coloring the silk and satin fabrics worn by the nobility and wealthy.

The grey business suit appeared in the mid-19th century in London; light grey in summer, dark grey in winter; replacing the more colorful palette of men’s clothing early in the century.

Fast forward to now, and gray has reigned high in home decor for close to a decade now.

Using blue gray in decor

Blue Gray works well with many different colors and your options are really endless since it often acts as a neutral.

As I mentioned earlier, I have blue gray cabinets in our kitchen. I crave color, so I added pops of pink and love the contrast of the cabinets with the darker navy walls in the next room.

Blue gray looks gorgeous with natural woods. Notice how the vanity highlights any grays in the wood floor.

Blue gray also work well with black. The addition of black doesn’t make this space less dark, but it adds a touch of sophistication – especially with the black and gold combo.

I created color palettes using Front Porch Swing and other Amy Howard One Step Paint colors.

One Step Paint Color Palettes:

The first is color combo is very soothing.

Front Porch Swing – Ballet White – Palmer Pink

This next color palette adds some more blues to the mix and a green (which remember is created using blue and yellow).

Front Porch Swing – Cartouche Green – Lakai Blue

The final palette is a little more bold, and although there’s another blue, I’ve also added a pinkish red.

Front Porch Swing – Chinese Red – Lading Singing the Blues

Where would you add blue gray to your home?

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Decor

01.25.2021

Decorating with Green

Decorating with green has been a design favorite for centuries – the Victorians favored deeper green tones like sage and brunswick green for their interiors. In the 1950’s, aqua and mint green were paired with baby pink to achieve the ideal Americana aesthetic for kitchens and Cadillacs. In the 1970s, avocado became the height of fashion and enjoyed immense popularity (even in appliances).

I partnered with Amy Howard Home to share their Color of the Month. This is a new monthly subscription where Color of the Month subscribers will receive a new color every month exclusive to the club. This month’s Color of the Month is Hunt and Polo, and it is a beautiful, deep green – which is why we’re talking about all things green!

I transformed a $10 thrift store find this month’s One Step Paint color, and the result is so elegant!

It looks perfect in my office – I love the green with the raw wood and blues and grays.

And now, we’ll go back to talking about decorating with green, and why it’s such a great color to use in your home…

Green is a color of balance and harmony. It lends us a clearer sense of right from wrong since green incorporates a balance of both the logical and emotional. Green is one of the most-seen colors in nature reflecting life, rest, and peace. It is also a sign of growth, whether that’s in a physical object like plants or in our income and wealth.

COLOR THEORY

On the visible spectrum, green sits between blue and yellow. In painting and printing, green is a secondary color, meaning that it is created by mixing two primary colors—yellow and blue.

Primary Colors: Red, yellow and blue
In traditional color theory, primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

Secondary Colors: Green, orange and purple
These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.

SHADES AND TINTS OF GREEN

Green can vary in both shades (in which the green is mixed with black for a darker green) and tints (which are mixed with white, to produce a paler result). But, there are also a broad range of green varieties that are mixed with other colors, such as yellow, blue, gray, and brown.

Yellow-greens such as chartreuse (named after the French liquor which shares the distinctive color) and lime green have a lively, energetic feel.

Blue-greens such as sea green, aqua and teal have a more subtle energy which helps designs to feel calmer and more chic. These colors are associated with emotional healing.

Gray-greens like seafoam and sage are wintery and more somber than their yellow- and blue-green relations.

Brown-greens like dark olive have a formal and dignified air, which explains why they are often selected for military uniforms. Olive green is the traditional color of peace.

Overall, if you’re looking to portray health, rest, and to relieve stress, green is your color. It is the most restful color for the human eye; it can improve vision. While green does have minor negative aspects like over-possession and materialism, it has a more positive affect than most other colors.

COLORS THAT GO WITH GREEN

A monochromatic green color scheme uses tints, tones, and shades to create an entirely green palette.

A complementary green color scheme incorporates red. Green’s cousins, yellow and blue, are complementary to purple and orange respectively.

An analogous green color scheme uses the colors bordering green on either side of the color wheel. In this case, yellow and blue.

A triadic green color scheme includes orange and purple since they are equidistant from green on the color wheel.

One Step Paint Color Palettes:

The first is monochromatic (I used two greens), but I also incorporated a complimentary shade:

In this next palette, I added a toned down complimentary color (pink) and a creamy neutral – I love using creams and off-whites in our home.

In this last palette, you’ll see the analogous color (Lady Singing the Blues) which is similar in boldness to Hunt and Polo. I added a lighter neutral (Luxe Grey) to add some softness.

Just a random tidbit for you, centuries ago, many of the chemicals used to create thes green pigments were in fact extremely poisonous, with the famous example of Napoleon having apparently been slowly poisoned by the arsenic-rich green wallpaper used in his room in St. Helena. Although the wallpaper has since been proven not to have been the sole cause of his death, deadly pigments did little to dissuade consumers from the joys of green in their homes.

Go create something!

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Paint

09.21.2017

Chalk Paint in a Paint Sprayer

Chalk paint can be used in a paint sprayer

I don’t know where I’ve been, but I just discovered that you can put chalk-type paint in a paint sprayer! I have been a fan of chalk-type paint for years and have used Amy Howard’s version (One Step Paint) successfully on many different projects (like this bench, my kitchen cabinets, and my kitchen table). I love it because it requires no prep work – you just wipe down and paint! However, I have always used the traditional brush route – until now.

I was used the Amy Howard paint sprayer on this project, but unfortuntely they no longer sell a sprayer. However, I have two other favorites I have used, and you can see those HERE and HERE. Both require watering down the paint a little, but the sprayer provides a beautiful, smooth finish.

My cabinets were a very 90’s dark green. In my previous makeover I left the desk area green and only worried about the cabinets people saw from the doorway. I painted the cabinets that were visible cream, and I always regretted the cream next to my very white washer and dryer.

I decided to paint all the cabinets (including my desk area) a new color. I sanded the cabinets that I had previously painted cream and didn’t worry about sanding the other cabinets I had never painted.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. I cleaned all the cabinets with a rag and Simple Green.

All the doors and drawers were painted in my garage.

Early in the design stage, I wanted colorful cabinets and ordered Amy Howard’s One Step Paint in Barefoot in the Park. However, I fell in love with this image on Pinterest (unfortunately I don’t know the source).

I decided to mix some colors to create a soft similar color. I played around with a little paint to get the perfect color. Once I felt confident in my ratios, I used an empty gallon can and mixed a batch large enough for both sets of cabinets in my laundry room. I used:

1 quart Barefoot in the Park
1 quart Ballet White
1 quart Luxe Grey

I used the sprayer and applied thin coats of the paint.

I used a brush and foam rollers to paint the cabinet frames and sealed the paint with a Gloss Sealer. I applied the sealer just like I did the paint. I sprayed the doors and drawers with the sealer (but no thinning is required) and I used a brush and roller for the rest of the cabinets.

And after an afternoon of painting, my cabinets were a gorgeous new custom color!

I used Hickory Hardware’s gold Skylight Pulls, and they are the PERFECT accent for my cabinets. They are just gorgeous!

This room was definitely a labor of love, and I really am so excited to share the full reveal HERE!

I have a few finishing touches left (like caulking around the tile and finding accessories for the space), but the hard work has been done.

UPDATE: It has been several years since I painted these cabinets, and they still look great! Spraying helped provide a smooth finish, and I ALWAYS recommend a water-based sealer rather than a wax for cabinets. You can go here to see why I don’t recommend wax on cabinets. Go create something!

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home. Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest *This post is a sponsored post by Amy Howard at Home and Hickory Hardware. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.

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Decor

08.23.2016

Tuesday Transformation: Kitchen

The older I get, the more I feel my life goes into overdrive. I feel like we just moved into our current home, and it will be three years this fall. We are planning our first major renovation later this year – the master bathroom. However, everything else in the home has been pretty minor and included little projects and lots of paint. I thought it would be fun to share what the home looked like when we moved in the Fall of 2013 and compare it to today. For today’s Tuesday’s Transformation, I’m sharing our kitchen.

Here’s the before:

kitchen-makeover-using-mainly-paint

And after:

Painting Kitchen Cabinets with Chalk Paint

I would love to buy new appliances, but new appliances mean knocking out cabinets that would lead from one thing to another. We really wanted to make the kitchen work for now, and hopefully, someday we will renovate the kitchen.

Until then, here’s what we did:

PAINTED THE WALLS. I painted the walls using Valspar’s Cincinnati Hotel Briggs Beige. I love this neutral warm color and used it for years in our previous home. To see all the details, click HERE.
PAINTED THE CABINETS. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I actually painted my cabinets TWICE. Do not make my mistake and read all the details HERE.

CHANGED THE CABINET HARDWARE. I won all my hardware from a contest and had fun picking out vintage-inspired pieces. Click HERE for all the hardware details and links.

ADDED GLASS TO CABINET DOORS. I went with seeded glass and am so glad I did. You can read more on the glass HERE.

ADDED A BACKSPLASH I absolutely love my subway tile. This is the one project we did not DIY and hired out. Click HERE to see more.

REPLACED THE FAUCET. I went with an oil-rubbed bronze faucet and love how it ties in my black appliances. You can see all the details HERE.

PAINTED THE FLOOR. The floor was in bad shape and very worn with water damage. When we first moved in, I hid it with a large rug. Unfortunately, my kids kept spilling things on it (and I did too), and it just wasn’t working for us. I painted a rug, and you can see my tutorial HERE.

PAINTED THE FRIDGE WITH CHALKBOARD PAINT. This was one of my very first DIY projects when we moved in. I love it and still update the calendar every week. You can see more HERE.

ADDED SHIPLAP TO MAIN WALL. I jumped in on the shiplap trend, but let’s hope it’s not a fast revolving one. I love the texture it adds to the space, and you can see the full tutorial HERE.

Here’s another one more before and after (sorry the angle is different):

house.3

Painted Kitchen Cabinets.

Everything we have done to the kitchen has been slow updates over time.

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets

Painted Kitchen Cabinets Tutorial

Although it isn’t my dream kitchen, it is a space that we have made into our own (and is brighter and happier than it was)! Want to see more Transformation Tuesdays? Check out these other makeovers:

Go create something!

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

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Kitchen Makeover

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Paint

07.21.2016

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets – I am all done! Painting cabinets is exhausting enough the first time around, but painting them twice is just crazy. I made the mistake of using wax as the sealer (for my chalk paint), and it didn’t work for our family (to see more about why I didn’t like the wax, click HERE). However, I used a liquid sealer the second time around and am much happier with the result.

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets

When I repainted the cabinets, I did not sand or prime them. I simply cleaned off the cabinets and painted (using a brush and small roller) the chalk-type paint. However, I did find a few more nicks that happened with my second round of paint. I assume this has to do with painting over the wax, and the majority of this happened at the kitchen bar where my kids bump the bar stools:

Scratches

If you paint over a previously waxed surface, I would suggest sanding and priming. I ended up priming under the counter and repainting under the bar. So far the nicks aren’t happening as often.

Adding primer to cabinets

I still had some cabinets left to paint, so I went ahead and primed any of the cabinets that still needed to be repainted.

Painting cabinets in sections

I also suggest painting cabinets in sections for sanity and removing all hardware before painting.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets with Chalk Paint

I painted the short wall of uppers cream again, but I changed the large wall of cabinets. Originally they were also painted cream, and I asked for your help deciding whether to keep the cream or go with gray. I received so much feedback from everyone, and it was so helpful. Obviously, I went with the gray, and now my black appliances blend in so much better!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Here’s what I used the second time around:

Amy Howard One Step Paint in Selznick Grey
Amy Howard One Step Paint in Linen
Amy Howard Sealer (I prefer the matte)

Painted Kitchen Cabinets.

I have learned a lot from my cabinet painting saga. My advice: If you use a chalk-type paint, use a sealer like the one I used or a polycrylic (instead of wax). And if you’re like me and want to repaint previously wax-sealed cabinets, sand and prime before repainting them for the best possible results.

Kitchen Baked Goods

Painted Kitchen Cabinets Tutorial

Phew. I’m so glad I am done. Now I can move on to another project!

Go create something!

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DIY Painting Kitchen Cabinets

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Paint

02.16.2016

Painting Cabinets with Chalk Paint

Today I’m sharing all about painting cabinets with chalk paint.

Painting Cabinets with One Step Chalk-Type Paint

I recently shared my laundry room makeover (to see more, click here). My laundry room lacks natural light, and I painted the cabinets to brighten the space.

Here’s the before:

Laundry Room - BEFORE

And the after:

Laundry Room Makeover To paint my cabinets, I used a chalk-type paint from Amy Howard at Home. I love this paint because it eliminates the need for sanding or priming. There is no prep work! Here’s what is needed:

Amy Howard One Step Paint (I used Linen and Vintage Affliction)
Amy Howard Matte Sealer
Screwdriver
Simple Green Cleaner (Amazon affiliate link)
Paint Brush
Foam Roller

To begin, remove the hardware from the cabinets.

Remove Hardware before Chalk Paint

Next, wipe down the cabinets with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner.

Clean Cabinets Before Painting

Use painter’s tape to tape off areas where needed.

Taping off Cabinets Before Chalk Paint Now it is time to paint!

Amy Howard One Step Paint Linen Begin with a brush to get all the areas the foam roller will not reach.

Using a Brush with Chalk Paint After the hard-to-reach areas are done, add a coat of paint to everything with the foam roller.

Rolling Chalk Paint Amy Howard Once the first coat of paint is dry, give everything a second coat.

Amy Howard Paint on Cabinets

I painted the insides of my cabinets with Vintage Affliction.

Amy Howard at Home One Step Paint

I painted the inside of the cabinets similar to how I painted the cabinet doors. I used a brush for the hard-to-reach areas and went back through with the foam roller. I gave the insides of the cabinets two coats of paint.

Trimming cabinets with Brush

Amy Howard One Step Paint Cabinets

I also painted the shelves.

Painting Cabinets with One Step Paint

Once the paint is dry, finish with Amy Howard’s Matte Sealer. Add two coats using the brush and foam roller.

Amy Howard Sealer

My laundry room cabinets were painted in one day, and what a difference it made!

Starched Fabric Walls in Laundry Room

Laundry Room Reveal

I’ve painted a lot of cabinets over the years. Here are a couple of other tutorials you may be interested in:

Happy Painting, and let me know if you try painting cabinets with chalk paint!

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

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*This post contains affiliate links and is a sponsored post through Amy Howard at Home. I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my review. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.

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DIY

12.15.2015

Kitchen Table Makeover

I gave my kitchen table a makeover!

Kitchen Table Update

We’ve had the Pier 1 Carmichael Dining Table for close to five years.

After daily use from three kids and a move, it was beginning to look bad. The top is a veneer, and it’s starting to wear through in spots.

And there was a film over the entire top, so it never looked clean.

It was driving me crazy, so I started dreaming about replacing it. Like most of us, I started dreaming of a farmhouse table. I began looking at farmhouse tables on Pottery Barn, since many of my dreams begin there…

The price point was beyond what I was willing to spend. I could have looked for less expensive farmhouse options, but I started thinking that the only thing separating me from a pretty farmhouse table were table legs and paint. Why didn’t I just give my table a makeover? After searching online, I discovered tablelegs.com

I contacted them, and they worked with me to find the best solution.

I ended up ordering four 27″ French Farm Dining Legs in Soft Maple.

They had me measure the notches in my current legs, and they notched out my new farmhouse legs to make installation super easy.

To install my new legs with my existing braces, I placed the table upside down on the floor. Next, we removed the existing legs. (My old legs were bolted on, and I just removed the bolts.)

I could have used the old bolts, but we ran into some issues with reusing them. So, we used new bolts.

Once the old bolts and table legs were removed, I added the new table legs and marked where the new bolts should go.

Next, we pre-drilled a hole for the bolts. (We used a 1/4″ drill bit and our lag bolts were 5/16 – 9×3.) By drilling a bit smaller in diameter, the threads have something to bit into and hold.

Once the holes were pre-drilled, the legs were put back on the table and the bolts were drilled in.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I also gave the table a paint makeover with Amy Howard at Home’s One Step Paint in Bauhaus Buff and Atelier.

One Step Paint by Amy Howard

To see more about a step-by-step tutorial for One Step Paint, click HERE. Instead of using wax, I used Amy Howard’s sealer (in matte). This sealer is great for tables, cabinets, and floors, and it’s so easy to clean. Now my table has an entirely new look thanks to new legs and a coat of paint!

Kitchen Nook Makeover

Go create something!

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

*This post contains affiliate links and is a sponsored post through tablelegs.com and Amy Howard at Home. I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my review. I take pride in reviewing only products that fit my brand and will be beneficial to my readers. And while this post is sponsored, all the opinions are my own.

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