DIY Kitchen Makeover

 Before

This post is for anyone who hates their kitchen cabinets and is thinking about transforming them with paint.  I should have named this post:  How-To Paint Kitchen Cabinets and How-to Install No-Miter Moulding without fear.  When I moved into my house these oak cabinets didn’t quite float my boat, but I knew that we couldn’t afford to get the kitchen re-done, so I lived with them.  (Sorry this is the only “before” shot I could find of my kitchen) Fast forward a few years – I just could not look at them anymore.  I had successfully painted many pieces of furniture and knew I could paint the cabinets; it would just take a little longer than just re-doing one piece of furniture.  These cabinets have wood doors and fronts, but the sides are made of laminate to look like oak and were slightly lighter in color.  The sides were also recessed from the front, which left the perfect amount of space to add beadboard to the sides without having to add finishing trim.  

 I wanted them to look as professionally done as possible so I took a trip to Home Depot to investigate how I could add some detail to the cabinets themselves and found No-Miter moulding.  The sign said – professional results, eliminating the need for miter cuts.  Specifically designed to highlight corners and turns, which was perfect as I wanted to highlight my center island.  The possibility of having decorative moulding in my kitchen was becoming a reality.   I had a simple table saw and this was something I knew I could handle by myself without the help of my husband or a contractor.  

 So I bought myself some decorative baseboard, decorative corners, beadboard panels in two different styles, wide (Pickwick Pattern) and the narrow (traditional).   I didn’t stop there – I had seen in many magazines, cabinets that had feet like a piece of furniture.  I wanted that look.  I can be quite resourceful when I really want something and found that pine shelf brackets sold in craft stores very inexpensively would work perfectly if I cut them to the correct height to fit under the cabinets at each corner to resemble feet. 

I was thrilled with all my efforts.  The photo below was taken today, but I painted the cabinets 8 years ago and they still look good.  I had to touch up the cabinets under the sink, as they get the most wear.  If you decide to do this the best advice I can give to you is – take your time and do it right.  It took me 3 weeks.  I worked a section at a time so we could still use the kitchen.  I took the doors off and painted them on sawhorses set up in my basement.  All the other work I did right in the kitchen.  Get a really good 1” angled brush; it is worth it to buy the best one.  When you are finished you can really be proud and say:  

 I did it ALL by myself!

 

 

This photo shows the original cabinet, the new side with moulding and paint, and attached shelf bracket(see next photo)

Same cabinet After

Before
 
 

After

I bought all of my supplies at The Home Depot except for the shelf brackets which I got at  AC Moore.

 

Gather:

Ornamental Mouldings  Rope Acordonada Baseboard 3/8” x 4

Decorative Outside Corner Moulding

Decorative Inside Corner Moulding

Pine Planking Beadboard

Pine Shelf Brackets, one for each foot

Glidden Gripping Primer

Sherwin Williams Semi-gloss latex in Antique White

Saw/Electric Saw/or a Table Saw

Electric Sander and med grit sandpaper

Tack cloth

Screwdriver

Fine nap paint roller

1” angle brush

Paintable silicone caulk

 

  

Adding No-Miter Moulding:

  

 

1.     Cut beadboard to height of section you want to cover.  Starting at one end of each section – glue each tongue and groove piece on with Liquid Nails. The last piece you may have to cut width-wise in order to fit the space.  Make sure as you place each section in that they are straight.  You may need to add a finishing nail in some areas.  I needed only a few. 

  

2.   Measure length of cabinet base for baseboard.  Make sure to leave enough room for the corner pieces to fit.  (Each corner piece has a notch cut into it so that it fits right at the corner.  Cut baseboard to size and attach with liquid nails, then attach the corner pieces.

  

3.    Apply a bead of caulk along all seams and junctions between beadboard and the baseboard. This will make the pieces look like they are one.  Lightly go over the caulk with a wet finger tip to smooth.  Let dry.

Aisle in Home Depot 

 

Mouldings and Shelf Bracket 

 

Beadboard Planking

 

Beadboard Planking, Primed

 

Painting: 

1.     Remove doors and all hardware.  Lightly sand doors and cabinet fronts.  Clean off thoroughly with a tack cloth. 

  

2.   Apply a light coat of gripping primer with roller, let dry, add one more coat, let dry.  If you have recessed framed cabinets use an angled brush to paint the framed section.

  

3.    Apply two coats of latex paint.  Let dry between each coat. If you need more coverage, paint another coat, but keep each coat light.

  

4.   When dry – hang the doors back on.

 

 

I am linking this project to:

   

Tagged as: Home Depot, How to install Beadbaord, Ornamental Mouldings, Painting Cabinets, Painting Oak