DIY Kitchen Cabinet Makeover Using No Miter Molding
How to add no-miter molding and bead board to plain kitchen cabinets to give them a custom look.
Before: Sealed Light Oak Kitchen Cabinets
When I moved into this house the oak cabinets in the kitchen 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 for seven years until I had the time to give them a makeover with paint and no miter
After: Painted White With DIY Custom Molding Added to the Cabinets
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.
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 molding.
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 molding 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, bead board 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. A few years later we also got new countertops right before we moved to a new home.
How-To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
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.
To learn how I successfully painted these cabinets, follow the steps I outline in this post:
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.
When you are finished you can really be proud and say: I did it myself!
This photo shows the original cabinet, the new side with molding and paint, and attached shelf bracket
.
Same cabinet After
Before
After
I did not paint the inside of the cabinets, but I did paint both sides of the doors and a half inch strip inside – along the cabinet opening as you can see in this photo.
I bought all of my supplies at The Home Depot except for the shelf brackets which I got at AC Moore.
How-to Install No-Miter Molding without Fear
supplies needed:
Ornamental Moldings Rope Acordonada Baseboard 3/8” x 4 Decorative Outside Corner Molding Decorative Inside Corner Molding Pine Planking Bead board 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 Small Foam paint roller with rounded end 1” angle brush Paint-able silicone caulkHow to Add No-Miter Molding
1. Cut bead board 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 bead board 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
Moldings and Shelf Bracket
Bead board Planking
Bead board Planking, Primed
How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets
I used Glidden Gripper primer and Sherwin Williams Pro Classic Semi-Gloss paint in Antique White. To make the painting process easier, do one section of cabinets at a time. Set up 2 x 4’s on saw horses to place the cabinet doors on and allow you to make a production line.
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 the small foam roller with round edges (lessens the look of roller lines), let dry, add one more coat, let dry.
- If you have recessed framed cabinets use a Purdy brand 1-1/2″ angled brush to paint the recessed sections. (If you see any paint ridges – sand with fine grit sandpaper in between coats and then clean off with a tack cloth.)
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.
For more painting furniture inspiration, check out my Paint FAQ’s page.
How to Make a Kitchen Banquette
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