Before undertaking a complete kitchen-remodeling project, consider a face-lift instead. Splashes of color are an affordable way to emphasize the main focal points of the room. Homeowners Jennie and Brian Shannon wanted to spruce up their dated kitchen with a warmer, brighter feel. By focusing on the breakfast room chairs, cabinets, and windows, they created a cozy, welcoming space.
Aged Cabinets
Sometimes all kitchen cabinets need is a little cosmetic work. Before you decide to rip out your old ones, consider this quick staining technique that will add a touch of age and warmth to your kitchen.
Step 1: Sand all visible cabinet surfaces sufficiently. (Tip: Use electric sanders with caution as a shortcut. On stock cabinets, wood may be a thin veneer and will wear quicker than expected.) Clean well with tack cloth.
Step 2: Apply a thick coat of tinted glaze to cabinet surface with a paintbrush. (The Shannons used a glaze tinted with Benjamin Moore's Oklahoma Wheat.) With a clean rag, wipe off excess paint, leaving just enough to tint the cabinets. Do one cabinet at a time so paint won't set. Keep in mind that a glazed finish does not cover as completely as paint does. Use regular paint to fully hide any unwanted marks. Allow to dry overnight.
Step 3: Sand cabinets lightly. Apply the gel stain with an artists brush onto crevices, molding edges, and corners of cabinets. Wipe off with a clean rag, leaving excess in grooves for contrast.
Step 4: Use paste wax to remove any excess gel stain on cabinet surface before stain has completely dried. Apply wax to clean rag, and wipe over excess. Stain should come off easily. Once stain has completely dried, finish and seal entire cabinet surface with wax.
