First I tried applying it with a roller for a smooth finish. The chalk paint didn't cover well with my roller and I hated the way it looked. I found I much prefered the look of a paint brush, paint strokes included. It took two coats to cover the old wood. I then sanded down the edges for a well-worn and loved look. When it comes to chalk paint, you usually cover it with a wax or even a laquer. There is no doubt in my mind that the dark wax would have been amazing, but I had to keep in mind I'd be trying to sell my home down the road and too much "well-worn with love" isn't for everyone.
We don't have any Annie Sloan distrubutors here in Vegas and I didn't want to spend$50 or upwards for her laquer I wouldn't use very much of. I chose to seal and protect my cabinets with shellac. It doesn't yellow with age, it dries quickly, and it can be wiped on. It took two thin coats. I find wiping on helps you avoid those ugly brush strokes I don't enjoy in my sealer.
Linking back to...
www.bystephanielynn.com
savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com
www.kammyskorner.com
fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
primitiveandproper.blogspot.com
It looks great- I think the kitchen looks bigger, don't you? It is bright and fresh looking, too- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteIt is such a great change. So much brighter!
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen looks beautiful!!! Great job.I just did this almost two months ago and I love it too.Isn't it nice to have a light bright kitchen.Your kitchen table is beautiful too.
ReplyDelete((((Hugs))))
Anne
Ooh lovely! Does the shellac make it durable and cleanable?
ReplyDeleteIt most certainly does. I catch myself scratching it with a fingernail to make sure it's still holding up.
DeleteYou are so brave - I paint lots of furniture but I would be scared to paint my kitchen cabinets! They look GREAT!
ReplyDeleteI was just discussing using ASCP on kitchen cabinets and your post is perfect timing! I'm going to share this on my Facebook page!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome job! I love that you left the dark contrast on the top of the cabinets and added it to your island. Your kitchen cabinets looks like one of those expensive custom jobs!
ReplyDeleteBarbe
My weekend project; I painted my cabinets. Wish they would have turned out as nice as yours. But I am happy with them. Love that graphic on your kitchen table :)
ReplyDeleteThey look awesome! Never would have thought to use ASCP! Might have to contemplate that. I know it's a bit more expensive but by the time you buy sanding material, paint, brushes, sealer and sometimes more, it sounds like it would be more cost efficient to pay the extra for chalk paint. How long have they been done for? And they're still holding up?
ReplyDeleteThe cabinets look great! We have builder grade cabinets too in a lighter wood tone. I want to paint them sooooo bad. I think my husband would like to as well but he is hesitant knowing not everyone goes for white cabinets and eventually we want to sell. At this point I don't care....I hate the light wood...it needs to go!! This might be the post to convince him!!
ReplyDeleteI especially love the graphite. I have white cabinets and am tiring of them but they and yours do lighten up the space. Ours are old and we are going to pull out the upper ones and do open shelves next.
ReplyDeleteI really need to do this in our kitchen!!! but the cabinets are already painted, and I don't know if would be wise to just go over it! I would be a BIG job! yours came out great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great budget friendly project! They turned out so great!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see someone paint the cabinets with the chalk paint. I am leaning towards painting my lower black cabinets that are getting in bad shape with Chateau Gray. I love the green gray. I will probably order the lacquer though.
ReplyDeleteAwesome transformation. The kitchen looks so bright! Love that the back splash bricks really pop out now - nice feature!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Australia♥ ~Pernilla
I love your cabinets, I have been trying to convince my husband for months that we need to paint our AWFUL brown cabinets white, maybe I'll show him your kitchen so he can be convinced. I actually just blogged about this in my last post, you should see my awful cabinets. http://myrags2riches.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThey look Fabulous.. well done, indeed.
ReplyDeleteLooks great. I painted my cabinets in my old house when I was younger and I know what a job it is!
ReplyDeleteLove white kitchens and love this one ! :)
Wow, your cabinets are awesome! Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the positive feedback. I've had a few questions regarding the durability of shellac. Her's a great link that lays out the pros and cons of shellac.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wkfinetools.com/wWorking/z_reading/Shellac_adv-disadv/Shellac_adv-disadv.asp
I painted mine with Old White and waxed them over a year ago and they are standing up nicely! Gotta love it! YOurs look great!
ReplyDeleteHi, Found your blog from MMS. The cabinets look great. I caught a glimpse of your kitchen table. Is that one of your projects? I looked through the Before and Afters but didn't see it. I'm working on a kitchen table right now and liked the look of the vintage text on it.
ReplyDeleteI love the new look. I also painted my kitchen cabinets. It is a great idea for a fresh french country look!
ReplyDeleteLove it! My hubby would probably die if I did that to our new kitchen though :P
ReplyDeletebeautiful job! the kitchen looks so light and airy!
ReplyDeleteHuge improvement!!!! LOVE the fresh new look! :)
ReplyDeletecan you give me more info on the option of shellac instead of wax? What are the positives and negatives of using one or the other on kitchen cabinets?
ReplyDeleteI tackled my hutch/buffet last week and now I am just anxious to tackle the old oak kitchen!!!!:)) Your kitchen looks beautiful!!! did you stencil your table?
Johanna,
DeleteSo far my shellac is holding up well. I chose shellac for a few reasons 1. it doesn't yellow the white paint like a polyurethane does. 2. I could wipe it on so I don't get brush strokes. It also isnt super shiny like polyurethane.It leaves a clean and fresh look.
So far it has been very durable, I recommend 2-3 coats.
Comparing it to wax is difficult. I think that 3 layers of wax, clear,dark, and clear is just as durable. The wax just gives it different look and takes longer. I think at the time painting and waxing all my cupboards seemed overwhelming. I have recently been contemplating dark waxing my cabinets. I don't mind things to look a little dirty and worn.
The table is the first piece of furniture I ever painted. I used a typography from graphicsfairy.com and projected the image to (trace) paint it on. Now that I have a little more experience I would suggest using a sharpie paint marker instead of hand painting, much easier and gives cleaner lines.
I've been thinking about painting my oak, builder's grade cabinets as well, but dreaded all the disassembling, sanding, etc. I think chalk paint is the way to go for me as well, but I didn't know anyone that had done it. So, I'm really glad I stumbled upon your blog.
ReplyDeleteBTW - your cabinets are lovely.
Thanks again.
Hello, I am contemplating using wax or another top coat. How has the shellac held up? I wanted to use her Lacquer but I heard it is not good on the whites. Would do it the same if you did i t today? and by wiping it on, what do you mean? with a cloth? thanks!
ReplyDeleteKaril,
ReplyDeleteSo far my cabinets have held up marvelous. I did get a grease spot on one of the doors ans repainted it last week. I chose to use the shellac again. I wiped on shellac over the grease spot to seal it so it wouldn't leak through the old white chalk paint, then applied the paint and another coat of shellac with a lint free cloth. I have applied it with a brush over other colors but I think with white it would show the brush mark sand appear to thick and shiny. If you read the shellac can instructions it lists using a cloth as a method. I think a clear wax would look just as nice or better, just a little more elbow grease. A water based polyurethane is also another option, it doesnt have the same yellowing effect as regular polyurethane. Good lick!
replied as my hubby, I hate that
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