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    Home Decor: When repainting cabinetry makes sense

    Editor’s note by Anne: Welcome to another edition of our design tips feature. Many of you have been desiring more lifestyle/decorating content and we hope this will offer ideas for your decorating projects. We will be working with area designers to showcase some of their ideas. For this month, Antje Zwink of Bellallusions Decorative Finishes by Antje Zwink LLC returns to share with us a few more of her projects. Antje talks about how redoing a kitchen does not have to mean a huge expense. When you enjoy the layout and have good cabinetry, refinishing can be a much more affordable option for your remodel.

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    What ugly thoughts enter your mind when you hear the phrase kitchen remodel? Dusty? Expensive? Time consuming? Major inconvenience? A month of microwave dinners? The movie Money Pit?

    I recently went through the ordeal of a complete kitchen gut job in my own home- including tearing down of walls and replacing them with new cabinets, back splash tile, new floor, drywall, electric and plumbing. As a faux finishing contractor who’s witnessed plenty of busted budgets and schedules on full remodels, I thought I was prepared and chuckled knowingly (thinking of the Money Pit) when my contractor said three weeks for a completion date. We are now two months into this project and I am happy to say almost finished with the work and the daily dusting.

    My kitchen and dining room during remodel.

    The good news is that getting a dream kitchen doesn’t mean you have to live through a disaster zone for weeks or months while you put the room back together. Even better, it can be done without spending a fortune! There is only one requirement: You have to be happy with the current physical layout of your kitchen. Sadly, in my home that didn’t apply- I found myself choosing between storing food or dishes with no way to accommodate both.

    This kitchen (left) was a great candidate for repainting. Refinished cabinets (right).

    Outer cabinets were finished in a dark paint finish and the island was painted in an off white and heavily distressed.

    Over the last few years I have noticed clients who want to tackle their kitchens, particularly cabinets, but didn’t want to invest 10,000 to 30,000 dollars for new hardware. Often times their existing cabinets were well made of solid wood and in decent shape but just looked worn or outdated. The answer is resurfacing with a decorative finish.

    Cabinets have to sustain a lot of wear and tear so the correct materials and steps are essential to a beautiful finished product. I wanted to make sure that refinishing them would be worthwhile for my clients and last them many years. I have tackled many kitchen and bath cabinet projects, with resurfacing ranging from “simple” repainting to more advanced finishes that incorporate glazing, distressed paint, mimicry of different type of woods, incorporating texture, stencils, metallics, foils or gold leaf. A range of styles are possible, from contemporary sleek looks to antiqued and heavy distressed cabinetry – anything is possible.

    A small selection of cabinet finish samples: distressed finishes, different wood types, stenciling, metallic paint.

    Old cabinets (and furniture too!) can become customized to fit your color scheme and design style, suddenly updated and current but for a fraction of the cost of a complete replacement. A money-conscious renovation can include replacing counter tops, back splash and appliances but the budget is kept in check by giving outdated old cabinets new life.

    Green countertops were replaced with gorgeous granite that became the focal point of the room. My client also updated the appliances, sink and hardware. I painted, glazed and distressed the worn cabinets with a warmer cream that gave the kitchen a more inviting feel. The previously faux finished walls now shine even more.

    Decorative finishing is also useful for partial kitchen renovations. Some of my clients choose to change out sections of the kitchen with new more functional kitchen components. For example an unused built in desk can become more needed cabinet space or the space can accommodate a wine refrigerator. Creating a paint finish for the old existing cabinets that compliments the newer sections of the kitchen ties everything together for a complete project.

    In this Dublin home the homeowner replaced a built-in pantry and desk with pantry cabinets and a wine refrigerator. The two tiered island was taken down to only one tier to create more space.

    I finished the cabinets in a very dark wooden tone to complement the new white cabinets with mocha glaze surrounding the refrigerator.

    Because kitchen and bath remodeling projects require significant expense, for many of us that also means significant time to save up the cash – it can be years before a large-scale project can get off the ground. Why not give your current kitchen a facelift by repainting the cabinets until that modern new kitchen becomes a possibility? You don’t have to live with an ugly kitchen or bath.

    My clients just bought a new home and replacing the cabinets at this point was out of the question. Updating the appliances, removing wallpaper and painting the cabinets gave the kitchen more functionality and style.

    For some clients a generic cabinet is boring and isn’t what they have in mind for their home. They are looking for something with a wow-factor, something to reflect their style. Finding a unique finish for your cabinet might be the solution. This is true often for bath vanities.

    Bath vanities that were customized with paints, glazes, stencils, metallics, and crackle. They all started as simple oak cabinets.

    Before (left) and after of a cabinet project where I matched the finish to the existing mirrors and created a furniture look with red paint and gold leaf.

    If you want to sell your home kitchen and bath updates are almost a must in the current housing market. Many buyers shy away from homes that feature outdated rooms, thinking only of how much money it will cost to update and miss the potential for easy modernization. Reusing your cabinets is great for the environment, your bank account, and the resale value of your home.

    If you’re thinking of doing this yourself, read on: Repainting your cabinets is still quite an undertaking and there are many issues that can arise.

    1. First you should learn about all steps involved and if that is something you feel comfortable taking on yourself or if it would be best to let a professional handle the project. Keep in mind a professional will spend more hours/week on your project than you might be able to. You might only be able to do a few hours on the weekend, which could make a difference when considering multilayer or stepped finishes. If you decide on hiring a painter or decorative painter for you project, it’s important to check previous work references and their portfolio. There are many unqualified painters who are not very knowledgeable about specialized decorative finishes and cabinetry. I know because I have been called in to repair bad paint jobs by such painters.

    My client had the cabinets painted when they moved in. A few years later they were badly damaged. I inspected them and realized that they were never top coated. We decided to go with a heavy distressed look to make the damage part of the look.

    After removing any loose paint and distressing I glazed the cabinets and top coated the cabinetry with several layers of a durable topcoat.

    The island and desk area were completely redone in a darker brown tone to add some more interest to the kitchen.

    2. Now you should take a look at your existing cabinets to decide if they’re really worth refinishing. How long will the cabinet last? If it is falling apart and made of inferior materials it might be best to save your money for replacement. I find that older kitchen cabinets (many of them are solid oak with some veneer) have great bones. Let’s assume we are talking veneer, melamine, thermashield/foil cabinets. You don’t have to necessarily throw in the towel, although it can become a bit more tricky. It all is in the proper prep work, usage of the right primers. I would recommend finding a good paint store with knowledgeable staff (stay away form giant box stores). They will help you figure out what products to use. Most cabinets can be painted with pressed wood and a few other cheaper materials being exceptions. If you are not sure what your cabinets are made of, remove a door and take it to your paint store. Sometimes they even test products on the back for you.

    3. Practice, practice, practice before you start. Make a sample, particularly if you are planning to do more than just a simple paint job. Any distressing, glazing, etc requires testing before you start on your actual cabinets. Familiarize yourself with the technique and product. As a trained faux finisher I have access to many products and tools unavailable to the regular DIYer. If you don’t succeed, your chosen finish may be a project for a professional.

    4. Don’t let anyone tell you that taking down the doors are a waste of time. Painting around hinges is impossible and improper prep in those areas can interfere with a good bond of paint to substrate. Pro tip: label doors, drawers AND hinges well.

    5. Now to the Prep Work. Expect the prep to take much longer than the actual painting. The surface preparation is the key to the longevity of your paint job. Many people start sanding immediately but the first step should be to clean off any grease and residue visible or not with hot water and TSP (available in the paint department of hardware stores). Don’t forget to rinse. After sanding wipe down the surfaces again really well so you don’t have any dust that can compromise the bonding capabilities of your primer. Check if any of the cabinets are in need of caulking or further repair. Your paint store employee can help figure out steps needed for repairs. Use tape and plastic to mask off areas not getting painted.

    6. Thin coats of primer, paint and topcoat are key to avoid runs.

    7. Follow instructions particular to specific paint and follow drying times. Wait longer if cabinet still feels tacky. You never want any moisture trapped between coats. It might be wise to invest in a drying rack to avoid having your entire house full of drying cabinet doors. Give each side plenty of time to dry before turning over!

    8. A topcoat is necessary even after using a high quality washable paint.

    9. Handle doors with care when reinstalling. It takes 30 days for the cabinets to fully cure – longer in humid conditions.

    Don’t be fooled – painting cabinets is labor intensive and I recommend having some painting experience and lots of patience. But it is so worth it! And there is no shame in hiring a painter to do the work for you.

    Bellallusions Decorative Finishes by Antje Zwink LLC

    Antje Zwink

    Antje Zwink moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2001 from Dresden, Germany. She discovered her passion for decorative painting while working as a faux finishing assistant which led her to start a two year apprenticeship. Antje has traveled extensively throughout Europe and is able to utilize these experiences in combination with her hands-on training to create visually stunning finishes. Her eye for detail and innate sense of color and texture have led her to build a very successful decorative painting business, Bellallusions Decorative Finishes by Antje Zwink LLC. Antje believes in the importance of continuing her education and does so by attending classes/workshops, national and international trade conventions as well as following current design trends. She has participated in five Central Ohio BIA Parade of Homes and her work is featured in Modello by Design Vol 1 by Melanie Royals as well as several newspaper and magazine articles. She is a Certified Faux Effects Professional, a PDRA Certified Faux Consultant, A Skimstone Preferred Applicator as well as a member of IDAL, the International Decorative Artisan League.
    If you are interested in seeing more photos and reading more about Antje’s work, check out www.bellallusions.com and www.facebook.com/bellallusions.

    Home Decor is a monthly column on Columbus Underground featuring Design Professionals’ design tips for your home. Have a suggestion? Please send an email to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

    [Home Decor is sponsored by K.A. Menendian Rug Gallery. At K.A. Menendian Oriental Rug Gallery you will find the widest selection of quality rugs in our remodeled showroom, with hundreds of designs, colors and sizes of hand-knotted, hand-tufted and machine-made rugs. Styles range from traditional to modern and formal to casual. Find them at 1090 West 5th Ave. at Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43212. Reach them by phone at (614) 294-3345 or 1-888-526-7847. Their hours are: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Closed Sunday. On the web at www.karugs.com. Like them on Facebook.]

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    Antje Zwink
    Antje Zwinkhttp://www.bellallusions.com
    Antje Zwink moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2001 from Dresden, Germany. She discovered her passion for decorative painting while working as a faux finishing assistant which led her to start a two year apprenticeship. Antje has traveled extensively throughout Europe and is able to utilize these experiences in combination with her hands-on training to create visually stunning finishes. Her eye for detail and innate sense of color and texture have led her to build a very successful decorative painting business, Bellallusions Decorative Finishes by Antje Zwink LLC.
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