Extreme Makeover: Cabinet Edition

Another debate we had early on was trying to decide the best way to update our kitchen cabinets. The cabinets were a nice, solid wood so we really didn't feel like it was necessary to completely tear them out and start over (nor did that fit in the budget!), but they were really worn in spots from years of use and just had an overall dated look, so they definitely needed some attention.

After toying with some other ideas, we eventually decided that a coat of paint would be the most predictable way to cover all the wear spots while also giving the cabinets a fresh, updated look. I was also really loving the white/off-white kitchens I had been seeing online so it was a win-win! 

I chose Sherwin Williams Antique White:

I actually stole this color idea from my parents who just re-did their kitchen last year and used this color for their cabinets. It was just a basic off-white and I loved how it turned out in their kitchen, so I went with it. Which is probably a good thing because I think if I would have had to sort through a million different shades of white I might have gone insane.

So since we had plenty of time and plenty of room (we aren't trying to live in the house while all of this is going on) we knew this would be a DIY project we could handle. I actually took this on as my personal project over Thanksgiving/Christmas break while Adam and my dad were working on the rest of the painting. So after a crash course in cabinet painting from my dad who had just re-painted his cabinets last year, I got to work!

I took everything off the cabinet frames (doors, shelves, and drawers) to make it easier to paint. The first thing I did was give everything a thorough cleaning using some paint prep material and then lightly sanded everything down to remove the top varnish and hopefully create a paint-friendly surface.

Here's a look at the set up: A set of sawhorses with two rows of 2x4's across the top and bottom. I then used these cabinet knobs (old hardware from my parents' kitchen) to rest the doors on while painting so that I could get to the edges. 

ALLLL the doors, drawers, and shelves finally finished!

Once I finally finished all the unattached stuff, I started on the frames... 

and found a 1950s surprise behind the cabinets... Check out that sweet wallpaper!!

WHAT a difference we saw after getting those frames painted! 

I give my mom major credit for the idea to paint the top part of the cabinets Latte (which is the same color as the Dining Room/Den). The Latte and the Antique White coordinate so well and it really looks good to break up the cabinet color while also bringing in the Latte from the other part of the room. 

Remember this lovely wooden valence above the window?

I think this one piece completely dates the kitchen aside from anything else and I have been wanting to knock this thing down since the day we moved in! 

Here is Dad doing the honors of sawing it in half.

And there it is! No more valence and looking SO much better!!

So finally after weeks of prepping, cleaning, and painting, we were ready to attach new hardware and rehang the cabinets! One of my favorite features of the house are the original crystal doorknobs, so when I came across these knobs online I knew it would be the perfect way to keep a unique charm in the kitchen while also giving it an updated look! 

I decided to pair these with a basic pull for the drawers.

My crew hanging the beautiful cabinets! 

(Which was, let me tell you, NOT as easy as it seems)

And here is the painted finish!!

So there you have it.. my cabinet makeover!! And although there is still a lot left to be done in this little ol' kitchen.. what a difference a coat of paint makes!!