I promised a tutorial on how I painted my kitchen island, and I’m finally making good on it. It was a project I approached with great trepidation, but I am very pleased with the outcome.
I am going to break this down into two parts, since the method I used on the drawers and doors was different from how I tackled the rest of the island. Let’s call this the Paint Sprayer Method.
I borrowed a paint sprayer from a friend of mine, since I have been contemplating painting ALL of my kitchen cabinets. But using this tool was a good test for me. I only wish I could have used it on the entire island!
First, I removed the doors and drawer fronts and cleaned them with TSP – Trisodium Phosphate. It’s a great cleaner to get rid of any dirt and grime that you may have on your cabinets.
Once I cleaned them and wiped them down, I pulled out my new best friend, my orbital sander. How I have lived this long without this little darling, is beyond me.
This really helped to get all of the gloss that was on the cabinets since I was totally paranoid that I would do something wrong in the prep that would send me up sh*t creek without a paddle jeopardize the whole project. (I actually ended up sanding them even more than what is shown in these pictures. I wanted to be sure there was no sign of any gloss remaining).
In selecting paint, I talked to a couple of my “local hardware men” about my cabinet painting project, and I think they both thought I was crazy to attempt this on my own, which really kind of annoyed me. I was showing them my cabinet door samples and even brought my actual kitchen cabinet door into the store, and yet I got a comment, “Did you get this idea from HGTV?”
Whatever. I just wanted advice on paint, I didn’t need a lecture on how much time and effort is involved in painting kitchen cabinets. I am DIY Woman, hear me ROAR!
As for paint, I chose Benjamin Moore acrylic latex paint in a low lustre finish. (In looking at my paint can again, I bought an exterior paint vs. interior. Don’t know why, BUT, I had a lengthy conversation with the hardware guys, about latex vs. oil, and they said latex paints have come a long way and this acrylic latex would work. They also told me that I didn’t need to prime my cabinets. Yes, you read that correctly. No priming. More on that later.
One of the Local Hardware Men did take my black cabinet sample and did a paint match for me, which was great. I’m really pleased with the final color.
I think this is where I had a temporary memory lapse and didn’t take any pictures. I used the power sprayer to spray both the fronts and the backs of the cabinets. It was a whole lot of “hurry up and wait”, since the sprayer made quick work of the cabinet doors. And like they instructed, I didn’t prime the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. (I was freakin’).
But, since I sanded them really well, and was going to lightly distress them, the no priming method worked to my advantage. They distressed nicely and I was pleased with how the doors looked.
There are a couple of spots that are more distressed than I’d like, but some brilliant readers suggested touching it up with a black stain. Now why didn’t I think of that? So, I purchased some of that today and will be putting it to work for some of my trouble spots.
I finished it off with a coat of Minwax Clear Wipe-On Poly in a satin finish.
So, there you have it! Or at least, part of it. 🙂 The rest of the island was a horse of a different color, but definitely rounded out my cabinet painting experience. Part II will be coming soon…
Home Stories A2Z – Tutorials and Tips Link Party
Savvy Southern Style – Wow Us Wednesday
DIY by Design – Fall into Fall Party
Remodelaholic – Remodelaholic’s Anonymous
Sawdust and Paperscraps – Trick or Tip Party
29 Comments
ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
October 24, 2011 at 12:25 pmIt looks fabulous Jenny! I love an island that stands out from the rest of the kitchen, we did the same thing to ours a few months ago. Martina
A Vintage Vine
October 24, 2011 at 2:11 pmLooks great Jenny!….I am coveting your neighbors sprayer…Just wondering,do you think the wipe on poly is easier than brush on? I was also wondering what kind of rag you used?
The Starr Family
October 24, 2011 at 5:11 pmOh, that makes me tired. And inspired. And motivated to sorta someday do mine 🙂
Honey at 2805
October 26, 2011 at 12:51 amNice work, Jenny! Looks great!
kitty
October 26, 2011 at 1:03 amYou did a great job! I love the island with the distressing. I'm here from Wow Us Wed.
All That Glitters
October 26, 2011 at 1:08 amWow! Your island looks amazing!
Designs By Pinky
October 26, 2011 at 2:31 amSIGH>>>>I wish I HAD an island to paint. I wish I had granite counter tops too. Alot of wishing here:):) Your island looks fabulous!! XO, pinky
Kristens Creations
October 26, 2011 at 3:13 amGorgeous! I love the black, it looks wonderful!! Kristen
Miss Kitty
October 26, 2011 at 2:10 pmHi! I need to repaint my kitchen cabinets so this post was really great for me to see. Thanks for posting your tips! I saw your post over at Savvy Southern Style.
Scribbler
October 26, 2011 at 3:38 pmI loved your story because I have been painting my infernal kitchen cabinets for six months. Finally finished. Still not quite finished with the walls which I covered in beadboard paper and the floor which I am white-washing. Whatever possessed me to do this? I think it was the devil. But it does look good. I love your black island. I debated black, but decided that with all my black appliances, maybe not.
I'll follow!
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking
October 27, 2011 at 2:02 amOh my goodness what an awesome transformation!! It looks beautiful and you did an excellent job!!
Michelle
October 27, 2011 at 4:31 amThanks for the tutorial! I've been wanting to paint some of my cabinets (kitchen and bathrooms) but I'm to chicken!
The Rooster and The Hen
October 27, 2011 at 12:28 pmWow, this is amazing – awesome job!
Between Blue and Yellow
October 28, 2011 at 12:55 pmThat looks great. Plan to paint my cabinets soon, thanks for the tips!
Sawdust and Paperscraps
October 28, 2011 at 2:46 pmLooks so good!
L
November 2, 2011 at 1:51 amI just found your blog and I am excited that I did. I love your newly painted kitchen island. You did a great job. I look forward to hearing more on this project. I've been considering painting my powder room cabinet black and distressing it.
It is scary when I think about doing it myself. Seeing that other diy-ers have sucess gives me courage that maybe I, too, can do this!
Thank you for sharing your tips and tools!
Patricia
November 2, 2011 at 12:25 pmWow ! Looks amazing – good for you. I have been contemplating painting my kitchen cabinets – how did you like using the paint sprayer ? Is it a lot easier than painting with a brush ? The finished product is so smooth – no brush strokes. Looks fantastic……
Cindi @ Rustique Art
November 2, 2011 at 3:44 pmI love it, wish it was mine and I was done with this whole "what color should I paint my cabinets" business. It's great to see how mine could look if I went with the black. You did a great job, I hope mine turn out as nice as yours.
Karen
November 2, 2011 at 4:38 pmLooks great! Reminded me of when I did the same project using creamy toned paint. Wish I had thought of using a paint sprayer back then!
Diana
November 5, 2011 at 2:32 pmDid you spray the cabinet boxes inside your house? Did paint go everywhere? Just curious, b/c we're painting our cabinets, and it takes forever by hand 🙂 Yours looks fabulous!
Lisa Fryer
February 5, 2012 at 4:05 amA…MA…ZING!!! What I would like to know, though, is how did you do the distressing? I am sooooo curious. Did you just lightly sand before putting on the poly? I love the look!
Betty parker
February 18, 2018 at 4:22 pmI am painting a very old bench black I would like to diddtress edges
The Corney's
June 12, 2012 at 7:23 pmGlad I came across this! We are thinking of doing the same thing to our island. How and when did you distress it?
Traci Kammer
September 12, 2012 at 3:11 pmI love it! I'm about to start my kitchen make-over soon and was curious about the exact names and colors you used for the island and the kitchen cabinets. If you wouldn't mind, could you post the "shopping list" for the paints? Thanks for sharing your kitchen!
Jen C
October 4, 2012 at 12:12 pmI love your island! Ours has become faded by the sun and making the maple turn a weird yellow in places. I was trying to figure out what I can do to fix it and I think I just found it! I have black appliances too, do you think a black island would be too much?
Audrey Carter
January 31, 2013 at 9:01 amThank you so much for letting us know this one. I'm glad to see your kitchen cabinet. Very attractive design I like it. I will visit your blog everyday to look if there is an update. Anyway if you want to have an example of Kitchen Cabinet Design just Get more information here.
Verna Lucas
February 1, 2013 at 6:22 pmYour kitchen island looks amazing! It even looks professionally done! Choosing that color made it stand out. I will try to repaint some of part of the kitchen too.
Verna Lucas
Sandy
April 10, 2018 at 1:36 pmWhat is the name of the black paint used on the island?
Thanks!
Jenny
April 12, 2018 at 9:42 pmI’m not sure – I’m sorry! It’s been so long since I painted it!