Ideas for living with these cabinets?
by
Lorie
+39
We just bought this Florida condo with ugly dated cabinets in a galley kitchen. I don't think we can paint them. What can we do to improve it on a budget?
28 answers
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Why don't you decoupage them
Melia Angelina
on Nov 22, 2015
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How about researching gel stain.
Janet Pizaro
on Nov 22, 2015
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You could completely change the look by adding knobs to the door/drawers - white knobs might look good, would match the white stove. I think you can paint the laminate doors too by sanding well before primer/paint, paint the wood trims too and they will 'disappear' !
Veronica Roach
on Nov 22, 2015
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What is the material on the outside of the Cabinets? is it like Melamine or Wood? Either way they can be painted or if wood just sanded and stained darker after adding some Trim to add accents or painted. You could always add handles or knobs for a different look...
Jean Thompson
on Nov 22, 2015
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if the box of the cabinet is in good shape, you could order new doors in pretty much any style for a fraction of the cost of redoing the kitchen...I did that, and got another 5 years out of my old condo kitchen, before we finally put in new cabinets last year
Christina
on Nov 22, 2015
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You can paint laminate; lightly sand, zinsser prime, paint and coat with poly You could consider taking off a few doors for "cubbies" or open shelf like presentation as well; add a top crown mold, some under cabinet lighting and backsplash to warm up the room You can also take your doors to a laminate/millwork shop and have them re-laminated with a different laminate that you might like better just my thoughts - good luck and enjoy the process!
Moxie
on Nov 22, 2015
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You might think about removing the cabinet doors and decorate the open shelves with dishes, baskets, etc. Have fun at your new home! susen
Susen Gail
on Nov 22, 2015
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Thanks everyone. I just joined this sight this morning! I really want to remove the hideous curved plexiglass panels at the top of the cabinets and put tall cabinets to the ceiling. I see where some people are going with darker cabinets on bottom and lighter ones on top. Any opinions on putting IKEA taller cabs up top in white and unify the two types with the hardware?
Lorie
on Nov 22, 2015
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I think fusion paint would be your best bet, there is no sanding or priming. All it needs is a good cleaning. For kitchen cabinets they have an extra finish to apply. It is super easy. The paint is not cheap, but it goes a long way. It comes i. Several nice colors and can be mixed with regular acrylic paint to mix your custom color. Patty from Zen Cow Girl in Mount Dora would be happy to answer all your questions. she has bren very patient with all my questions. Good luck and have fun!
Gabi
on Nov 22, 2015
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If you are concerned about damaging the cabinet doors, you could investigate peel-able designs made for apartments. I transformed a rental kitchen with contact paper--even did the counter tops. On the walls I used a combination of green tile-sized squares that I cut from solid contact paper and black and white squares that I cut from checked contact paper. Happy Decorating! susen
Susen Gail
on Nov 22, 2015
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Chalk paint goes on anything,buy the good stuff.Annie Sloan.
Paul
on Nov 22, 2015
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I think it be really cool if you do patterns or something I find tissue paper works the best easier to work with I lived in Florida for a few years and did a lot of different things to the condo we bought where are you in Florida I was in West Palm Beach
Melia Angelina
on Nov 22, 2015
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I also did the electrical plates with the alcohol paint Dennis well that was kind of cool to
Melia Angelina
on Nov 22, 2015
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With the extensive variety of primers and paints on the market today, ANYTHING can be painted. If you are interested in painting them, I would definitely recommend cleaning them extremely well with something that will remove grease and grime, and using a good BONDING primer first.
Shari
on Nov 22, 2015
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With the right primer anything can be painted! Paint would go a long way to fix these cabinets. Take photo and talk to your local home improvement store or paint store to find out what products to use. They will be able to help you there. Good luck!
Sherry Fram
on Nov 22, 2015
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The new gel stains are beatiful on wood cup boards . These are the same as what I have. Wash and condition . Then applie gel stain . Lots of colors and easy to apply .
Terrie Neudorf
on Nov 22, 2015
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Paint and new hardware should make an instant transformation.
Valerie
on Nov 22, 2015
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I would take a Door off and take it to a Good Paint Dept at a Lumber Yard or even Lowes or Home Depot and see what they would Recommend ... Might need to be Sanded then wiped off really well and painted with a Quality Primer and Then Quality Paint and maybe a Sealer -Depends on how much you want to spend...or like one of the other answers Decoupage some interesting wrapping paper or wall paper cut a bit smaller, or wall maps or pages from a Cookbook you can pick up at a Thrift Shop. one door could be salads, another Soups, Breads etc... would be more interesting than that melamine... for sure.. I saw where some one took Brown paper Grocery Bags, tore them into odd pieces about 6 to 8 inches - Crumpled them up and then decoupaged them to a Wall barely smoothing them , after the wall dried they used any shade of Brown Shoe polish ( paste kind) and gently rubbed allover and then buffed with another cloth like a terry washcloth and it looks like leather... Try it on the back of a door or a piece of Board first to see if you like it...Small investment for this solution for your Doors..
Jean Thompson
on Nov 22, 2015
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I see no reason, other than personal preference, why you cannot paint these cabinets. Also another rather inexpensive DIY is this product for your countertops. http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=ConTact%20counter%20top%20granite&linkCode=as2&tag=ricthebri-20
CK
on Nov 22, 2015
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I agree with some of the other comments, paint would transform this area. I recommend Annie Sloan Chalk Paint but you could also try taking the doors off and having them professionally spray painted if you are after a smooth, more modern look. Take a few doors off and use as open shelving and add new hardware. In no time at all you will have a totally 'new' kitchen your friends will think you have spent thousands on! (and yeah, I would totally remove that plexi glass thing!)
Lesley
on Nov 23, 2015
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I think once we get the plexi-glass stuff out of there we will remove the uppers and get taller white cabinets. We've done two kitchens with IKEA and we love them. I'll get at least one with glass fronts. Then I like the idea of painting the lower ones. We don't take possession of the condo until January and will be knocking out wall above the sink and build a bar. I will post our "after" pictures then.
Lorie
on Nov 23, 2015
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This site is is great. Lots of good ideas. When we take possession of the condo in January we will 1)remove ugly plexi-glass and fluorescent light tubes and replace upper cabinets with taller ones. 2)knock out wall above the side with sink and build a bar to open view to living room 3)paint lower cabinets gray with uppers being white 4)remove backsplash tiles 5)try the counter DIY product on the existing Formica. I promise to post pictures as we go. My poor husband...he's a trooper! Thank you all for great advice.
Lorie
on Nov 23, 2015
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I just use the Rustoleum cabinet transformation kit from Home Depot and painted my cabinets. I also added knobs and pulls. I highly recommend the kit. The paint goes on smoothly and doesn't leave any brush marks. The glaze makes it look like I actually stained the cabinets. For $75 I am extremely happy with the outcome. It is all water-based, and no sanding is required. The only con was the drying time. 2-3 hours between the base coat, 8 hours after glaze, and 12 hours after top coat. I also spray painted the hinges. Glaze is optional.
Dana Rogers Spear
on Nov 23, 2015
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I think you have melamine cupboard doors, so you will need to use a melamine paint to recoat. Melamine does not cover well-chips easily. I think I would buy new doors. BTW, I still have the California ceiling in my kitchen because this system cannot be beaten for wonderful light. It is a shame that it has gone out of style.
Mary-Ann
on Nov 23, 2015
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You could also get new doors? My cabinets had a great layout but I didn't like the profile so didn't want to paint them. Instead I went to a cabinet shop and got all new doors for $800. Its a brand new kitchen!
Brooke Berry
on Nov 23, 2015
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Could you put trim on them? like a thin edging. or decals/contact paper? show pictures when you decide!
Polly Zieper
on Nov 23, 2015
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Annie Sloan is a great paint, but not in a Florida kitchen. Too humid. But fusion paint works, because it has a top coat build in.
Gabi
on Nov 24, 2015
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Here's my 2 cents...I would fill in the "handles" to each door w/ wood trim. Then you can get bead board wallpaper to place over the door faces & add shaker style trim to the edges of each door. Then add hardware to the doors & drawers.
Kayo Frazier
on Dec 01, 2015
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