How do I fix my kitchen and bathroom?

Naomi
by Naomi

two different scenario questions: I repainted everything in my kitchen (inside and out of cabinets and the walls- the madness started w the walls, then I just HAD to get rid of the old 70’s-not-classy wooden cabinets). I bought the proper stuff for the cleaning, sanding and priming, but I guess I was lead astray when it came to the paint. Instead of getting gloss/ semi gloss, I bought satin. Now I’m afraid of wearing out the paint and doing damage which would cause so many more repairs for me. What can I do to fix this mistake?

Lastly, I have taken a couple of days to recover from the kitchen, now I want to do the bathroom. I don’t know what to paint the cabinets. I want to put a frame around our very large mirror but can’t find the materials at Home Depot or Lowe’s. And, I want to convert the four light vanity to three and change the vanity color from silver to something else (charcoal grey?? Make it rustic??), how can I achieve all this properly/ correctly?

picture includes cabinet, large mirror, vanity light and mess (don’t mind the drying towels or the mess, please, lol) I already started peeling off the old nasty paint from the cabinets.

  7 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 16, 2018

    Hello Naomi.

    There should be mo problem with using Satin paint, with it being suitable for the Kitchen Cabinets, unless maybe you purchased an Emulsion Paint and not a topcoat. Remedy would be to lightly rub down (It will act as an undercoat) and repaint with the paint of choice on top! (should get an even better colour finish)! As far as Mirror in Bathroom is concerned - Use double sided tape to attach a frame or use a bathroom glue, or use a Wallpaper Border,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

  • Sara Sara on Aug 16, 2018

    You have a big job ahead of you.

    First the kitchen is an easy fix, I would remove the doors and hardware and then lightly sand the doors and cabinet fronts, then apply a gloss polyurethane, following the instructions on the can and look up the brands website for further information. When dry refit the hardware and install.

    The Vanity: firstly, decide on if the vanity is functional and that you like it?

    Options1: purchase a new vanity basin and tap set and have it installed. Less work

    Option2: Take measurements to fit and purchase an older wooden kitchen hutch from crags list or gumtree and using the base turn it into your dream vanity with a vessel bowl and new tapware. You’ll need to gently sand, then stain and apply a gloss polyurethane. A marine grade gloss polyurethane works better in a moist environment

    This is what I did and its fantastic. You could even paint the lower half the same colour of your kitchen cabinets and paint the top with a wooden stain, then apply a marine gloss polyurethane.

    Option3; Keep the original Vanity unit, remove the bowl and tapware and hardware and doors and draws. Sand the entire surface, apply an undercoat, then your choice of cabinet colour at least two coats then top with a marine grade gloss polyurethane.

    The Mirror; I would get some architrave moulding of choice and have it mitred cut. As you don’t have a large gap between the wall and mirror area, I would place it over the mirror edge at least 2 to 3 inches thus giving you a larger picture frame. Attach with a liquid glue (Liquid nails) then tape into place until dry. Fill in the gap between the mirror and frame and wall and frame with silicone. There are heaps of You-tubes demonstrating how to do this or look up the brands website for tips.

    Have fun!

    Sara

  • Homeroad Homeroad on Aug 16, 2018

    Hi I wrote a post about framing the bathroom mirror. I can show you how I did this here > http://bit.ly/2MbPJ4X I also painted my cabinet and fixed the water damage, you can read all about it with links from there too. I hope it helps!

  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 16, 2018

    Hi. I agree with Sara on the first count, except I would use poly acrylic and not polyurethane.

    Secondly, Homeroad has a great tutorial for your mirror.

    Thirdly, you DO NOT need to strip the old paint off prior to repainting. You just need to clean it throughly, sand it with maybe 120 or 160, (this gives the new a “tooth” to hold on to), prime with a great primer, (I use SWlatex primer) and then paint. Then poly.acrylic. I’m in the same process now, and I have done this many times. And the durability is just great!

  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 16, 2018

    Hi. I agree with Sara on the first count, except I would use poly acrylic and not polyurethane.

    Secondly, Homeroad has a great tutorial for your mirror.

    Thirdly, you DO NOT need to strip the old paint off prior to repainting. You just need to clean it throughly, sand it with maybe 120 or 160, (this gives the new a “tooth” to hold on to), prime with a great primer, (I use SWlatex primer) and then paint. Then poly.acrylic. I’m in the same process now, and I have done this many times. And the durability is just great!

  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 16, 2018

    Hi. I agree with Sara on the first count, except I would use poly acrylic and not polyurethane.

    Secondly, Homeroad has a great tutorial for your mirror.

    Thirdly, you DO NOT need to strip the old paint off prior to repainting. You just need to clean it throughly, sand it with maybe 120 or 160, (this gives the new a “tooth” to hold on to), prime with a great primer, (I use SWlatex primer) and then paint. Then poly.acrylic. I’m in the same process now, and I have done this many times. And the durability is just great!

  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 16, 2018

    No clue why this just happened!!!

    I use flat paint and a poly sealer. This primer, is the bomb and it will not run you out of the house!