How do I change my dark kitchen cabinets to look antique white?

Robin
by Robin
I have white laminte counters and dark dark cherry cabinets.
  4 answers
  • Joan C. Mobley Joan C. Mobley on Jul 12, 2016
    I cleaned my cabinets using Murphey's Soap. I let them dry for day while I finished painting the lower cabinets. I removed the doors, BE SURE TO NUMDER THE DOORS AND THE CABINET THEY WERE REMOVRD FROM I primed the upper cabinets and doors and let them dry. ( I only needed one coat, but my cabinets were maple) I painted the uppers cabinets and doors white The hardest part of this project was in the prep, but good prep, cleaning, priming and NUMBERING, made the work much easier
  • Lisa Harrill Lisa Harrill on Jul 17, 2016
    I agree, prep is always the key. I have painted several sets of cabinets. I'm not sure if you are asking about the color antique white or if you are talking about a glaze. Anyhow, clean em good....I also use a product like liquid sandpaper or a deglosser to dull them a little bit..this is not hard follow the instructions. Then prime. I like Zinser 123 I like the way it bonds. Then I usually use behr ultra in an exterior semi gloss. Once you have put on your prime coat, You will do at least two coats of paint. I always let each side dry 24 hours between coats. THis may seem like overkill, but I'm telling you how to get the best finish. Now, if you have painted them the color antique white and you are satisfied, then buy minwax polycrylic and seal them. This is easy, I usually do three coats. Now if you are wanting what I think you are wanting, paint them white, or a very light ivory. Buy some brown glaze at a home improvement store, or thin some brown paint with water or, transparent glaze...about 1 part paint, 3 parts water or glaze. brush the glaze on, keep some rags nearby, tee shirt type, damp ones and dry. after brushing it on, wipe it off with the dry rag, leaving some in the grooves to highlight. If too much glaze is left on for your taste, use the damp rag. Practice on the back of one of your doors til you get the hang of it and figure out what you like. Once you have the antique look you like, let them dry for no less than 24 hours and then do your polycrylic. It will take a lot longer for your glaze to dry than your paint. Now remember, even white paint will look antiqued once it is glazed, it wont look white. Hope this helps. If you do the antiquing, something I like is to also take a little toothbrush put very little glaze on it and sort of flip it in a few spots on your cabinets, this is "fly spatter" Remember, less is more. Good luck
  • Lisa Harrill Lisa Harrill on Jul 17, 2016
    One more tip. It is better to do the polycrylic while the doors are laying flat, If you do them while they are vertical, don't let it pool at the bottom and then try to back brush it, it will show. Also another tip, if your paint seems thick or just not smooth enough, you can add a product called floetrol. It will increase your dry time a little, but can make your paint have a little slicker finish.
  • Vickie Lee Miller Vickie Lee Miller on Jul 19, 2016
    Chalk paint them and then put a couple coats of polyurethane on them.