Painting Kitchen Cabinets With a Rustic Glaze

Prepare the cabinets by removing the cabinet doors, drawers and the hardware attached to them. If reusing the hardware, place the pieces in a plastic storage bag or dish.

Remove any items from the drawers, countertops and other spaces that could interfere with the painting. Cover the countertops with a drop cloth and tape the area where the wall and cabinet frame meet. Place the cabinet drawers and doors on a drop cloth in a well-ventilated room or an outside work area.

Wash the surface of the cabinet frame, doors and drawers using a solution of TSP -- a heavy duty cleaner that is effective in preparing surfaces for paint-- and warm water. Mix the solution according to the manufacturer's instructions and apply it using a damp washcloth or sponge. Allow the surfaces to air dry before proceeding.

Sand the cabinet doors, drawers and frames with a 120-grit sanding block to roughen the surface slightly -- this will help the paint adhere to the wood's surface. Sanding blocks are usually located next to the sandpaper in hardware and home improvement stores. Use 120-grit sandpaper if sanding blocks are not available. Wipe the sawdust from the surfaces using a tack cloth.

Apply a base coat color to the cabinet frame, doors and drawers using a small cabinet paint roller. Paint hard to reach areas, corners and thin strips with a 2-inch paint brush using even strokes. Let the base coat color dry overnight.

Use a quality nylon paintbrush to apply a thin, even coat of the crackle or weathering glaze to the cabinet surfaces. Do not apply a thick coat. Let the glaze dry for two to four hours before proceeding.

Apply the top coat of paint using a paintbrush and paint roller. Use an interior flat paint and avoid semi-gloss or high-gloss sheens, as these do not work well with antiquing glazes. Apply the top coat in a single direction for an even crackle. Do not apply a second coat and do not continually roll the paint roller over the same area, since the underlying glaze will cause the paint to become gummy. The top coat will begin to crackle from the glaze layer underneath and the base color will show through the cracks. Allow the cabinets to dry for 72 hours before applying a clear protective coating.

Apply a clear protective top coat to the cabinets using a quality nylon paintbrush. Allow the clear coat to dry for four to six hours before reattaching the hardware and reinstalling the cabinet drawers and doors.