How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets With an Antique Finish

While some homeowners prefer sleek, modern styling when choosing a kitchen cabinet finish, others prefer antique finishes. An antique paint finish can lend a relaxed, comfortable feel to your kitchen, making it feel more like a gathering area than just a place to prepare food. Antique finishing is not a difficult task, although it can take several weekends if you have a large kitchen. ?

Screwdriver
Oil-based primer, 2 colors
Paintbrushes
Sandpaper
Wood stain
Soft cloth
Pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the kitchen cabinet doors from the hinges with a screwdriver. Most hinges use Phillips-head screwdrivers, although some require a flat-blade screwdriver instead.
- 2
  Paint oil-based primer onto the front surface of the cabinet and the cabinet doors, using a paintbrush. Allow this coat to dry overnight.
- 3
  Dry-brush the second color of oil-based primer over the first. Dry-brushing involves dipping the brush in primer, then wiping it off before using it on the wood. The result is a streaked effect created by the brush bristles. Let the second coat dry overnight.
- 4
  Sand areas of the cabinet surface lightly with sandpaper to pull out the first color and expose some of the wood.
- 5
  Draw light pencil marks along the surface to simulate cracks. You can erase them if they are too dark.
- 6
  Dry-brush stain around the corners and edges of cabinet doors to increase the appearance of aging. Keep a soft cloth nearby to dab away extra stain.
- 7
  Flip the bristles of a dry brush coated with stain to splatter the wood. This creates the effect of distressed, aged wood.

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