Antiquing Kitchen Cupboards & Beadboard

Remove cupboard doors from the hinges by unscrewing the hinges. Lay the doors on sheets of newspaper on the floor. Wipe dust and dirt off of the doors with a cloth. You do not need to remove existing paint; however, if an old paint job is flaking, you may remove it with 220-grit sandpaper to start with a clean work surface. To sand, rub sandpaper back and forth with the wood grain until the paint flakes off.

Paint or glaze your cupboard doors and beadboard with a flat base coat of latex paint. Use a 3 to 4-inch paintbrush to brush the paint onto the wood. Allow the flat paint to dry thoroughly before continuing. Flat paint helps the piece look worn, adding to the lived-in look.

Cover the flat paint with a finish coat in a second color of latex paint, which can be flat or somewhat shiny. Since you'll sand partway through this coat to expose the flat paint, choose a color that complements the under-layer. Apply the paint the same way, letting the paint dry before continuing.

Sand through the paint in areas using 100 to 220-grit sandpaper. Concentrate your work on the corners, handles or edges where wood tends to be handled. For beadboard, sand on the corners or on bottom edges where objects might scratch the wood. A 100-grit sandpaper is heavier, removing more paint, and 200-grit offers finer grains.

Hit the beadboard and cabinets with a chain to gouge the wood. This antiquing technique mimics dings that age wood furniture with time.

Tap a nail 1/4 inch into the surface of the wood, using a hammer or mallet, or hit the wood with an awl to mimic wormholes.

File the corners of the beadboard or cupboards using a wood file to weather the wood.

Rehang the cupboard doors after you are finished distressing them.