DIY Vintage Painted Cabinets

Preparing

• 1

  Remove cabinet doors by unscrewing the hinges. Use an electric screwdriver. Take off all hardware. Place the hardware and screws in a plastic bag if you will be using them on your vintage cabinets.

• 2

  Sand the cabinet frames and doors lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any sheen. Rub the surface with a tack cloth to remove dust.

• 3

  Fill nicks and holes where hardware was attached with wood filler. Scrape off excess with a putty knife for a smooth finish.

Painting

• 4

  Lay the cabinet doors on a flat surface, with the backs of the doors facing up.

• 5

  Paint cabinet frames and the backs of doors with stain-blocking primer. Allow the doors to dry. Turn them over and paint the front sides.

• 6

  Lightly sand the primed surfaces with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe the surfaces with a tack cloth.

• 7

  Apply white or ivory paint to all surfaces of the cabinets, painting the backs of the cabinet doors first, and then the fronts when the backs have dried. Keeping the doors flat will prevent drips.

• 8

  Apply a second coat of paint when the surface is dry.

Glazing

• 9

  Pour one part gray, brown or black paint and one part clear glaze into a plastic container to create a glaze of medium intensity. Add more paint for a darker glaze and less paint for a lighter glaze. Stir the paint and glaze with a wooden paint stick until blended.

• 10

  Dip a dry rag into the glaze. Rub the glaze into the cabinet surface.

• 11

  Wipe the glaze off with a clean, dry rag. Work in small sections at a time so the glaze doesn’t dry before you can wipe it off. Be sure the glaze gets into the ridges and crevices for a more antiqued appearance.

Finishing

• 12

  Attach hinges to the cabinets.

• 13

  Rehang the cabinet doors.

• 14

  Replace knobs, using either the original knobs or ones that you have just purchased.