How to French Whitewash Oak Kitchen Cabinets

Whitewashed oak cabinets lend a breezy, casual appearance that compliments the relaxed, airy French country kitchen style. The murky opacity of the whitewash paint softens the heavy grain of oak without completely concealing the beautiful striations of the wood. Whitewashing is oftentimes confused with "liming" or "pickling." Unlike the true pickling process where the wood is first bleached and then painted, whitewashing is a simpler process and usually requires an application of thinned latex paint or stain and a topcoat of clear sealer. While whitewashing or pickling stain are available at home improvement centers, you can create your own whitewashing stain with latex paint. Dilute one part latex paint with four parts plain water to create a simple translucent stain.

Warm, soapy water
Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP)
Medium-grit sandpaper
Tack cloth
Natural bristle brush
Whitewash or pickling stain or latex paint
Lint-free cloths
Polyurethane sealer

Instructions

- 1
  Remove all hardware such as knobs, hinges and screws from the cabinets.
- 2
  Wash the cabinets thoroughly with soap and water. For extremely grimy or greasy cabinets, dilute tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) with water according to manufacturer instructions. Wash the cabinets, rinse well and dry them thoroughly.
- 3
  Sand the cabinets with medium-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth to completely remove all traces of residue.
- 4
  Mix the whitewashing or pickling stain well to evenly distribute the pigment. If you're using your own diluted solution of latex paint and water, mix the solution periodically to prevent the contents from separating.
- 5
  Dip a paintbrush into the whitewashing solution and gently tap the brush on the inside rim of the can to remove large globs of the solution. Apply the solution to the cabinet with a brush, stroking the brush with the grain of the wood.
- 6
  Allow the whitewash solution to soak into the pores of the wood for a minute or two. Don't allow the solution to dry on the wood.
- 7
  Wipe the whitewash solution off the surface of the wood with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Use long strokes to remove the paint.
- 8
  Check the opacity of the application. If you desire a lighter appearance, apply the whitewash solution again, then wipe it off in long strokes.
- 9
  Continue whitewashing the remainder of the cabinets. Allow the cabinets to dry thoroughly.
- 10
  Apply a thin coat of polyurethane to the cabinets. Follow manufacturer directions for best results. Allow the first coat of sealer to completely dry before applying additional coats.

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