Yet Another kitchen thread
 

I didn't want to hijack Mikester's kitchen thread, so I'll start a new one instead. (Cuz I know everyone wants to know about my kitchen).

I started on our kitchen last night, although we arent going for a major rebuild, just paint. Well, "just paint" isn't quite accurate, as we have a tremendous amount of prep to do in order to get paint to adhere. The previous owners were chain smokers, literally lighting one cigarette of the last, and the tarry residue is still "gunked up" on the cabinets. Plus, they deep fried everthing they ate... so the cabinets are very gummy. We've been here a bit over a year and had it cleaned up enough to use, but it's still ugly.

So in order to get paint to stick, here's the plan:
-Clean everything with TSP, using steel wool.
-Sand any "contact" surface, especially corners, cupboard doors etc
-Prime with Zinsser primer
-2 coats of semi-gloss oil paint.

As of right now, I have the cupboards empty and the doors off. I just finished cleaning with TSP. The crap that came off the wood is vile and putrid, probably a blend of tobacco tar and deep fry fat.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125782264.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125782282.jpg

More pics as the work continues...

Simple Green is good for taking that crap off the surfaces and getting thm ready to paint. You'll find that the prep work is 90% of the effort and it will really pay off!

1030 PM:

Done sanding...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125797530.jpg

My hands have that rubbery feeling from 4 hours with a palm sander. My head has that rubbery feeling from 8 beer.

Going to vacuum, then wipe down with varsol.

I hope you're using proper ventalative protection.

Looks good though -you aren't going to cover up that wood are you?

Ventilation... have the windows open and a large fan, also wearing a good quality dust mask. Still have the stuff up my nose.

Yeah, we're painting over the maple. I hate doing that... and if it was up to me I'd be sanding down to bare wood and just Varethane. However, the kitchen is very dark, and the cupboards really do date the kitchen to the 1980's. I think paint will brighten the kitchen & make it seem less dated.

Having said that, I'm sure in 20 years we'll be stripping off the paint saying, " I can't beleive we painted over this wood."

Wait. Don't paint the maple. You'll regret it (maybe sooner than 20 years). Instead, install lighting in the kitchen that'll brighten it up (recessed lighting comes to mind).

Bleach the doors/drawer fronts and cabinet fronts to lighten the wood, then apply some non-yellowing urethane for protection. I'd also update the kitchen flooring (tile?) and replace the 3 windows with a single unit (got a budget?). I can't make out the counter material, but this is also an area you could update. Often times, a kitchen designer can provide good solutions at a reasonable cost.

I know, remodeling is not cheap, especially a kitchen. But perhaps I'm going beyond the "just paint it" threshold.

Unrelated story:
My friend and his wife are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. The hired a design/contractor for $50,000, with some general guidelines, but without a set of plans to follow. Now they're being nickle and dimed (actually more than that) for details because of the open-ended nature of this plan. A common friend is a retired architect and he's shaking his head wondering why our friend didn't bother to ask his opinion. Sometimes folks have too much disposible income.

MHO, but in the end, it's your kitchen. Best wishes,
Sherwood

I'll second that!

It looks like you might have some space for indirect lighting installed above the cabinets. Have you pulled off a piece of the trimwork above the cabinets to see if the ceiling is finished above them?

If you are going to paint, buy an HVLP sprayer.

I was pleasantly suprised with the results with a $200 Home depot wagner sprayer.

I would also consider some of the various faux finishes with painted cabinets, like a crackle or a glaze.