PJH Designs

Friday, April 6, 2012

Kitchen Remodel: DIY Distressed Vintage Cabinets

Hello ladies! How are ya’ll? Good I hope and ready to learn how to give your cabinets a distressed vintage furniture finish.

Before I start though I would like to remind you of the $25 Home Depot gift card I am giving away in celebration of finishing my kitchen. I thought it would give one of you a start on your next project. Click here to enter.

Here is how my cabinets looked after I finished but before I put on the hardware.

This is a view of the bottom cabinets. The top cabinets were done with a lighter finish. This is what I started with your basic oak finish.

Tip: When you remove the doors and drawer fronts number them so you know where each one goes when re-hanging them.

Here is how I completed the top cabinets.

First I painted them with Annie Sloan Chalk paint in Pure White.

Next I mixed black pigment with a glaze and brushed it on.

I then took a dry rag and removed the glaze.

After I had removed most of the glaze leaving more in the details I decided It was not light enough for me and I wiped it again with a damp cloth to remove more glaze.

After they were dry and re-hung I still wanted the top cabinets lighter so I went back and dry brushed more Pure White on them. Finally I was satisfied. Smile

I then used ASCP clear wax applying it with a brush and wiping off excess with a rag as I went. I then distressed them and when they were dry applied another coat of wax. To finish I buffed them to a light sheen.

My bottom cabinets I wanted a little different so I started by painting them with ASCP Paris Gray. I then followed the steps above except when I applied the black glaze I sort of slopped it on every which a way so that when I followed up with dry brushing the white on I would have more texture.

Here are the pictures showing you the steps.

First one with glaze and the one at top after wiping with dry cloth.

End of bar after glaze had dried.

By the way these are the front of the cabinet drawers they pop off which made them much easier to paint. This one is after about two coats of dry brushed Pure White.

Dry brushing is a method of using a dry brush with most of the paint wiped off. When you first start applying the paint you are barely touching the surface and as most of the paint is used you will press harder. You never want to get a solid looking brush of paint on the wood.

After each coat dries you continue adding the white with a dry brush until you get the look you want. I think I applied a total of five coats in this manner.

Now here is where the bottom cabinets start to really look different. Next you wax them using the soft clear wax wiping off the excess with a dry cloth. I then took one of those gray sanding blocks and started distressing them. Resulting in the gray paint showing through in spots like they had worn over time.

You want to distress anywhere you think they would naturally wear. Around the handles and pulls, on the corners, at the base, etc. After all that scrubbing and rubbing they look like this.

Corner top cabinet showing new bottom trim around cabinets.

To finish them I used different pulls on the top, the drawers, and the bottom doors to look as if they had been added at different times.

We only have a few small things to do before I share my completed kitchen. I hope you are inspired to take your cabinets on as a spring project.

Oh yes, by the way, here is the inspiration picture I used to base my kitchen cabinet remodel on.

habershamhome.com

In a comparison of the inspiration picture and my finished cabinets I think I managed to upgrade my stock cabinets beautifully. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and I am sharing with the following lovely ladies.

Friday
Feathered Nest Friday Inspiration Friday Furniture Feature Friday
Frugal Friday Show & Tell Friday Friday's Unfolded Friday Feature Party

Saturday
Show & Tell Saturday Get Schooled Saturday Spotlight Saturday
Whatcha Got Weekend Saturday Night Special

Sunday
DIY Showoff Sister Sunday Link Party Sunday Blog Love
Sunday Scoop Link Party Nifty Thrifty Sunday Sunday Show Off
It's Party Time

Monday
Show Off Your Cottage Monday Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop Creative Me Monday
More the Merrier Monday Mop It Up Monday Mix It Up Monday

Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Tuesday's Treasures Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday
Twice Owned Tuesday Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Link Party
Take It On Tuesday

Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday POWW 83 A Furniture Link Party
Success U Link Party Restored It Wednesday Be Inspired
White Wednesday

Thursday
Transformation Thursday Thriving on Thursdays Thrifty Thursday

I Was Featured! & A Giveaway

I just wanted to take a minute to thank these lovely ladies for featuring my post on building my butcher block counter tops. Thank ya'll so much. I'm so honored.

I also wanted to remind you of the giveaway I'm having right now to celebrate finishing up my kitchen! I am giving away a $25 Home Depot gift card so you may get started on your next spring project! You may enter here.

I'll be sharing how I refinished my kitchen cabinets as soon as I have time to sit down and put the post together. I used chalk paint and a four step process. Right now I'm really busy trying to catch up on furniture for my booth at King's Antiques in Shreveport.

I also want to take a moment to thank each and everyone of you that follow me. I so appreciate you and love to get your comments. I know how busy each and everyone of you are with your blogs and the fact that you take the time to see what I am up to still amazes me. Thank you.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Free Graphic Wednesday #24 & A Giveaway

Hi ya’ll! We’re having some pretty bad weather here in East Texas, but we are okay so far. My prayers go out to those in the Dallas area.

Now to the giveaway. Because I am so happy to be finishing up my kitchen I am giving some lucky winner a $25 Home Depot gift card. You have four ways to enter.

Follow my blog either by GFC or LF and leave a comment saying you did or if you already are a Follower just leave a comment

Go to my Facebook and “Like” my page and come back and leave a comment saying you did or if you already “Like” my page leave a comment saying you already follow me.

Follow me on Twitter and come back and leave a comment.

Finally, if you have a blog make an announcement on your blog about my giveaway and come back here and leave a comment.

I will announce the winner April 10, 2012.

Now on to the graphics.

Pretty girl in a blue dress.

Kittens in a basket.

Bird with an Easter greeting.

Dog carrying flower basket.

Finally, darling chicks pulling an egg cart.

Thanks for stopping by I appreciate each and everyone of you.

Sharing with the following parties:

Monday
Mop It Up Mondays
More the Merrier Monday
Show It Off Party
Creative Me Monday

Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
One Project At A Time

Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesdays
It's a Party @ Creative Princess

Thursday
Thriving on Thursdays
Thrifty Thursday

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Free Graphic Wednesday #23

Hello friends I’m almost overwhelmed these days as I have so many things going on right now. My kitchen renovation is moving along but I’m at that point when all the little things need to be done to bring it all together.

I’m so behind on my furniture restoring and looking at that stack of furniture on my carport is driving me nuts! Oh well, one thing at a time.

I have some lovely graphics to share with you this week. Enjoy and please read the Disclosure Page.

I just love this shoe full of flowers don’t you?

A French postcard

A lovely girl with a peony

A mother hen with her chicks

I just love this sassy little flower girl! Look out world here she comes!

Finally a pair of chicks in an egg basket.

Now my dear friends take this pictures and go forth—make pretties. I hope you’ll share your creations with me.

Sharing with the following lovely ladies parties:

Monday, March 26, 2012

Kitchen Remodel: Butcher Block Counter Tops @ 1/10th The Cost

Hello everyone my kitchen renovation is finally winding down. I still have a lot to do but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whoopee!

Today I am finally sharing the way I achieved butcher block counter tops at a fraction of the cost. If you remember I priced the custom counter tops at anywhere from $4500 to $7000! Wow, I was really shocked that they cost as much or more than granite. You can buy butcher block counter tops already pre-cut at a cheaper rate, but if you are like me, you need a custom size.

Anyhoo, here’s what they look like now.

Pictures just don't do them justice at least my pictures don't lol.

And here is what my bar looked like before with green laminate.

They look like they have a glass finish! I could not find a way with my little camera to take a picture that did not show a glare. It’s that shiny!

Now if you want plain butcher block counter tops you may still follow my directions. You just need to leave off making a lip around the edges and pouring on the poly finish.

I would rate this project as medium in difficulty. If you have some carpentry skills and have laid hard wood flooring you will have no problems.

Here is what you need to complete this project:

3/4 plywood (enough to cover all of your counter tops)

unfinished red oak flooring (In my area the only place to find this is at Home Depot and it is cheap!) You need enough to cover your counter-tops.

1”x 4” red oak trim (enough to trim out your counter tops)

flooring adhesive

long finishing nails

circular saw

router

hand sander

sand paper 60, 100, 150, & 220 grit

wood stain in color of your choice

Envirotex Lite polymer coating

(or polymer coating of your choice)

butane torch

trowels

sponge brush

plastic drop cloths

cheese cloth

mineral oil

paint mixing bucket

old pitcher with spout

Step 1

After you have removed your old counter tops re-enforce the corners of your cabinets as you see in the picture below to hold the weight of the plywood and wood flooring.

Notice the block of wood nailed to the corner stud. You need to do this anywhere along your cabinets that you feel need the extra support.

Step 2

Measure and cut your plywood to fit exactly the way you want your counter tops to fit. Including the over hang on sides and at the ends. Apply plywood to top of cabinets.

Make sure your plywood is level and as you add flooring be sure to keep everything level

Step 3

Next cut your red oak flooring to fit on top of the plywood laying it out in an irregular pattern just as if you were laying it on a floor. Once you have an area all cut and ready to lay out apply the flooring adhesive to the plywood in small sections.

Step 4

Now, after applying the adhesive lay each cut piece of oak to the plywood use an extra block of wood and a hammer to tap the planks together tightly. Taking the block of wood put it against the plank and hammer it instead of the plank to tighten the planks against each other. Then using an nail gun and the long 1 1/4" brad nails nail the planks together to get as tight a fit as possible. Nailing into the sides of the plank not the top so that there are no nail heads on the top.

Continue doing the above until you have completely covered your countertops.

Step 5

Now this is where you have a choice. If you want true butcher block counter tops cut your 1”x 4” red oak trim to fit evenly along edges of top. If you don’t want the upkeep like me cut your 1” x 4” to leave a small lip around the top so that you have something to encase the polyurethane when you pour it on. You can make this around1/4" deep.

Notice lip at top and right side of picture.

Step 6

Apply red oak trim to edges of counter top leaving lip around top or not according to your choice. Counter sink nails and fill with stainable wood glue. Also fill any spaces in the counter top with the stainable wood glue.

Tip: wipe off all excess wood filler thoroughly with a wet towel as it really does not stain well. You just want to get it in the cracks.

I would also, if you have not already, remove your faucet so as not to get poly and stain on it. We cut out very tight fitting styrofoam circles to put in the holes. Also applying Vaseline around the top of your sink should keep any wood stain or polyurethane from sticking to it.

Step 7

First, using the router go along edges of trim rounding edges and corners. Next using a hand sander and 60 grit sand paper start sanding. Sand the entire counter top thoroughly. Then sand with 100 grit, 150 grit, and lastly 220 grit. Top should feel smooth to the touch with no splinters or fuzzy areas.

Dust off the counter and then wipe clean with a damp cloth being sure to remove all dirt and dust.

My butcher block counter piece next to my stove before mineral oil

Step 8

If you want plain butcher block counter tops all you have to do now is treat the top with mineral oil or a butcher block treatment oil you can find at most hardware stores. Apply according to instructions or, if using mineral oil for a first time treatment, apply four coats waiting a couple of hours in between coats. I chose to leave one small counter beside my stove butcher block for food prep as you can see in the picture above. If you have chosen to apply the polyurethane proceed to step nine.

Step 9

Next you need to apply your stain of choice. Apply according to instructions on package. I prefer to apply my stain by wiping it on with cheese cloth. I just feel like I have more control. Early American is the stain color I chose as it wasn’t too dark and looked good with my new flooring.

Allow your stain to dry for one to two days keeping everything off the counters as it will scratch easily. Now you are ready for the top coat.

Step 10

Before pouring on polyurethane tape plastic drop cloths around and underneath all the counter tops.

You will need at least two people to pour the polyurethane on more would be even better. We ended up with five people. Luckily my step son and his wife stopped by about the time we started and they jumped in and helped out. Thanks guys.

Mix your polyurethane according to instructions. The product we chose was very simple as you mixed equal parts.

Tip: Do not stir your mixture like you are whipping it use smooth back and forth strokes. Whipping adds bubbles to the mix that are hard to get out.

We used a paint mixing bucket to mix the poly and an old plastic pitcher to pour the mix onto the counter tops.

Once someone pours the polyurethane onto the top have someone else start spreading the mix with a trowel. The longer the trowel the better. Keep adding and spreading until you reach the top of the lip all around the counter tops and there are no dips anywhere and the top looks even and smooth. When it runs over the sides (which it will big time) spread it along the edges with the trowel or a sponge brush.

Here you see one person spreading as another uses the butane torch

Step 11

Let the poly set up for about five minutes then light the butane torch and slowly sweep the flame back and forth over any bubbles and watch them pop! Too cool! lol

We were not able to get all the bubbles out but the ones that were left were not too noticeable.

Note: Using the butane torch in your home is very dangerous and should be done carefully. I did not come up with this as it was part of the instructions on the polyurethane and I will not be held liable if you use this technique and are injured or damage is caused to your home in the use of the butane torch.

Your counter tops will be dry to the touch in about five hours but you may not sit anything on them for three days until they are completely hardened.

That’s it! Your done! Finally! lol. I love how they turned out and so does everyone who stops by to visit. By the way the poly top coat we poured on is equal to 30 or 40 coats of regular polyurethane.

Let’s talk about cost before I close out. The plain butcher block counter tops cost will be about $150 if you purchase your supplies in the Ark-La-Tex area where I live. If you add the thick polyurethane top it cost about $400. Compared to $4500 it was well worth all the work.

Soon I’ll be sharing how I gave my cabinets an Old World finish and then I’ll be sharing my completed kitchen. I hope you will continue to follow along until the big reveal.

Thanks for stopping by until next time