Special effects on kitchen cabinets

     Start with a sander on faces painted many times.  See what colors emerge under sanding. Keep going till you get a mix you like.  Then you can wash with a new color here and there, wipe off if needed.  When dry, finish with a coat of shellac -- for a yellowing effect and sheen. 

In the wetbar photo, old stock cabinets that used to be hung all at one height were staggered (remounted at different heights) some upper cabinets removed, one with door removed, to get an unfitted look, then add crown molding.  On a few flat fronts, cut arches in the doors and back the opening with chicken wire or mesh, and add molding on the base as well so there's no toe kick area.  Mix paint to blend in the new trims with the old look:  blue, cream, and yellow.  Be brave. Try ideas.  If you don't like it, then you can always get out the old gallon of semi gloss and paint them solid as usual.

    On the country kitchen, I cut strips of a wallpaper border edged with what looks like hand painted lines and dots --folk art look without the agony -- carefully cut and applied to rim the doors.  Wallpaper cuts decked the drawers as well, from the same border.  A coat of sealer on the whole thing has held the wallpaper trim down even with daily use of these cabinets over five years.  Really.  If it peels up, sand away some more and make it ever more shabby chic. After all, if it were original folk art painting, it would be worn away by now.

At our store, The Millstone Workshop, located at 1393 Millstone River Road, we sell both old and new painted pieces, as well as antique and gently used furniture and décor.  Interesting paint techniques catch our eye.  Come see our shop for ideas.  And share your ideas and projects by posting them on the blog!