DIY Network

Entertaining Kitchen: Cabinets A metallic makeover turns boring cabinets into hi-tech masterpieces. From "Fresh Coat" episode DFCT-212

The freshly painted walls look great, but the cabinets are outdated. Shannon Kaye's new silver metallic paint finish gives the cabinets a hi-tech industrial restaurant look that will provide a focal point for the room.

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Cabinets: before

Materials (cabinets):

painter's tape
sand paper blocks
tack cloths
brushes
plastic bowl
stirring stick
black gesso
Golden Acrylics paint (Neutral Gray)
Golden Acrylics paint (Iridescent Silver )
stencil brush
Benjamin Moore paint (2112-30, Stone Brown)
dotted artist paper
straightedge
utility knife
pencil
measuring tape

1. Sanding blocks are used to remove the protective clear coat and any oil and cooking residue on the cabinetry.

Tip: Foam sanding blocks, which can form to various shapes, are easier to grip than sandpaper for this step.

Figure A

2. The cabinets are wiped with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust.

3. The cabinets are taped where they meet the wall and along the back side of the doors to prevent paint from possibly bleeding through to the inside (figure A).

4. Black gesso is mixed with Neutral Gray acrylic paint; the combination will provide a smooth, thick finish for the metallic paint.

5. The stationary frame of the cabinets is painted first. Painting the frame first lets you move the doors to paint the corners, then paint the doors and leave them open to dry. The hinges are also painted, adding to the industrial look (figure B) (figure C).

Figure B

Figure C

6. When the finish is dry, Golden Acrylics Iridescent Silver paint is brushed over the gesso finish. To help the brushstrokes disappear, make sure the last stroke is one long, straight stroke (figure D).

7. When the paint is dry, art paper is cut to the size of the cabinet panels and taped in place. Next, the bristle tips of a large stippling brush are dipped in Stone Brown paint; then excess paint is blotted off on paper towels and pounced over the dotted paper (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

8. The paper is removed from the cabinet and the paint is allowed to dry.

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