Between finalizing our 260+ page book manuscript (due Jan 4th- ack!) and hosting/enjoying family time (and lots of delicious food), we’ve also been priming! Can I get a “holla!”? Or more likely, a “you’re crazy.”
Thank goodness our guests are so understanding! Oh man, and it feels great to be seeing some progress.
The beauty of primer is that it always looks a little rough (so you don’t have to stress about getting it to look perfect). By nature, it’s just a sticky sub-layer that helps grab paint and hold on for the long haul, so as long as you apply things thinly and evenly (drips = baaaaad), you’re all set to just follow the recommended drying time and then get right to painting!
You definitely want to use a stain-blocking primer when painting wood cabinets (especially when they’ve been stained and exposed to kitchen grease like ours). We chose Zinsser’s Smart Prime (a super high quality low-VOC primer sold at our local Benjamin Moore store that was recommended by two different pro cabinet painters). The nice thing about it is that it’s “open” a bit longer than some other primers, so it doesn’t dry right away while you’re still trying to work it into the cracks and smooth it out to make sure it’s not drippy or bumpy. And it’s nice and durable, so it should definitely help with those decades-of-great-results that we’d like.
Oh and we use a small foam roller and a 2″ angled brush for the smoothest application. Of course there are a million other primer steps to share (and even a video to show exactly how we apply it), so we’ll be back to detail every last step (arms. too. tired. to. type.) next week.
You know, after the painting’s done and our sweet and extremely understanding house guests bid us adieu. Until then, picture us painting / doing the happy dance / book editing / asking everyone if they’d like something to eat or drink (in the dining room or living room since the kitchen’s kinda out of commission).
Oh man, this is totally the exciting part though. And we’re inexplicably excited to add hardware once everything cures up. Yes, we’re strange birds. New hardware = beyond thrilling. Especially when the room used to look like this:
Wahooo progress!
Psst- Check out this kitchen post all about how we prepped our cabinets for paint and this one about how we picked hinges and a cabinet color.
Psssssst- We picked this week’s giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you!
Beth says
Wow–even the primer is an improvement from the wood! Keep on truckin’, guys!
On an unrealated note, we’re going to start remodeling our bathroom soon. I know you guys used gorgeous brown marble tile in the bathroom in your first house. Doesn’t marble need to be sealed regularly? Did you seal your tile? Did you have any problems with water and the marble? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Ours was polished (so it was sealed, and would be ok if we sealed the grout every few years and the tile itself every decade or so I think). More raw marble (ex: honed) needs to be sealed a lot more I think! But shiny polished marble tile is super water-resistant, sort of like porcelain or ceramic tile!
xo,
s
Jill says
Sherry, I don’t think your comment here is correct. Honed marble and polished marble are in equal need of sealing. Honed means “less sanded” and polished means “more sanded”. There’s no, like, furniture polish put on “polished” marble. That term means solely that it was painstakingly sanded to an extra-smooth surface. It’s still raw marble — just very smooth.
And, like raw wood, raw marble is still porous regardless of how smoothly it’s been sanded. Sealing marble is like polyurethaning wood.
If left unsealed, light polished marbles (and light honed marbles) will visibly darken wherever water touches the surface (the same way wood gets darker when wet) and then go back to their normal colors when the water fully dries (if it fully dries).
If you and John left your bathroom floor unsealed, your marble was likely too dark to notice a difference between wet and not wet.
Now, I don’t know if really matters if the pores in your marble are getting filled with water and then slowly drying out. Maybe your tiles would start to grow mold? Maybe not? I haven’t researched it. BUT, the definite issue that I know of is that if something with color or oil is spilled on your unsealed (honed or polished) marble, that pigment/oil will be sucked into the marble’s pores just like the water, but it may not evaporate like water, and then your marble may never go back to its original color. These are the stains everybody worries about.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the correction Jill! You’re totally right! I think due to the dark color it was easier to care for than white marble (dramatically easier I think!) and I remember sealing it after we installed it and detailing that step in the original bathroom post! Maybe it’s best to go back and read that post for anyone looking for that info since I clearly don’t remember a thing, haha! I know we resealed the grout and maybe even the tile about 6 months in (just to keep the bathroom super easy and autopilot when it comes to clean-up) so that might help too. We basically trust The Tile Shop a ton because they know soooo much about all that stuff, so maybe calling them to ask what they recommend is the safest way to go! Trust the pros!
xo,
s
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
It’s amazing how much brighter your kitchen is already. Hopefully painting goes quickly! I’m crazy excited to get hardware on our doors, which have yet to be built, but we’ve finally decided on knobs: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/sharing-the-goods/
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I love those! We have the pink ones on the cabinets in our laundry room! Gotta love The Hobb Lobb!
xo,
s
Myra @ My Blessed Life says
Wow. The difference is already incredible! Can’t wait to see the finished product…and best of luck as you finish up the book manuscript! Y’all rock!! :)
Clare says
Ahh you are getting so close. I am so ready to see those cabinets painted and put back on! I bet youre even more ready than me :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, we were ready last year! So excited to be inching towards it!
xo,
s
Katie says
exciting!! are you guys re-doing the floor too or keeping that floor?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s going to be a dark mocha cork- it just goes in at the end so we can run it under the new dishwasher we have yet to install (and we’ll pull out the fridge and oven and run it under there too).
xo,
s
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
I can’t believe you guys are still trucking along in the middle of the holidays and with house guests on top of that! It’s looking great! Hope you guys can take a break soon :p
Bethany Annechino says
I am cheering you guys on with wild flailing arms! You two crazy kids are kicking some serious butt. Just looking at all that progress makes me want to take a nap. (And again the gorgeous brick wall in the sunroom slays me. Slaaays.)
[email protected] says
I’ll give ya a “Holla!” AND a “You’re Crazy!” Because I think you deserve both ;) Looking good!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha. That’s fair.
xo,
s
Riki says
I don’t think you’re crazy to want to get to putting up the hardware already . . . installing new hardware is one of the world’s greatest and most exciting things.
I LOVE shopping for new handles and hinges every time I refinish a piece of furniture!
Cara says
I can’t wait to see what you do with those fluorescent lights. I’ve got one in my kitchen, too. Of course, it’s set in a recessed ceiling so I’ve been stumped as to a replacement. At least the kitchen’s well lit!
Alison says
Im so excited!!! I can’t wait to see it all together! It’s like your painting my kitchen. Will putting in the flooring mess with any of the new paint you will have will have worked so hard on?
YoungHouseLove says
We figured it would be easier to touch up the baseboards if they got a little dinged than to try to paint all the cabinets and frames with the new floor completely installed (we just worry about drips on the gorgeous new cork, so we thought waiting until the end was the best move).
xo,
s
vickielovesjeff says
Woot woot! it’s looking awesome guys! I love this stage when you can start to see the vision before your eyes not just in your head. Congrats!
Miranda says
Gosh, even the PRIMER makes it SO MUCH BRIGHTER in there!!! I cannot wait! Please keep hydrated with plenty of fluids, breaks, Clara-time and regular holidayish festivities! You’re doing great!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Miranda! You should be a coach. That’s great coach-ly advice. Haha. Love it.
xo,
s
Molly says
Fantabulous! Man, I bet you were so excited to get that on those kitchen cabinets. What’s your theory on number of primer coats? I used two on my campaign nightstands because they were so dark to start out with, but other times have only gone with one.
http://thenestinggame.com/2011/05/23/working-on-a-new-campaign/
I’m guessing a second coat never hurt and it’s better to be extra careful than regret skipping a step later…
YoungHouseLove says
We always look at coverage and follow the can to the letter. In this case that specific primer warned about over-priming, so we stuck to one coat since it gave us great coverage (it was amazing since the wood tone was so dark!). Definitely just be careful if you do two coats to wait the recommended time (sometimes it’s 16 hours or something!) just to allow the first one to cure so you don’t have any tackiness issues down the line!
xo,
s
Paige says
love it!! I think I’m most excited to see the floor and the penny tile–oh, and whatever light fixtures you guys choose! Wooooo!
Tracy says
Thanks for keeping me motivated — I’m going through a similar renovation at home after replacing the cabinet above the range (to fit a microwave PROPERLY). I chose egret white for the cabinets and am struggling with the offset hinge issue. Going with ORB hardware and that color hinge seems too in-yo-face. I even found off-white spray paint, but ya’ll know that doesn’t work well on those darn hinges.
Jasmine says
You guys are amazing!! So inspired, impressed but most of all, excited to see the results of all this hard work! :D
Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says
I know that I won’t feel like a complete DIY dork when I post this here… but I can’t wait to see your priming video. LOL ;)
Happy painting!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, oh yeah. We’re get up close and personal with our cabinets.
xo,
s
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
The cabinets look great in white! I can sort of imagine everlasting! Woohoo!! And good luck finishing your manuscript!
Kristin ~ Bien Living Design says
What a transformation already! Best of luck with the final steps!
Lindsay says
I painted my cabinets white and used Zinsser Primer for it. Worked great!
beth in dc says
You can really begin to see what it will be like. Utterly transformed. Are you going to keep ceiling white? I’m wondering what a very very soft grey (playing off penny tiles and the office) would look like, with contrasting white beams?
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that could be so pretty! And is definitely a possibility down the line!
xo,
s
Amy says
Such a difference already! I’m dying to see the end result… I just know it is going to turn out fantastic. (Hi to Clara and Burger! :) )
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
Even though it’s just the primer those cabinets already look great!! Can’t wait to see it all reassembled and a beautiful white!
Brittnee says
You’re crazy, but it looks good! Keep up the amazing work! CAN’T WAIT to read your mile long reveal post! :)
JennyB says
It’s already looking great with just the primer. And what a great work space the sunroom turned out to be, right? You can close it off from the rest of the house and yet still have the luxury of doing the work inside in December. Brrrr..that could get cold in a garage or on an outdoor porch! It’s also nice to have it separate from Clara. Our two-year-old would be right in the middle of everything wanting to paint! Can’t wait to see the finished project!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, it has been amazing to have that room!!
xo,
s
jess says
WOW! Starting to come together! Congrats!
[email protected] says
WOW! It’s amazing the difference that even just primer makes! This room is going to look amazing!! Keep it up, you will soon be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Jennifer says
Oh man! I painted our kitchen cabinets in October and I’m still not over the amount of work that went into it. So worth it, though. Your kitchen looks great, you guys. Cheers to a fancy new kitchen in the New year!
Candace D says
Wow, Sherry that’s a lot of work! I can’t wait to see the kitchen finished….hey, did you hear Bethany Ever After will be back on Feb 10th? I’ve missed her!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooo! I didn’t hear that! So exciting.
xo,
s
heather says
Please imagine the following dance moves to Ini Kamoze.
*running man*
*sprinkler*
*moonwalk*
*cabbage patch*
I do those all for you and give you one of these. I have no way to explain it, you just have to look at the photo.
http://www.likeacupoftea.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/text3974-4-5-5-4.png
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha. Nice opener. Nice mid-point. Nice finish. Loved it.
xo,
s
heather says
Sometimes you just have to go for the Gold.
YoungHouseLove says
You, my friend, just went platinum.
xo,
s
heather says
On behalf of Ini Kamoze and myself, we are truly honored.
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
Oh my gosh! I would be having major anxiety and panic problems doing all of this at once. But, this is just a testament to how organized you guys are with your life. Seriously, you guys are my heroes.
I cannot believe how amazing the cabinets look already! And, it may sound funny, but I like the color of the cement board on your walls! :) That penny tile will look amazing in that greyish color!
Clair says
Wow! You guys definitely have a gift! And vision! Your kitchen already looks twice as big! It’s incredible how the same space can look so transformed. Can’t wait to see the end result!
janie says
Wow, great progress, it’s so much easier watching someone else do it.
I wonder, though, what caused your change of heart with regards to prep work? I remember when you painted the trim in the living room you didn’t prep it at all, and now you’re doing all the right things, sanding, deglossing, priming with good primer. Is the trim in the living room starting to chip or peel?
YoungHouseLove says
The living room trim is still looking great actually (you can see it in posts about the curtains and new desk for Clara, etc) – but it doesn’t get slammed open and closed and cooked next to everyday. Ya know? Sometimes for jobs like painting living room trim you can say “I’ll just use no-VOC paint that I have on hand and skip primer and if it peels it’s my fault and I’ll redo it” but it’s crazy to do that when painting kitchen cabinets since it’s so much work and definitely something that gets used/beat up all the time! We have always been really into prep work for big jobs though (we did our first set of kitchen cabinets the same way five years ago) so it just depends on the job and how much is at stake I guess!
xo,
s
Kelly says
Looking good…that is my next project…painting the cabinets…did you sand or did you use that de-glosser that they sell at the big box hardware stores? My cabinets are oak…well, you know the look. And you can scrape your fingernail and goop (finish) comes off…ewwwww GROSS!! I would love to have your input. I have never done this before and I am not sure about the sales people, I get different storeis LOL
thanks,
Kelly
PS HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, we sanded and used deglosser! Click the link at the bottom of this post for more info on that step! And good luck!
xo,
s
Bethany says
way to go you guys! Looking better every day!
John & Sherry, they’re our man (and wo-man)
if they can’t do it, no one can!!!
GOOOOO, CABINET PAINTERS! WHOOO!
YoungHouseLove says
That makes me want to do the splits.
xo,
s
Ellen says
How are the Frankenstein doors (you know, the ones you pieced together) looking with the primer on them?
YoungHouseLove says
So far they look promising but we’re not getting cocky or anything. Haha. Could go either way!
xo,
s
Heather says
OMG this takes me back to the days when we repainted our kitchen cabinets. Ugh, such a pain, but totally worth it in the end. Good luck!
Fiona says
Good luck with it. It’s looking great already. I painted all my kitchen cabinets in 2 days by myself year ago. 14 hours straight one day and 7 the next. as well as semi looking after my 2 small kids ( my husband kept them busy mainly). By the end of the weekend my kitchen looked like this http://lilyfieldlife.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-kitchen-renovations.html
But It nearly killed me! Nothing i won’t do to save some money…Lol.
Cheers Fiona
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Wow. Amazing work!
xo,
s
SherriEakin says
WHOA. That is one beautiful kitchen!!!
Chrissie says
WOW! I love it! That transformation is amazing!
Michelle says
looking great! How’s the coverage on those doors John refitted? Are you happy with them?
YoungHouseLove says
So far they look pretty good but we don’t want to get cocky. Still could go either way when we add paint, so we’re crossing fingers but also trying to stay open to the whole “it might not work but at least we tried” thing in case things take a turn. Haha.
xo,
s
Amanda Wells says
You are brave souls. Never cease to amaze me!
http://www.amandadovewells.com/?page_id=45
jodanders says
It looks AMAZING!!!!
Can’t wait to see the finished project!
Kate Battle says
Yay for progress!
I don’t know how you guys do all of this (remodeling a kitchen, writing a book, houseguests) and take care of Clara too! You must be superpeople!
:) Happy New year!
YoungHouseLove says
We just don’t sleep! Haha. But 2012 is the year we hope to make up for it! More sleeping in 2012 for sure!
xo,
s
Wendy says
The kitchen is looking AMAZING!!! (And, by the way, we’ve had wonderful luck with Zinsser over the years.)
SherriEakin says
HAPPY DANCE! Lookin gooood! :)
Sarah @ Cozy.Cottage.Cute. says
Wow, I do not envy you guys having to do all that work but I bet I will envy your new kitchen once it’s all done. ;)
So exciting!!!
Jenny says
Oh, I love hardware, too…it’s like putting on the prettiest pair of earrings to go with that fabulous dress! Looking good, guys! I know it has been a lot of hard work but you will be so proud and happy once it’s all done!
Happy New Year!
Alison says
Looks great! Can’t wait to see the progress. I love your approach to remodeling your house to take as much time as you need. We just bought a house in Chester over the summer and sometimes it is easy to get frustrated that it is not coming together as quickly as I would like. But what’s the big rush! I’d rather make sure I love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Amen, sista! We felt so rushed and disappointed with our first house in the first year or so and then we realized “good things take time!” and it’s a lot more fun without all the unnecessary time pressure!
xo,
s
Robin says
WOAH! That looks great! And you’ve just begun…
emma says
Very impressed by all you’re getting done while so much “else” is going on!
I’m about to paint our living room. It’s currently a peach and we’re planning on a light tan, Do you recommend priming the walls first? Or maybe a paint+primer duo?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Since that’s not much of a color change you can definitely get away with two coats of paint (no primer). A primer + paint might save you a coat, but in our experience we need two coats either way, so it might just depend on how much paint your walls soak up! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
emma says
Thanks! I kinda figured 2 coats but getting out of primer makes it sound a bit easier! Enjoy time with your family!!