Ok. Here is my assessment, based upon the above pictures.
Yes, you can just clean them REALLY, REALLY well, and paint them. As in, make sure that get you get every single speck of grime out of every single crack. Then prime them using Kilz primer, and paint over it. This would be the cheapest way to change them, but high on the elbow grease factor. There is also the issue of potential for the new paint chipping and having the existing color showing through in the future, (and not in a "distressed" fashion like you would want) or if there is a clear coat finish on the doors currently, the clear coat flaking off after you paint over it. It also would NOT give you that "distressed" finish that you want.
If you want a distressed finish you have two options to get it done right.
The first is to sand it all down to bare wood, then apply a light coat of dark paint. Let it dry, then paint a couple of light layers of creamy white over it, until the dark paint is no longer visible through the lighter paint. Then you would selectively sand the surfaces, allowing the darker tones and the grain of the wood to show through the lighter cream color. You do not want to prime the sanded wood, as the priming would seal the wood and reduce the "graininess" that you like in the distressed surface.
The second way is the easiest way to get that distressed look. Pull the existing cabinet doors off. Purchase new, replacement doors with the distressed finish in the color you want. Sand, prime, and paint the cabinets to match the primary color of the new doors. Once it is all dry, bolt the new doors on with new hardware.
Oh, and regardless of which way you get the look that you want, you will have to add the crown moulding to the top of the cabinets prior to the painting step.
Now for the dishwasher.
Yes, there is room for a dishwasher in place of the cabinet beside the sink. But I am concerned about the "dead" space in the base cabinets under the corner. If you are lucky, the short cabinet that is beside the opening for the fridge is open to that dead space, and thus when you put the dishwasher in you could still reach and access it. However, what is most likely is that the access is through the cabinets you will be pulling out to put the dishwasher in. That is assuming there is even access inside the cabinets to that dead space.
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2007-11-12 10:54 pm (UTC)Yes, you can just clean them REALLY, REALLY well, and paint them. As in, make sure that get you get every single speck of grime out of every single crack. Then prime them using Kilz primer, and paint over it. This would be the cheapest way to change them, but high on the elbow grease factor. There is also the issue of potential for the new paint chipping and having the existing color showing through in the future, (and not in a "distressed" fashion like you would want) or if there is a clear coat finish on the doors currently, the clear coat flaking off after you paint over it. It also would NOT give you that "distressed" finish that you want.
If you want a distressed finish you have two options to get it done right.
The first is to sand it all down to bare wood, then apply a light coat of dark paint. Let it dry, then paint a couple of light layers of creamy white over it, until the dark paint is no longer visible through the lighter paint. Then you would selectively sand the surfaces, allowing the darker tones and the grain of the wood to show through the lighter cream color. You do not want to prime the sanded wood, as the priming would seal the wood and reduce the "graininess" that you like in the distressed surface.
The second way is the easiest way to get that distressed look. Pull the existing cabinet doors off. Purchase new, replacement doors with the distressed finish in the color you want. Sand, prime, and paint the cabinets to match the primary color of the new doors. Once it is all dry, bolt the new doors on with new hardware.
Oh, and regardless of which way you get the look that you want, you will have to add the crown moulding to the top of the cabinets prior to the painting step.
Now for the dishwasher.
Yes, there is room for a dishwasher in place of the cabinet beside the sink. But I am concerned about the "dead" space in the base cabinets under the corner. If you are lucky, the short cabinet that is beside the opening for the fridge is open to that dead space, and thus when you put the dishwasher in you could still reach and access it. However, what is most likely is that the access is through the cabinets you will be pulling out to put the dishwasher in. That is assuming there is even access inside the cabinets to that dead space.
Any more questions? ;-)