Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets: 2 Years Later

It’s been two years since I chalk painted our kitchen cabinets. Here’s the top 10 questions I get about my chalk painted kitchen cabinets:

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets Review

1. What did you use?

Originally, I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White on the uppers and Duck Egg Blue on the lower cabinets. You can roll the paint on but I felt like brushing it on gave me a better result. You may find it useful to have brushes in a variety of sizes depending on the angle you’re painting. Of this 3-pack, I would use the largest and smallest brushes most often. It’s so important to always use good brushes. I use Purdy or Wooster brand brushes on almost any project I do. It really does make a difference on the finished product. I once had a friend tell me 20 years ago that,  “If you’re going to do a project and don’t use Purdy or Wooster brushes, it isn’t worth doing.” That was 20 years ago before the DIY craze and it still holds true today (in my experience).

Painting the cabinets the week we moved in.
Painting the cabinets the week we moved in.

NOTE: Last winter, I removed the doors and repainted the upper cabinets because I found the Old White to be too cream-colored, but another option you may want to try is Annie Sloan Pure White chalk paint. After a year, the uppers looked dull and dirty to me. I only applied one coat of wax on the uppers originally so I was able to apply Sherwin Williams Pure White directly over the chalk paint and wax with excellent adhesion. I love SW Pure White. It is my go-to white because it is clean without looking too sterile or cold. I used a $5 sample quart to repaint the entire set of uppers.

Open cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams Pure White
Open cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams Pure White

2. How did you prep the cabinets?

I used Dawn Simply Clean and water to remove the greasy build-up on the cabinets. Once the cabinets were dry (and the kid was asleep) I started painting. I did not take the doors off or prime the cabinets.

3. How much paint and wax did it take?

I originally bought two cans of chalk paint (one Old White and one Duck Egg Blue.) If you use white paint, it will take several coats to achieve the look you want. You may end up needing two cans of white depending on the number of cabinets you’ll be painting. The Duck Egg Blue went on so well, I did two coats and still had paint leftover to use on a few other projects.

I’ve always heard that on kitchen cabinets, you should use at least three coats of wax. I did wax the lower cabinets three or more times but only did one on the upper cabinets. Honestly, my arm got tired and…life. You should have most of a can of wax leftover once you are finished.

4. How much did your cabinet makeover cost?

Here’s the breakdown:

Duck Egg Blue $34.95 plus tax
Old White $34.95 plus tax
Wax $24.95 plus tax
Wax Brush $24.95 plus tax
Brushes (Had these)
Hardware  Approx. $50
—————Total
About $170

For under $200, I was able to drastically change the look of the kitchen and fast. *Prices may differ

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinets

5. Is it difficult to wax the cabinets?

Difficult? No.
Time-consuming? Yes, but if you have an iced coffee/wine and some good music, you’ll be set.

I waxed the cabinets over the course of a week, during Ada’s naps or while everyone was sleeping. If you’ve never used wax before, it may be a good idea to chalk paint and wax a piece of furniture first to get the hang of waxing. You want to apply a thin, even layer. I love this tutorial by Cindy from Simply Reinvented. She does a great job of explaining wax and prepping your brush in simple language. Also…she likens wax to Crisco, which is my kind of girl.

6. What would happen if I skipped waxing the cabinets?

Chalk paint is, well, chalky. You have to apply wax to protect the finish. It is crucial. Here is an area on my cabinets that didn’t get enough wax. As you can see, over time the paint has flaked away.

 

IMG_9582

One common misconception is that the wax will make your cabinets feel tacky. The wax cures and will have a hard finish. The wax also brings the color of your paint out, making it look richer.

7. How has the paint held up with kids?

Like anything in a house with kids (or pets), there is wear and tear. I do, from time to time, have to touch up areas. This is super-easy and shouldn’t keep you from painting your cabinets.

Here you can see some wear and tear from where the kids push the garbage can against the paint. Again, this is an easy fix.
Here you can see some wear and tear from where the kids push the garbage can against the paint. Again, this is an easy fix.

8. How do you touch-up your cabinets?

I pick up a sample pot of chalk paint ($12) from my local stockist and touch up the areas if the paint has been damaged (as above.) If there is a water stain, which happens once-in-a-blue-moon when the wax has been worn thin, I just add more wax and buff the area out.

Water stains can be a sign that your wax has worn thin. It is an easy fix.
Water stains can be a sign that your wax has worn thin.
It is an easy fix.

I should probably recommend waxing once a year because that is what a stockist would say. Do I? Eh. Maybe? Life is busy. I don’t have time to think about my cabinets too often. I have never made a big production of waxing them again but instead do touch-ups.

9. Why did you do two different colors?

I used two different colors because I think it makes the kitchen feel a little bigger with white on top. I also think two different colors gives you a more custom-look.

10. Are you still happy with the results?

Yes, I think chalk painting the cabinets was a fast, affordable and easy way to makeover our kitchen. I would do it again. Even in a house with kids, they’ve held up well.

My advice:

french_linen_896

  • Invest in hardware. Even on unpainted wood, hardware will protect the finish of your cabinets from the oil in your hands. Plus, it’s a cheap way to add personality to your kitchen.
  • Browse Pinterest for kitchens that inspire you. I never would have thought of painting the cabinets blue until I realized I consistently was drawn to kitchens that incorporated that color.
  • If you like white cabinets but worry about kids, paint your uppers white and go with a darker color on the bottom. French Linen, Paris Grey, Coco or Graphite would be beautiful on lower kitchen cabinets.
  • Relax. If you mess up, it’s paint. You can sand it off and start over. Have fun with it!

194 Responses

      1. So no sanding at all required? Simple take doors and drawers down and paint with chalk paint and then wax and thats that? Primer??
        WOW

        2. I have read on numerous posts it is best to apply then lightly sand and repeat the steps on as many coats you choose to apply. The same steps are used with the polycrylic seal.

        3. Our cabinets are not wood. They are more like what grandma’s countertops were. We were told to wash well with vinegar, prime with an oil based primer and oil based paint

      2. Hi ! I recently painted my dresser old white with a wax finish and find that it isn’t as white as I would like it to be (I notice a tint of yellow) what would you suggest? :) thanks for the advice :) I am looking for a clean crisp white :)

      3. Help. I am very new to this and reading the threads. We have purchased a country home and I want to paint the pine kitchen units country grey. I am confused reading the threads as I feel AS is the way to go but what finish is best as a couple are mentioned. AS wax or others on the thread. I also have Aline dining table that needs to change to white?!?? AS again or different paints ?!?! Any help welcomed with much appreciation.

      4. Beautiful job! Instead of waxing try a satin poly coat and you will have a durable long lasting finish. I quit waxing and starting using this method and it’s so much more resilient and yes it goes over chalk paint. I find wax is not long lasting and protective especially for cabinets.

      5. Beautiful job! Instead of waxing try a satin poly coat and you will have a durable long lasting finish. I quit waxing and starting using this method and it’s so much more resilient and yes it goes over chalk paint. I find wax is not long lasting and protective especially for cabinets.

          1. I use a product called Polycrylic by Minwax. It’s a water based product with easy clean up. I have used the brush-on kind but also the Polycrylic spray that Minwax offers. I like both a lot and switch around depending on the product. The thing I like about Polycrylic is that it doesn’t turn yellow over time like regular polyurethane tend to over time and the finish on it protects so well.

      1. This just made my night

        Just bought a new place and the big kitchen Reno is a while down the track (plus I need to figure out what I want)
        So this will be a sweet sweet quick improvement

      2. I’ve got super 80’s kitchen cabinets that I’ve been wanting to make over solve we moved in two years ago, but of course… Life. (I have a 3yr old.) Do I need to sand and prime laminate cabinets to use chalk paint? Thanks!

    2. laminate is really easy to remove & generally a smooth MDF underneath that paints beautifully. I just did my bathroom cabinets this way with chalk paint & they look amazing!

  3. Thanks so much for your post. I was wrestling with the chalk paint vs semi gloss paint for my kitchen as well as white on top & a color on bottom cabinets – all with added hardware. You helped me make up my mind!!!

    1. I’m so glad! I love the richness of color with the chalk paint. I have painted other cabinets with semi-gloss paint and honestly, I will probably redo them in chalk paint. You get the look of custom cabinets without the expense. Once you get them finished, send me a photo. I’d love to see them!

      1. Does Anne Sloan chalk paint come in Robins egg blue? We had the same idea when we get ready to renovate our kitchen. Buying a 1950s home n we want to do white on top n Robins egg blue on bottom. If not how can I come close to that color?

  4. Thank you for the informative article. I am really considering chalk painting my kitchen cabinets. My only concern is my house is open concept and my kitchen is very prominent. All the other walls in den, dining and stairwell are fireside burch paneling (has been up since 1977 and has been cleaned regularly with Scotts Liquid Gold so it still looks great). Currently the cabinets are stained. Do you think if I chalk paint them that it is going to make the kitchen stick out like neon when you walk in the door? The other furniture is dark brown and then I inherited a beautiful 3 piece love seat, chair and rocker that the seats of are a deep red with burgundy undertones. I have looked at Annie Sloan’s Ochre but I am so scared of making it look neon against all the other paneling. Do you have any ideas and do you have any ideas on different colors?

    1. Sheila, I’m sorry it has taken me so long to respond but I’ve been mulling this one over. Can you email me a photo of the space? I hate to give you advice on color without having a visual.

  5. Why did you say I originally used Annie Sloan paint, did you go back and use a different kind? I recently spoke to someone who uses a chalk paint that does not need waxing and she loves it so just wondering.

    1. I’m sorry if that wasn’t clear! I’ve painted the cabinets since I wrote this post (for a change of color, not because the paint wasn’t holding up.) The first time, I used Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue on the base cabinets and AS Old White on the top. A year later (which I mention in this post,) I repainted the top cabinets in a homemade chalk paint mixed with Sherwin Williams’ Pure White. It’s a much brighter white whereas the Old White is creamy, almost ivory. Let me say this: If I were starting from scratch, I wouldn’t go the homemade-chalk paint route. It was okay to paint over existing paint but I don’t think it would have stuck as well if I had put it on bare cabinets. That’s just my opinion.

      I have since painted the base cabinets in Valspar’s chalk paint (available at Lowe’s) colored to match Sherwin Williams’ Peppercorn. The Valspar chalk paint is a little cheaper and gives you more options in terms of color choices. I wasn’t loving the Duck Egg Blue once I changed the floors. The paint was still in great shape though! It really was just a style change.

      As far as chalk paint that doesn’t need to be waxed, I’ve never heard of anything like that. Maybe it’s something with a matte finish?

      1. There are chalk paints which don’t require top-coating – I think Autentico had a water-proof line of product.

        I’ve got a question about top-coating – would you advise to varnish it instead of waxing? I got that suggestion from someone who has been using chalk paint for ages and says that for heavy-duty pieces like kitchen cabinets it’s more durable to varnish. Not sure if it’ll come out as matte as with waxing, wouldn’t want to risk losing one of the main benefits of chalk paint.

        1. I am going to paint my kitchen cabinets with Annie Sloan, which is the only Chalk Pain registered product. It is not latex or acrylic, hence the mostly odorless application. After researching and going to a chalk paint class (annie sloan chalk paint), I am convinced it is the way to go. The class instructed us to use denatured alcohol as a cleaner prep prior to applying this paint. The wax portion beautifully brings out the richness of the color.

  6. Thank you so much for your brilliant article. It’s wonderful to see how the chalk paint is standing up to the everyday wear and tear in a household because I have four dogs and have always been worried about using this type of paint. It’s also good to see that you can touch areas as necessary. I have a waxed pine kitchen that has gone very orange over time and was wondering if I am able to just paint over the wax finish?

    1. Thanks, Carolyn! I’m so glad it helped you. I have painted laminate furniture with chalk paint so I imagine it would adhere to your cabinets without any prep other than a good scrubbing. The first coat won’t look great but by the second coat, you should be good. If it isn’t sticking, I’d do a light sanding. Hope this helps! Let me know if you try chalk paint on them :)

  7. Interesting; different strokes for different folks, I guess. I used the same paint (different but VERY similar colours) on my kitchen island and it was a TOTAL failure. It looked great for a few weeks but then the white paint started to yellow and all of it chipped, wore and stained. I painted over it with bulls-eye primer (to deal with the wax finish without sanding) and then Benjamin Moore Aura and wondered why I didn’t do that in the first place. Super durable, easy to use, LESS expensive than chalk paint and less steps (no final finish) and no regular touch ups.

    2. Hi, I just did a class in New Zealand using the Annie Solan Chalk Paints and I believe the problem was caused by the type of wood you painted on. from what we were told in class theirs is some woods that contain tanin / oil (oak/ teal etc) and you will soon know as the oil will bleed through the the paint, which it sounds like has happened here. They recommended a specific primer be used but only one coat is required. Glad it worked out for you with the alternative. Hope you’ll give the chalk paint another go, I’ve found it amazing since the class learning how to use it. 😀

    3. Hi, I was just reading your post … what Aura did you use? Interior or Exterior flat or satin? I’m obsessed with painting my kitchen cabinets white. However, cannot decide which paint to use- chalk or regular. You seemed to have a honest take on the chalk paint (my worst fear) that it got dingy and flaked, etc. How is the redo with Aura working out for you?

    4. Totally agree with Kami. I have been redoing furniture since I was in my 20’s. I am now 63. Kitchen cabinets need a hard wearing finish. Chalk paint looks fab on dressers etc that don’t get handled as much. I love Annie Sloan’s paints, but not in the kitchen. Kitchen cabinets are forever being used, normal opening & closing, cooking spills , kids, even adults brushing up against them with different objects. I want to do my Kitchen cabinets which are stained walnut brown. I wanted to do them with Chalk paint BUT was really worried it wouldn’t hold up. I have put it off for over a year. I have driven people made with the questions, as I wanted to do it right the first time. I spoke to many professionals and all told the same story. So I thought I’d tackle the ensuite cabinets first. I did them a year ago. I can tell u they have stood the everyday use.
      1. Clean with Cloudy Ammonia, as soapy cleaners leave residue. 2/ Sand down lightly as though ur cleaning them. No need to sand back. Only taking shine off. 3/ I did number and removed the doors,- numbering each one on the bottom. Placed all the brackets etc in freezer bags INDIVIDUALLY to match door number. Honestly it pays to do this as they go back easy. 4/. I did 2 coats Rustoluem Zinsser Cover Stain Blocker/Primer all in one!
      5/. 2 coats with Enamel Paint. I know it’s more work, but looking closely at Amanda’s cupboards which have a lot of paint removed, I didn’t want to be doing them constantly. I can assure you I don’t regret the extra work at the beginning. I don’t know how to attach photos here, otherwise I would send to show you. I will be doing the kitchen cabinets the same.

      1. I have the same fear. I have painted one dresser with chalk paint and loved it. I have a burly fireman husband who is like a bull in a china cabinet. Bless his heart. So I am concerned about the paint choice. I love chalk paint, but kitchen cabinets is a whole other story. Still searching. Now I am really confused. Marsha

      3. Oh my gosh..thank you for your detailed post. I’m wanting to paint my kitchen cabinets and had the same concerns if using Chalk Paint. You have saved me alot of trouble as I like you want to tackle this but only once! Now I just need to decide on a color…

      4. It’s been more than a yr. since you’ve posted this, although I’ve just now seen it. Would you let me know if all the steps you went through were worth it? I’m also in my 60’s & that won’s stop me; just moved with honey oak cabinets included (aghast) Just HAVE to paint them. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

    5. I’ve used BM “Aura” paint and love it. When doing cabinetry, doors, window trim, it DOES tend to take a certain technique because it dries so quickly. Brush on one way…leave till dry. Don’t go back over it if you don’t want
      brush marks. Redo after dry. Very hard, smooth finish….I used it for all my trim and doors in previous home. It’s pricey at ‘around’ $50 gallon, but worth it. On walls, it applies like any other with great coverage, quick dry time and no odor. Tip for painting white woodwork: if it is oil paint, it will yellow over time. Even BM “Advance” will do so a bit since it actually has some oil in it. It’s another super great smooth finish, but does tend to take at least two or maybe even three coats. Neither of these, of course, have same effect as chalk paint, but do provide very nice finished product that wears well and has no or minimal brush strokes if properly applied.

    1. Thanks, Paja! I can’t remember a time that I’ve used the chalk paint over an oil-based paint but from what I’ve read, it should work. Maybe test a small area?

  9. Amanda, I love what you did. I wonder if you might please post a picture of your cabinets with the island painted in the Peppercorn? I looked at that color yesterday in SW.
    I’ve used chalk paint on many different pieces of furniture and I love it. I always use the Annie Sloan clear soft wax (dark wax sometimes over the clear when I want to do some distressing…) and right now seriously looking at painting my dark Java cabs with the Old White but after your comments, I believe I may mix it with their new Pure White. I definitely don’t want a dirty look. But I have a dresser I painted 5 or 6 yrs ago with the Old White and soft wax finish. It looks almost ivory and has held up great.
    @redbazel on IG

    1. I am so sorry I am just replying! If you check my Instagram account, I’ve posted several photos of the Peppercorn and promise a post on that ordeal (yes, it was an ordeal) of painting them!

  10. I painted my kitchen cabinets about 8 years ago with oil paint and it has since yellowed. It was a huge undertaking. Now I am thinking about reprinting them with chauk paint so they look crispy white. I am thinking also about removing some of the doors and painting the inside of the cabinets a different color. Do you think the chauk paint will hold up over the oil paint? Do I need to sand or just clean good with the Kurd mutter?

    1. Hi Peggy! I would imagine that the chalk paint would adhere to the oil-paint but before painting the entire set of cabinets, I’d test an area first. It may be that a light sanding will help if your paint doesn’t stick. Good luck!

  11. We are going to be moving into a older farm house and I want to do something similar. What type of chalk paint to you recommend?? Also did you do your own counter top?

    1. Congrats, Jessica! Sounds like your home will have lots of character.

      In terms of chalk paint I like, it is the most expensive but I really do love Annie Sloan. I find that the finish is always consistently beautiful. It is certainly a reliable choice but I don’t love that the color line is limited. You can, of course, mix colors but for a big job like kitchen cabinets, who wants to attempt that?!

      I recently painted my bathroom vanity with Rustoleum’s Chalked Paint (in white.) The results were great and at $19 a quart, it’s certainly a much more affordable alternative.

      I also like Valspar’s line of matte finish paint (available at Lowe’s) because you have more flexibility with choosing your color. Two colors I love: The Valspar paint tinted to match Sherwin Williams’ Pure White or Peppercorn. Both a beautiful as a chalk paint!

      Hope this helps!

  12. Hi I just came across this blog on pinterest. I am getting ready to paint my cabinets. I am putting a matte polycrylic on top of my chalk paint so it is more durable. I tried it out on a dresser and it has held up great so far.

    1. Let me know how that holds up, Denise! I’ve had mixed feelings on polycrylic over chalk paint. Sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn’t.

      1. I many pieces of furniture and have never had any issues with the polycrylic. I use a paint sprayer to get a nice even coat without having to deal with brush strokes. They all have held up very well.

  13. I enjoyed this article because I am planning on painting my kitchen with chalk paint and was also thinking of using AS duck egg blue on the bottom and old white on top. We obviously have a lot in common, apparently we even give our kids the same name – my daughter’s name is Ada. I have never used chalk paint, so your tips were great! I may end up going with a SW white paint on top as well since I plan on painting the bathroom cabinet the same white color. Thank you for your tips and pictures!

    1. Aww! So fun! We rarely meet Ada who is younger than 70!

      If you go with the Sherwin Williams Pure White (an excellent choice…one of my very favorite whites,) go to Lowe’s and have them tint the Valspar chalk paint to Pure White. Their chalk paint is cheaper than AS and I love the finish.

  14. Did you have any issues keeping the paint from showing brushstrokes? I have just tested a small section and after 4 coats it still looked a little streaky. I’m using a Purdy angled brush. The gal at the shop I purchased my sample
    From said it worked well with chalk paint. I’m about to paint my cabinets with pure white ascp and I’m excited. I plan to use a polycrylic to seal. Just curious if there’s a way to smooth out the strokes, and would you prime first so it doesn’t take so many coats?

    1. Katy, I find that with chalk paint (especially white) you’ll have that brushed-on look but I think that is part of the “old-world”, European-look that chalk paint is made to mimic. The best bet for a smooth finish with white chalk paint is adding a little water to the paint. I find I get the smoothest finish that way. You could also roll on the chalk paint with a small sponge roller!

  15. Amanda, I am planning to paint my island. I am concerned because I’ve heard that that wax on chalk paint can stain from cooking grease. My stovetop in on the island. What do you say?

    1. You’re absolutely right, the grease can stain the wax. That said, it’s a fairly easy fix. Just wax the spot again. But, as I mentioned to Danise (above) I’m loving Rustoleum’s Clear Matte product which is used with their chalked paint. I have been using that over even Annie Sloan chalk paint because it is so stinkin’ easy. It may give you a better result on your island. Good luck and let me know how it turns out for you!

      Here’s a link to the Rustoleum product (it is an affiliate link, which means I will make a small commission at no cost to you!)

      2. Hi Amanda- I’m curious regarding the Rustoleum product, you use this INSTEAD of the wax finish? Is that right? I am about to start my project and want to make sure I understand your recommendations. Thanks!

  16. If I were to paint another color underneath the chalk paint and then distress, would the paint under the chalk paint show up? Just wondering

    1. Hi Danise! If you do, I’d use two colors of chalk paint rather than latex. I’m telling you this from experience. I recently sanded the wax off the base cabinets and used a latex paint over the existing chalk paint thinking the chalk paint would act as a primer. I wanted to go from the Duck Egg Blue picture above to a darker gray. Anyway…disaster. I have been fighting the cabinets since DECEMBER. Here’s my advice:

      Do one layer of chalk paint.
      Top with another layer of chalk paint in a different color.
      Distress as you like to reveal the first coat.

      Instead of waxing, I’ve been using Rustoleum’s clear matte finish for their line of chalked paint. I love this product. It’s easier and faster than wax, which is helpful when you’re doing a big job like cabinets. Good luck!

      1. Hi, do you think I can use the Rustoleum clear matte over a layer of wax? I just chalk painted my kitchen cabinets 2 layer, they loom great. I did one layer of wax but I am hesitating adding another layer of wax, I fear it’s sticky tacky feeling, I am worried about the wax not holding up. I’d like to add the antique wax to the cabinet edges but I am hesitating adding a second layer of wax. Ugh.

  17. Hi Amanda-
    I love the antiqued look that comes from dark wax, but also am drawn to putting poly on kitchen cabinets for the lower maintenance aspect. Are you able to poly over wax, or would there be an adhesion issue? Is there another way of getting the dark glaze look, more compatible with the poly, than the dark wax? Just wondering. Thank you so much for your tutorial and review! I am astounded at how ambitious you are, and how much you get done!!

    1. Hi Kathryn,
      I don’t think the poly would work over the wax but there is an easy solution. You can get the antiqued look using a glaze over the paint. I usually keep this glaze on) hand (FYI, this is an affiliate link and I’ll get a small commission at no cost to you if you choose to buy) because it gives you a similar look as dark wax and it’s cheap. I would apply this with a cotton cloth and have a small bowl of water nearby so you can remove excess until you have the look you want. Remember, a little goes a long way with this stuff. I like to apply it to any creases that would show distressing/age over time. You could certainly use Poly over this. I’ve mentioned it a few times here in the comments, but I really love this product by Rustoleum for sealing chalk-painted furniture/cabinets. I used it most recently on my bathroom vanity and was amazed by how simple it is to use and that it gives you a very close finish to wax. I prefer it to Poly.

    1. Thanks! Actually…I’m planning on ripping them out. I know..right?!

      I am working at this very moment on a post that will go live tomorrow (Monday, March 14) on the countertops. To say the honeymoon is over is an understatement, lol.

    1. Thank you, Blanca! That is so kind of you to say.

      I’m going to be TOTALLY honest with you. I don’t really like wax brushes and rarely use them. Did you hear that? I just broke Pinterest. Seriously, it came to a screeching hault to stare at me in disbelief. I have several brands, from the expensive AS brushes to less expensive ones I’ve purchased at craft stores and I find that even after doing the rub-the-bristles-into-the-sidewalk trick that die-hard chalk paint people recommend, I still end up picking little bristles off the piece I’m working on.

      Here’s what I do:
      Rip up a plain white cotton shirt and use it to apply the wax. I use this method almost every time now. Seriously. T-shirt.

      I’ve mentioned it a few times here on other comments but I am seriously impressed with Rust-Oleum’s Matte Clear Finish, particularly for a big job like cabinets. It is made to go over their chalked paint and when it dries, it has a similar appearance to waxed furniture BUT you paint it on. It’s super easy and fast. I will definitely keep on hand from now on. [Please note, the above link is an affiliate link which means I’ll make a small commission if you choose to buy the paint. Like…maybe enough for a cup of coffee. This is at no cost to you and I never share links to anything that I do not use myself and love. Just an FYI.]

    1. Thanks, Cynthia! I’m trying to decorate more with functional pieces. This skillet was my husband’s grandma’s. It was a wedding gift!

  23. they are beautiful! & love the colors!! I have a similar blue color ready to paint on walls. However, question: why chalk paint v regular? What is the difference?

    1. Thank you so much! I chose the chalk paint because you don’t have to do any prep-work; no sanding, no priming. You just crack open the can and start! With regular latex paint, you’d have to first sand or prime the cabinets. I also really like the rich, highly-pigmented hues. The paint has a pretty matte finish that looks great in coastal, farmhouse or European-style spaces.

  26. Did it work well to not have to take the cupboard doors off to paint? How did you not get it all over the hinges etc? I want to paint our cabinets and it would be amazing if I didn’t have to take all the doors off :)

    1. I would have preferred to take the doors off and if I were at your house, painting your cabinets, I would have taken the time to do that. With two small kids under foot, it was easier for me to just paint the cabinets without taking the doors off. I did it in two steps: I painted with the doors closed then opened them up and painted the spots I missed. It works for me and if you want to save time, I’d say you can totally fudge it ;)

  27. Good Morning! I recently used chalk paint for our basement cabinets. I used Valspar. I waxed with a WHITE cotton T and I just LOVE the antique quality. If you’re using a dark paint like I did (black), use a BLACK T or you’ll end up with a vintage look, which I just adore.

    I think your cabinets look AMAZING. Removing the cabinet doors really ‘lightened’ it up. I have FOUR furry cats and could not go with open cabinets, but I absolutely LOVE them. Maybe I’ll do this over the refrigerator.

    The thing I love about paint…..it’s. just. paint. You can paint your cabinets every year for a different feel. Chalk paint goes on EASIER, without brush strokes. (Although I am seeing that brush strokes may be ‘in’).

    Thank you for taking the time to post pics. I just love your kitchen!

    1. You are so, so, so right! If you don’t like the color, you change it. I love how paint transforms a space but doesn’t require a huge commitment. Thank you for taking time to write me!

  28. Hi Amanda, very pretty kitchen. I love the ease of chalk paint – just clean and paint! I never ordered the A.S. line as I was a newbie and didn’t want to spend the money so I tried little pots of the Americana Decor found at Hobby Lobby, etc. I tried a small buffet in a ‘duck blue’ color and love it. Haven’t waxed or sealed yet and it’s been been a few months…I just finally bought some. I like the distressed look on certain pieces so I wasn’t concerned.

    However, I really want white kitchen cabinets and the idea of chalk painting them is very appealing. They are an early 90’s medium oak and I’m sick of them! I was initially going to do the sand, prime, satin latex white route but we don’t have kids or pets and we don’t cook a lot of greasy food so I think the chalk paint would hold up well (and would be so much less work in my opinion!) I’m just afraid now because I thought if I sealed them with a water based topcoat or did the wax and down the road wanted to do latex paint we could just sand off the sealer/wax coat and the chalk paint beneath would act as a primer…so are you saying that’s not the case that it won’t work well? My friend has done a few pieces with the Rustoleum brand and prefers it to A.S. so that’s the brand I’d probably go with. Thanks for all the helpful tips!

    1. Hi Angel,

      I though that the chalk paint would act as a primer under the latex (or hoped) but it didn’t work out that way for me at least. I originally used AS in Duck Egg Blue then tried to sand and paint over with latex in Peppercorn by SW. That looked great but peeled off in huge sheets. It was a nightmare! I ended up getting Valspar chalk paint colored to Peppercorn at Lowes, which worked.

      1. Did you know that Sherwin Williams samples are not real (quality) paint? They are only intended for testing colors and will peel off if not top coated with something else?

  29. Hi,
    Your kitchen looks awesome! I am planning to remodel mine as well and I love your wood like counter top. Would you mind to share what you did to it ?

    Thank you

    1. Thank you! It’s actually the butcher block countertops from Ikea. I wrote a post reviewing them here that you may find helpful ===>https://www.ourstoriedhome.com/brutally-honest-review-ikea-butcher-block-countertops/

    1. Absolutely! I’ve used it in both our kids’ bathroom and our master bathroom. I like to seal them with Rust-Oleum Matte Clear instead of wax. Wax works perfectly fine but in the bathroom, I prefer the matte clear. Just a preference.

  31. Love your kitchen! Quick questions, my current kitchen cabinets are a dark color… like a dark brown. Would you recommend I paint them white first before using chalk paint? I’m basically doing the same as you :) thanks so much for the help and inspiration!

    1. No, I’d just use the chalk paint. The benefit of the chalk paint (it’s pricey so you’re buying time, in my opinion) is that you don’t have to do prep-work. When you say dark brown, do you mean they are stained a dark brown or painted? Either way, you should be set to just start painting. I will caution you that if you do your uppers in white chalk paint, it will likely take 3 coats. Good luck! Send me pics!

  32. Thanks so much for posting this! I love your cabinets so much! I’m wanting to do mine in a couple of weeks and this will be the first time ever taking on a huge project like this and using chalk paint. I wanted them bright white like yours. So should I use the Valspar tinted SW Pure White and then the Rust-Oleum Matte as the wax? How many coats do you apply of that? Does it matter what kind of paint brushes I use? Also I have an island that I was going to cover in bead board and was trying to decide what color
    To paint it. My kitchen colors are Red and Turquoise and my pantry door is currently turquoise…should I paint my island that color as well…like duck egg or would that be too much? Should I just stick with the all white? Thanks so much for the help!!

    1. Hi Jill! Since this is your first big project like this, I’d definitely go with the Rust-Oleum Matte Clear instead of wax. Wax isn’t difficult but I think the Rust-Oleum product is so much easier to use. You literally just brush it on. Here’s a link ==>http://amzn.to/1VEoVHS

      [FYI…this is an affiliate link…if you decide to buy, I’ll get a small commission at no cost to you. Just helps me keep this blog going ;)]

      I used the Rust-Oleum this time to seal the kitchen cabinets and I’ve used it on both of my chalk-painted bathroom vanites. I would say at least 2 coats, maybe 3 on the base cabinets.

      As for the white, yes, I love SW Pure White and have had good results with the Valspar chalk paint. I’ll warn you though, painting cabinets white requires several coats. That’s part of the reason I did white on the uppers and color on the base cabinets. You may need 2-3 quarts of paint depending on the size of your kitchen.

      For your island, I’d do a pop of color. I’d keep the colors of the cabinets softer since it sounds like your accessories are bold. What about gray on the island? That would be beautiful with the red and turquoise and be classic enough that if you want to change up your look in the years to come, you can.

  34. Amanda, just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of your valuable tips and information. I am going to paint over my dark cabinets which I painted using the Rustoleum Cabinet transformation kit back 4 years ago. And I will say the finish did not hold up very well especially around the knobs and handles. I want to re paint them a light gray using chalk paint, I was torn between going with the Annie Sloan chalk paint or trying a different brand that isn’t quite so expensive. Do you know if Benjaman Moore makes a chalk paint, the color I want to paint the cabinets is a Benjaman Moore color. My biggest concern is getting the color I want in a chalk paint. Can you give me a good brand recommendation? I definitely will use the Rustoleum Matte Clear product instead of wax for the finish coat. Thank you again for taking the time to answer my question. Love your kitchen!

  35. What did you use to fill in the holes when you removed the cabinet doors? Ive heard different things about wood filler and I’ve tried spackle but my results aren’t great. Looks like whatever you used works very well!

  36. Fabulous job! Question: I’ve read several construction/painting blogs where they advise against caulking the seams on the panels mainly because of the wood expanding/contracting. Have you experienced any cracking/settling on your panels?

  37. If you get kid hand prints on the drawers or? Can you wash it of or use spray and paper towel to clean it up without getting all the paint of?

  38. Nice blog on a popular subject-several mis-informations that need clarifying though without sounding too much like an infomercial. We’ve been painting furniture since 1977 and importing and selling painted French furniture since 1972-there’s no other product like Annie’s paint. And Chalk Paint® is Annie Sloan paint-no one else makes chalk paint as it’s a trademark, much RC Cola not being Coke.

    Warning to the wise! If you’re mixing plaster of paris or similar, ABSOLUTELY wear eye protection and a respirator for all nearby as it is lung irritant. Some ingredients can even cause silicosis, mesolthelioma. Just a head’s up. No such problem with Annie’s paint as it’s non-toxic and no VOCs, not so much with the copycat paints that’s seen.

    Chalk paint also covers up to 150 sq ft per quart, double of plain latex so fact that into your costs when calculating all else that’s needed with regular paint, sandpaper, stripper, steel wools, primers, etc. I was impressed that you could paint SW paint over Annie’s wax which is carnauba and bee’s wax-both products used in the food industry(DO NOT eat Annie’s wax though, or any wax for that matter). Annie’s paint bonds to her wax over timne(3-4 weeks) so you can paint right on top of the wax with Chalk Paint® and it will bond to it again without having to strip the wax off.

    Think about the most valuable furniture in the world, multi million $ museums pieces. They’re all done in wax finishes as has been used for 500+ years. How many of them are done in poly? Wax has that classic most rich looking finish-poly is nice and we’ve used it for years on furniture but now I’m using Annie’s wax, including her new white and black waxes, on raw AND poly finished furniture with the best results ever-covers lots of sins, scratches, etc.

    For cabinets, Annie recommends 2 coats of paint, usually 3 with whites as white paint has little/no pigment. Add a 3rd coat around handles/knobs. Two good coatings of wax will cover well. And one great feature of Chalk Paint® is if you do get a scratch, as in your pics, you can wet a finger with paint and dab it on the scratch over the wax. 30 mins later, dab some wax on and wipe back and just buff it out the next day-wish I could do that on my car.

    And the problem most have with bleed though comes from oak, mahogany or pine(knotty) where the tanins bleed though the paint. A coat of natural shellac(made by the lac bug in Indonesia) will seal in anything, stains, oils, smoke and then just paint right over it.

    The only time to sand is if you want a smoother surface, have a flaking original finish, or with Formica-just a light sanding.

    There another blog somewhere where the painted did half her kitchen chairs in wax and 1/2 in poly. A year later the poly chairs were chipped and yellowed and needed to be repainted and then she waxed them. We have used poly outdoors though and it seems to hold up if not contacted much. Never wax outdoor pieces as it will melt and wash away like all waxes(even car wax wears away in time). That said, I know someone who waxed his front door in FL and loves it.

    So that’s my pontification from our extensive experience(maybe 25000 pieces of furniture in 44 years, maybe 4000 of them painted) in the antiques field. If anyone can show me a better paint investment than Chalk Paint®, please let me know. I’ve never seen any other paint as good as Annie’s.

    1. Wow! Thanks for sharing your expertise! And yes, I agree, Annie Sloan is by far my favorite paint and my go-to for quality pieces. From time to time though, I’ve had to make my own or use another brand of matte finish paint with my budget in mind. But yes, I agree, the quality is never quite the same.

  39. I love this!!!! What sink is this? Our sink now looks like your old one and we are starting the process to chalk paint our cabinets !!! Our sink is over counter and I liked the farm style. I noticed yours was also over counter. Can you send me the brand? Thanks !!!

  40. I just discovered your blog and love it! I’m so not a DIYer…but I want to give it a try. My kitchen cabinets are cheap, ugly laminate. If I don’t use white, how many coats would I need? What brush would you recommend? After it dries, one coat of Rustoleum Matte Clear? Could I do this on a stairway rail? Is this really doable for someone who is very inexperienced in home projects? Thanks!

    1. Lynn, thank you! I did my stairway rail and it looks awesome so yes, give it a try! I think chalk paint is the easiest material to use for DIY projects around the house. I’ve painted my cabinets, bathroom vanities, lighting fixtures, stair rail…heck, I even tried painting a laminate floor! I’d say give the railing a try then move on to bigger projects, like your cabinets. For cabinets, I’d go 2-3 coats of the Rustoleum clear matte or wax.

  41. Beautiful kitchen!! I’ve painted my bottom cabinets French Linen and I’m trying to decide whether to paint the uppers the same or 1/2 old white and 1/2 pure white. Thoughts? :)

    Question- do you buff in between coats of wax or Can I wait and buff after all coats are applied?
    Thanks in advance!

    1. If you want your cabinets to be shiny, then yes, buff away! I really love the look of a two-toned kitchen both because it makes the space feel larger and because it is practical. I love white cabinets but I can only imagine what my kids would have them looking like! White uppers gives me the look without worrying so much about the mess.

  42. Hello…Thank you for posting how you accomplished this kitchen makeover! I have been contemplating chalk painting my kitchen cabinets for some time but the idea is daunting. I did my master bath cabinets two years ago in AS Duck Egg with clear wax (my first chalk paint project-yikes) and they turned out great! I consequently painted a pine buffet table and used Minwax Fast-Drying Matte clear poly just on the top for durability and that also worked well (dark wax on bottom). I feel like I should use poly in the kitchen but I really don’t want to remove the doors and worry that the poly will run/drip if I’m applying it vertically. I’m not a person with a lot of patience so the easier the better. Any advice?

    1. Okay, Barb, I’m going to be totally honest…just like any subject, you’re going to have pretentious folks and plain old folks. I’m of the plain old folks (but I do fancy the surroundings of the pretentious folks, ha.) Yes, chalk paint can be used in beautiful, European-inspired furniture makeovers to create artful faux finishes…it can also make a builder-basic home look custom without a lot of fuss. Don’t be intimidated! I wouldn’t use Poly. In my experience, it has yellowed my paint over time. You could use Polycrylic but honestly, I perfect wax or Rustoleum Matte Clear.

      Be brave! It’s paint. You can always change it ;)

  43. I have just painted two of my upper kitchen cabinets in AS Pure White– I have had to paint them 6 times already and find that they still do not look like they have full coverage and after using the very expensive AS brush that the stockiest insisted that I purchase, it looks streaky and I had to constantly pick little brush hairs out of the paint. I am now not sure how to proceed. The stockiest told me that I would need 5 cans of this paint and at least 3 cans of wax, even though I just wanted one of each to test. I ended up purchasing three cans of paint and 2 of the wax, and then was told they are not returnable. After reading your blog about how the wax turns yellow, I am now afraid of starting the waxing project. Should I purchase the Rustoleum product? When you spoke of using SW Pure White over your upper cabinets, was it in a semi-gloss, enamel, or ? I am wondering if I should just get a semi-gloss trim paint to paint over this chalk paint now. It feels like this paint may just rub off with wear. Looking for advice as I have no idea what to do to fix this. I think I started something that I should not have, considering I am not a good painter. Wondering if this paint is removable. UGH!

  44. Hi there, I love reading all the comments, but I have no idea where to start! I have cheap, old ikea kitchen cabinets and would love a new look without breaking the bank. I can peel off the ikea plastic over top of the wood, which I think is MDF (forgive me I’m totally new to this!). What are some brands of paint that I could use? I was thinking chalk paint, but it is pricey. I’d love some advice.

    ps – your kitchen looks beautiful!

  45. I used chalk paint in my kitchen (white) and wanted a smooth, modern finish. Took about 7 coats and a TON of sanding. Well, within about 3 months it looked like Cr@P. The paint stains and it scratches off pretty easily. I would NOT recommend using it in a kitchen if you are going with white and a modern, flat shiny look. My niece did a “French” style kitchen and it worked just fine. If anyone has any suggestions how to get it off so I can repaint my cabinets with Oil paint, please let me know.

    1. Yes, I think the style matters tremendously. If you want a coastal, farmhouse, or French Provincial look, chalk paint is great. I don’t think it’s the best choice for modern-looking cabinets. There are certainly better product options to give you that finish.

  48. Your kitchen looks beautiful! I recently painted my island black and slightly distressed them. I used Cece Caldwell chalk paint and was advised to use Cece Caldwell Endurance over the paint. The Endurance gave a hard finish with a satin look but the name says excatly how it is holding up. I have spilled, wiped, banged into this island several times and the finish is just hard to scratch or mess up. I would tell anyone to use the Endurance, especially in the kitchen!

  49. Hi Amanda,

    Thank you so much for writing this article, it’s really helped clear my mind on how to proceed. My wife is currently in Japan awaiting the arrival of our baby (Japanese and more comfortable relying on Japanese healthcare than the UK’s NHS!). Whilst she’s away i’m renovating the house and wanted to surprise her with a ‘new’ kitchen :) I had been stuck going back and forth between AS and regular oil based paint/primer to paint the cupboards and this article really has me sold on AS, particularly given that time is running out.

    I’m planning on replacing the work-surfaces, the sink and also wanted to get rid of the horrible kitchen tiles I currently have and put up the wood cladding similar to yours. I notice from the images you did all of these after painting the cupboards and was wondering on the order you’d recommend in carrying out these tasks? I’m particularly interested in how you approached replacing the tiles with the wood.

    Any advice gratefully received. Thank you again so much, don’t underestimate how much of help these kind of posts are for people like myself!!! :)

  50. Are your cabinets real wood or factory cabinets with a factory finish? I am interested in painting my factory cabinets white and think the Annie Sloan paint may be the easiest and cheapest way!

  52. I LOVE your kitchen. It’s really similar to what we are hoping to do in ours. Everyone has told me I am insane for wanting to chalk paint my cabinets so I’m glad to hear yours are holding up well.

    What I’m dying to know about, though, is your beadboard backsplash and wood countertops!

    Did you put the beadboard up over your tile? Has it held up well for you?

    How do you like your wood countertops? Would you choose them again?

    Thanks in advance for your advice and insight!

  53. Amanda I’m not directing this to you, as we all love to DIY projects. I think we are a force to be begin with. We pride ourselves in DIY projects, but sometimes things can go wrong. Wether we use wrong paint, not have our prep done correctly etc etc. In the end you still repainted!!! Please to all wishing to paint their Kitchen cabinets, do your homework. I just left a reply today, the reason I won’t use chalk paint. If u go up the page to AMANDA’S MSG ON 19th Feb UNDER that I stated why u SHOULDN’T use it in the kitchen. Amanda, I think your cabinets look great, but u did have to re do them, and with a different paint. I just now typed in “why we shouldn’t use Chalk Paint in the kitchen” and came up with SARA.D. blog. It’s headed “WHY I REPAINTED MY CHALK PAINTED CABINETS” Please type this header in and see how many people totally disagree with CHALK paint IN THE KITCHEN and WHY. It’s to big a job to be re doing. I’m glad I waited and experimented in my ensuite a year ago, before going ahead with my Kitchen cabinets. I’m glad I didn’t use Chalk paint. Again I repeat, Chalk paint is great on small projects…. BUT NOT ON KITCHEN CABINETS. If someone can tell me how I can download the photos I will do so to show my ensuite Cupboards against Amanda’s close up shots, where paint is all scratched and were re done. I take my hat off to you Amanda, honestly. But truth is truth and everyone here is relying on honest opinions.

    1. Thank you so much for your message, Terri. I am so grateful for your honesty. Let me say a few things here:

      -I did not repaint my cabinets because they looked bad. I repainted my cabinets because I’m crazy and need a change every now and then. I loved the white uppers but after two years, wanted a new color on the base cabinets.

      -There are all sorts of chalk paints these days, at all sorts of price points. Let me be 100% honest: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is the best quality. It’s expensive, yes, but consistently good. It has been a pain to paint over the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because it is so good, nothing sticks to it. I think you can get great results with other brands, say Rustoleum or Valspar’s matte finish paints, but it still isn’t as consistently good as the AS. I like AS for expensive furniture or large jobs like kitchen cabinets. For smaller jobs (my bathroom vanity or inexpensive furniture) the other brands are great.

      -The base cabinets are currently painted with Valspar’s chalk paint tinted to Sherwin William’s Peppercorn. Again, painting over the AS has been a PAIN. It woudn’t have been an issue if I had used a different AS color but I was stupid. I sanded the wax off then painted them with Valspar Cabinet Enamel (I had a free can.) It was terrible. It peeled off in sheets. I then repainted them with Valspar Chalk Paint, which worked fine. It’s a good quality paint, not as great as AS, but I like it.

      -My biggest complaint with AS Chalk Paint is that the color selections are limited. I would have used a different AS chalk paint to redo the base cabinets but there wasn’t a gray that I wanted. You can custom mix the AS but let’s be honest, I have two small kids. Didn’t have time for all that!

      -My most honest opinion on the topic of chalk painted kitchen cabinets:
      I think it is a fantastic solution if you are limited on time or money. Yes, having a pro come in and spray the cabinets would likely give you a factory-finish but even that would age over time. All things do. I am not claiming here that you’re going to have perfect, straight-out of the factory cabinets here. I am telling you, from my own personal experience, that chalk paint has been a great solution FOR ME. As a busy mom with two little kids, I can use chalk paint quickly (during a naptime) to transform my home into something I love. Is it perfect? No, but I am cool with that. Did it take elbow grease and a little maintenance? Yes, but I’d rather walk into a kitchen I love and clean than walk into a kitchen I hate and clean. Chalk paint certainly isn’t for everyone. My father-in-law, a pro-painter, would HATE it because it isn’t perfect. I like character. If you want factory-finish, it isn’t the right product for you. If you like farmhouse or coastal styles, then it might be a great option.

      Here’s my thing: If you hate your kitchen cabinets and don’t have the money to pay a pro, chalk paint MIGHT be your answer. Research it. Read the good and the bad. Try it out for yourself. I did and I love it.

      1. Hi Amanda, I am going to be painting my upper and lower cabinets in AS Coco. I will also go use the Rustoleum Chalked top coat to seal the cabinets. What brand and type of brush do you recommend for the chalk paint and for the Rust Oleum top coat? Thank you so much!

  54. Amanda, I already chalk painted the lower cabinets in white and I can tell it won’t be very durable. I now want to paint them with latex. What sheen did you use and how did you paint them, with a brush or spray? I enjoyed this article, by the way.

  56. Hi Amanda this looks gorgeous. I was wondering where you got your hardware from? In your breakdown you said $50 for hardware and I have not found any that cheap. Also I love the faucet. We bought the ikea farmhouse sink to go in our kitchen but haven’t put it in yet. Where did you get your faucet from? Thanks :)

  57. Hi! Love the look of your kitchen! We just finished painting and waxing our cabinets and I love the results. I was just wondering, how do you clean your cabinets? I don’t want to use anything too harsh and cut through the wax. Should I stick to soap and water?

    Thanks!

  58. my husband and I have been wanting to redo our kitchen for a while now! But these photos totally gave us the push we needed! We are now gonna paint the bottom cabinets in a teal color, the top ones white, and the countertops in oak wood! My cabinets right now are dark wood so I can’t wait to have a before and after photo. Thanks for all your advice. Also, where did you get your countertops, we found ours at IKEA.

  59. Hi Amanda,
    thank you for the article, it’s great and very useful. I’ve been thinking about painting my kitchen for some time now. I love what you did with yours. It looks wonderful. I’m a bit afraid, because my cabinets are not wooden, but I have some chalk paint at home, so I will probably try anyway ;-) I have Ikea Brokhult fronts, but choosing them was a big mistake, and after 2 years I need a change. Thank you for the inspiration :-)

  60. I am planning on painting my kitchen table and chairs with AS chalk paint in graphite. What would u recommend for a finish, AS clear wax or Rustoleum matte clear finish?

  61. your kitchen looks great! i just painted mine with Waverly chalk paint from Walmart. i don’t like using wax so i used Waverly matte varnish. when we moved in a year ago i did three vanities this way and they look just as good as they did the day i did them – one of them is used alot every day and i’ve never had to touch them up. now on to the counters :>

  62. Thank you for your honest opinions of ASCP! I am starting my kitchen cabinets with it this weekend. I am practicing on my bathroom medicine cabinet first. I wanted white-white cabinets, but was told it would take at least four coats. So, I am doing a base coat of old white and then plan to do two coats of pure white. I am not taking the doors off, either. Should I?? Probably, and every DIY male I know will give me the evil-eye for leaving them on, but I, too, am a busy mom and am happy to pay for time! I am beyond excited to no longer have 1989 honey oak cabinets!!!

  63. We are getting ready to put our home up for sale and I want to make the kitchen a bit more appealing by painting the cabinets and updating the hardware. Do you think the AS pure white would be a good choice with the rustoleum clear coat. Also they are all wood but were painted so would I need to sand them first.

  64. Hi Amanda! Beautiful ideas!! I’m wondering what you would suggest for color choice on a floor to ceiling pantry cupboard in the kitchen…. would you paint it the color of the base cabinets? or the top? It connects to both sets,… how would you handle that? any good ideas?

  66. So for a kitchen cabinet, waxing is better than varnathane for longevity and durability? Just curious. Going to do my daughters kitchen in her condo, not a huge project, but a first (not with chalk paint, I’ve done tons of furniture) in kitchen cabinets. D

  67. I love chalk paint. I love chalk painting my kitchen cabinets. I painted my island ebony to match my table. I’m painting the rest an espresso color. So far so good.

    I’m trying to work on /figure out the topcoat. I don’t want to wax. I did polycrylic the kitchen table and it’s not as hard a top coat as I would have preferred and there were bubbles! I used a foam brush and it still left bubbles. Ugh.

    I want the slight sheen that most cabinets have, without it being “shiny”. This is my conundrum.

    I can’t wait to do the bathroom cabinets in espresso it’s so rich and glorious looking.

  69. Thank you for the inspiration! We just completed our kitchen and I used your color scheme because I just loved it so much!! I wish I could upload a picture to show you!! Thank you again :)

  70. Love your tutorial!! I’ve decided I’m going to try it. I really like the distressed look of the gloss over the cabinets. Which brand would work best to.do this? Thank you!

  71. Hi
    I found this such an interesting blog. I have an MFI shaker style wood beech effect kitchen that was put in about 17 years ago. However I hate the fake look of the wood, and I really need a change and would like to paint the cupboards as I can’t afford to buy a new kitchen.

    I noticed that you said that if you could go back and start again, you wouldn’t have chosen Annie Sloan chalk paints – I was wondering what you would have chosen instead?

    Many thanks,

    Heather

  72. Hi there my kitchen cabibents have lacquer and are very shiny . does annie sloan paint cover this without me having to sand or prime? Would really appreciate a reply.

    Thanks!

  73. how do you like your wood countertops? I am finishing the two tone AS chalk paint and am considering wood countertops. Love your honesty!

    Would you recommend the rustoleum sealant to waxing?

  74. I painted my solid timber kitchen in Annie Sloan pure white. It was hard work!! Firstly I sealed my cabinets with a white based sealer. Oh I was so scared to do that first brush. I was not in a position to buy a new kitchen. The sealer left a very smooth finish. I only did one coat, light sand. Hind sight I should have given several more sealer coats. It is a very large kitchen with overhead cabinets. The dark timber needed four coats of Annie Sloan paint,(5 tins) base cabinets I give five coats. I did not want the stressed finish more of a lacquer smooth finish. I painted my kick board’s in graphite and end panels. Three coats of clear wax (overheads), dark wax on graphite. Four coats of clear wax on base cabinets. I do have to touch up occasionally, this is near the enclosed bin under the sink. This is due to the child locks on inside of cabinets and my rings scratching a small area near the door handles. As the cabinets were being put on, hubby knocked over a full mug of fresh black coffee that went one end of the kitchen to the other. I washed it off with sugar soap and water, left no stains or marks. The wax needs at least one month to cure. I wipe the cabinets down with sugar soap and water, there are a lot of grooves in the doors that do trap dirt. That also used to happen when it was natural wood. My advise would be if you are going to renovate with chalk paint, I would use a sealer on timber and several coats before chalking. I pre-cleaned my doors first with methylated spirits to remove grease and built up of wax.

  75. Hello,

    Thank you for this blog and your insights, I can’t wait to try this. I’m sorry if I missed this somewhere in it…but, did you paint the inside of your cabinets and/or the inside of the cabinet doors?

    Thank you,
    Dede

  76. I love the chalk paint as well. I used grey chalk paint on my bathroom vanity with clear wax butbit didn’t hold up as i would have liked. The handles (rings that hang) made marks through the wax. However, i did a dresser in chalk paint and used a matte finish polycrylic (minwax) to cover it and it works great! Tough finish with no color fading. I may use this on my cabinets. Any cautions against this?

  77. Great response above. I am inspired by your post. I have pained a few furniture items with ASCP and now I am ready to tackle my kitchen cabinets. I am thinking I want two toned but will start with painting the island a bark blue. I bought a small jar of ASCP and will see how it goes!

  78. I can’t decide between old white and pure white for my upper kitchen cabinets. Why did you not use pure white and instead used sherwin Williams paint?

  81. What is your take on using chalk paint for my wood stairs that are 100 years old and have disgusting liver colored brown on them. I was thinking black treads and white risers. Also, if I were to do this, what would you seal it with? Wax or clear coat?

  82. I saw a video where someone used chalk paint on linoleum floors. Have you tried this? Was wondering if would hold up. I really wanted to try it….but afraid of what might happen…LOL

  83. Thanks for the inspiration Amanda. I just love the look of painted cabinets. But I’m just like Terri Turner – researching the best way to paint my kitchen cabinets forever and don’t want to have them look bad in a short time. My plan to do my medium oak cabinets : use the deglosser, then lightly sand, prime 2 coats of zinsser, then use an enamel paint. The enamel paint seems to be the best for holding up for longevity. More steps than chalk paint.What brand enamel paint and finish did you use Terri…and did you put Rustoleum Matte Clear on top of the enamel? Lowe’s has Olympic enamel for a reasonable price – I guess all enamels are the same? I am painting all my dark oak trim and doors in my whole home ” SW pure white” and will do my kitchen cabinets in the same color. I wish I was like some people and like to change things out – but after living here 35 years this is a big job and change for me, and can’t paint fast enough to have it done! I am priming all my oak trim and doors with 2 coats zinsser primer then SW pure white for the finish – what a job with all the layers. This will hugely update my home – Now to figure out how to update my California drift stone brown/orange-ish tone rock fireplace – thinking of painting it with gray cement stain. Anyone have any input on this.

  84. Hi Amanda
    love your thread and the photos of your kitchen, totally inspired me to do something similar with mine. What have you got between your base and wall cabinets, is it wooden panelling that has been painted, it looks great,xx

  86. Hi there! Did you paint the inside of your cabinets as well? Mine are an oak laminate on the inside and I want to paint both inside and outside white or gray. Thoughts?

  87. Ok I’m wanting to paint my cabinets white. Seems Valspar chalk paint tinted to SW pure white is what you have said to go with for brightest look? Do you wax this paint as well or put some other topcoat on? This would be my first time using chalk paint too!

  88. i moved into a brand new home and hate the colour of the cabinets the builders gave. i thought it was supposed to be white but its cream colour and looks horrible. its maple cabinets, can i use this paint to make it white?

  90. Amanda, am I understanding you correctly…the Pure White paint to which you refer is NOT chalk paint, but you mixed it with chalk paint? Please specify the SW type and finish you used. What color chalk paint did you mix with Pure White? I’m trying to muster up enough nerve to paint my cabinets, but there are…wait for it…. 31 doors and 30 drawers in our kitchen! THANKS for the info!

  91. Hi, I have to paint 30 year old wood cabinets. I will clean, sand and prime.

    You mentioned SW paint _ did you use top of the line SW?
    I have flat smooth doors, I hope brushing will work out fine.

    I just used Annie Sloan chalk paint on a 32″ wide variety (white) with 3 coats of clear wax but I already have had to touch it up. It is no wonder shabby is so popular. I think I will put a coat of SW semi gloss over it because I am concerned about the chalk paint durability AND I did prime the vanity first. Annie’s paint a fun paint to do small projects such as an end table or craft projects but major projects such as kitchen, maybe not.

    Do you think I should go with SW semi gloss and if so, should I prime then brush, roll or spray it?

    Please reply with your tips since you have used both to paint kitchen cabinets.

    Thank you.

  92. One more question.
    I just used Annie Saturday. Chalk paint and wax on vanity will SW adhere to that so I can do a paint over and boost durability??

    Question
    Should I do a quick layer of chalk paint or to cover the wax before painting semi gloss?

    Final thought: did I miss the thrill of chalk paint, several people raved about it. Maybe I missed out because while it had coverage I think I would only use Annie’s paint for craft projects..

  95. I am getting ready to order the Rust-Oleum Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint, but wanted to know if one can was enough or if I needed two. I think we have just about the same amount of cupboards.

    Thanks! So excited I found your website!

  96. Amanda,

    Thank you for all the insight. You seem to be very reasonable and I appreciate your open, honest responses! My wife and I are going to take on the job of painting our cupboards, island, trim, railings, and possibly even the window sills. We would like to do it right the first time and based on what I have read in multiple forums, it seems like Annie Sloan is the most consistent, best choice for this size of project. I like the idea of using the Rustoleum Matte Clear rather than wax for simplicity sake, but can I mix and match a Annie Sloan product with Rustoleum protective top-coat? If not, I suppose we will just use AS clear wax on everything… Basically just looking for the most straightforward/low maintenance option.

    We are thinking Old White for the upper cupboards, trim, and window sills. Paris Grey or Graphite (or custom mix) for the lower cupboards and island. Thoughts? We currently have white appliances, which will most likely clash with the Old White, but we will most likely be eventually replacing them.

    Thoughts, comments, concerns??? Thanks again for all the great information!

    Matt

  97. Hello there
    Love your kitchen. Doing my uppers and lowers same but not using chalk paint. Question, where did you find your window blind? Cheers Jennine

  98. I bought the Rustoleum brand of chalked paint and I am hoping all turns out well. My question is about the wax. What wax brands are ok to use? Thanks

  99. Hey Amanda,

    Your kitchen looks great and your report over time is very helpful. I have heard of some folks actually painting their exposed cupboard door hinges as well. Being a long time traditional painter, I am hesitant. But having been totally impressed by an old dresser I painted for my daughter, I am wondering if chalked paint might adhere quite well to hinges too. Any thoughts?

  102. Heirloom Traditions has a new All In One chalk paint that has primer and wax built in, and it’s self-leveling so no brush strokes. The finish is velvety smooth. They even sell cabinet kits.

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