Classy Columbus Designs: February 2011

I have mentioned in earlier posts that we are getting ready to move into a 1970's house that needs a few updates. The first project I am tackling is the kitchen. BIG project to start with, I know! But it will happen in stages. Although not done yet, I thought I'd share a few progress photos with you!

BEFORE - prior to upper cabinet being removed!

DURING - Upper cabinet removed and check out that laundry room!

The progress so far is that all the cabinet doors have been removed, along with the upper cabinets. The laundry room wallpaper was removed, and now has a fresh coat of paint, some new drywall under the plumbing and those bare wires... yup, they are covered too!

This is what we uncovered after removing the wallpaper shown below! That could have really hurt!

WOAH! Check out that wallpaper!

So much more open!

Just waiting for the primer

So glad I had an amazing painter friend with a sprayer to help with the doors and drawers

We turned the basement into a paint booth! A little plastic on the walls (which at this point had fallen down) and paper on the floors, and we had a great place to paint! And, since it's recommended to use oil based primer, it will take longer to dry, so it's great to be able to have them out of the way.

So, I'll give you a few details if you are thinking about tackling a project like this...

1. Liquid Sandpaper is your friend, but you MUST use it correctly!

I went through 2 pairs of rubber gloves while wiping down the cabinets, because the liquid sandpaper ate right through them. So, BE CAREFUL! Your body definitely doesn't need to absorb all those chemicals. And no, a paper mask isn't sufficient. Open all the windows. Take the doors off and the drawers out and take them outside to wipe them down. Spend the $30 on the respirator and save your lungs. Ok, enough on the safety thing... but oh, by the way, gets your kids out of the house for this step. K? Thanks.

Wipe every single square inch of cabinets/surfaces/wood that you plan on paint adhering to. For me, this included the fronts and backs of the cabinets, the insides and out and the window frame and door frames! I didn't want any of the old dark wood to show at all. I took every door off and tossed the hinges because they weren't salvageable. I took all the drawers out and wiped them also.

Every surface was covered in contact paper. In some places, 2 layers. Hint: Use a steamer like you would for wallpaper if it starts coming off in teeny, tiny, little pieces. I had a scraper too, and it was much easier than just trying to peel it without any tools. After the paper is pulled off, there will most likely be sticky stuff left on the cabinets. You can wipe this down with mineral spirits to de-stickify it prior to painting.

Use an oil based primer like the one shown above. It will stink worse, and be harder to clean up than a latex based primer, however, it will cover the stains better, it won't yellow like latex, and it goes further. I think it also has a smoother finish.

So, this is where the project stands...