Last week’s kitchen post was such a hit that I’m excited to share Part 2. If you missed Part 1, it covered how to paint countertops to look like granite. With the counters updated, the cabinets started to look worn and dated. Before tackling the cabinets, Jenny and Michael first tried switching the hardware, which sparked the full makeover.
Because the counter paint worked so well, they decided to try Giani Nuvo Cabinet Paint. The kit arrived with all the supplies and an instructional DVD. Although the packaging suggests the job can be completed in one day, it took us a few days to finish. We chose this kit because it advertises minimal sanding—only a light hand-sanding of cabinet edges—so it felt far less intimidating than fully sanding each door.
We began with basic prep: removing all cabinet hardware and cleaning every surface thoroughly with Windex before painting. Since our countertops needed time to cure, we waited the recommended 14 days to protect that finish while working on the cabinets.
We started painting the cabinet interiors first and bought an extra angled brush so two of us could work simultaneously. The process was straightforward enough that we left supplies inside the cabinets while painting. After the first coat, the change was already noticeable. Ultimately we applied three coats of paint for even coverage. In a fairly small kitchen we still had leftover paint.
Once the three coats were dry, we applied a clear protective topcoat. The kit does not include this, but we had read that a Polycrylic finish helps cabinets hold up better over time, so we added a satin Polycrylic protective finish to seal and protect the paint.
The result is a fresh, modern-looking kitchen. A little paint made a big difference, bringing the space up to date without a full renovation. Stay tuned for next week’s post when we tackle the backsplash—full reveal and a giveaway coming April 17th!