| If you need new cabinets but can't afford them, you | | | | simulates the wear that an old piece of cabinetry |
| might try some do it yourself antiquing. Antiquing your | | | | would endure after hundreds of years of use. Some |
| kitchen cabinets can revitalize old tired cabinetry and | | | | people use chains and hammers when distressing |
| add warmth and character to the room. Antiqued | | | | furniture, but I think a little bit of sandpaper is enough |
| cabinets go with a wide range of decorating styles, | | | | for cabinets. |
| from country, to Victorian to Tuscan to French. | | | | The object is to sand off the finish on the edges and |
| Antiqued cabinets will give your kitchen a warm lived in | | | | worn areas. Therefore, you would take a medium grit |
| look as well as make the room feel more relaxed and | | | | paper and sand at the door and drawer edges to |
| comfortable. There are 2 basic methods you can use | | | | reveal just a thin layer of the wood underneath. It looks |
| to antique your kitchen cabinets - staining and | | | | best when the color underneath is a bit darker or if the |
| distressing. You can use them alone, or combine them | | | | cabinets are dark then it looks best if the color |
| for some old world charm in your kitchen | | | | revealed is lighter. Personally, I prefer to stick to the |
| Antiquing Your Cabinets With Stain | | | | edges, but you can sand a bit off in the middle if you |
| This method of antiquing kitchen cabinets works best | | | | want an overall worn look. |
| on cabinets that are painted a light color or have a light | | | | Some other methods of antiquing kitchen cabinets |
| stain. | | | | include crackle painting and faux painting. |
| You will need some dark stain, a brush or sponge and | | | | Crackle painting is done with 2 types of paint - the |
| lots of paper towels. Achieving an antique look is easy | | | | bottom layer is painted on and the crackle medium is |
| but you might want to try it in an area that isn't so | | | | brushed on top which causes the layer underneath to |
| noticeable or practice on something else until you get | | | | crackle. I have tried this method many times and have |
| the hang of it and develop a technique. | | | | never been really satisfied with the results. If you really |
| To antique stain your cabinets, simply apply a light layer | | | | like this look, I suggest you practice, practice, practice |
| of the stain on one section of the cabinet and wipe off | | | | on something else before you attempt to crackle your |
| to the desired level of "antiqueness". Repeat all along | | | | cabinets. |
| the cabinet until you are done! You'll want to make it | | | | Faux painting can be a very nice way of antiquing |
| look natural, so concentrate more stain on the areas | | | | your cabinets. You can probably find a local artist that |
| that would get the most wear like around the edges | | | | will dothis for a reasonable price - they can add depth |
| and handles. | | | | to the cabinet as well as some nice artistry! |
| Distressing Your Kitchen Cabinest | | | | Other ways to add interest to your cabinets include |
| This method of antiquing kitchen cabinets works only | | | | changing the knobs and hardware and addingmolding, |
| on painted cabinets. It is called distressing because it | | | | legs and trimwork. |