Do you have drawers and cabinets that need a new look?   If so, here’s an inexpensive way to change the look with very little effort.

 This method should be used on wood tone cabinets only.  This will not work on cabinets that have been painted.

 I’ve used this method many times, with great results.  All you need is a bottle of Cabinet Magic, new door and drawer hardware, and a microfiber cloth.

First, check to see if the current hardware is attached by one screw or two.

Next,  unscrew the old hardware, remove it and take it to the store with you to make sure the holes line up.  It is very important that you buy hardware with the exact same hole pattern as the ones you are replacing, because you want to avoid patching any holes.

Before you install the new hardware, polish the entire area of the cabinets with the Cabinet Magic and a micro fiber cloth.  Spray one section at a time, and allow it to sit for  5 minutes before you wipe it down. Heavily greased areas will take a little more time. 

I first became aware of Cabinet Magic when I was supervising the building of  high rise condos.  Many times, the cabinets had been scratched quite a bit by the time they were ready to be installed.  After the Cabinet Magic was used,  there was no evidence of the imperfections and the cabinets looked new again.

 Once you’ve picked the new hardware, attach it snugly to the front of the doors and drawers, and tighten from the back.

 Use a soft cloth to buff away any fingerprints on the knobs.

Your cabinets will look  good as new with a small amount of money spent, and about 2 hours  of work.

I’ve tried different gadgets that are intended to provide both a shortcut & a stellar paint job.  After 20 years, I’ve reached the conclusion that the old-school brush and roller is the best way for most projects.

Before you get started painting, be sure to fill in all nail holes and chips with Spackle. I use the DAP brand that goes on pink, and dries white.

Fill all the other cracks with caulk.  I use a latex/silicone mix.  This type of caulk tends to be more durable than regular painter’s caulk.

The equipment you use matters a lot.  Make sure you have a good quality angle brush, and an appropriate roller cover.

 I usually use a 2  1/2 in. angle brush to cut in the edges and the trim work.  I also use a 3/8 in.  nap roller cover  for smooth walls.  Rougher surfaces require a 1/2 in. or 3/4 in. nap.

Make sure you cover things up. Nothing looks worse than when paint is everywhere it’s not supposed to be.  I  use cloth drops whenever possible.   Spilled paint dries more slowly on plastic than on cloth, so the result of using plastic drops is that you’ll track paint throughout the house.

I start cutting in with a brush at the top left corner( because I’m left-handed), and work my way across.  This is the most important part of the project.  Please take your time and make sure that the lines are crisp.  If you don’t trust your freehand skills, tape it off.

After the cutting is done, it’s time to roll.  Take your time,ensuring that you have good coverage and taking care not to hit the ceiling.  Use a straight up and down motion, and watch for runs.

For more info, take a look at the videos from a recent project below…