My Chalk Painted Cabinets (4 years later-how did they do!?)

|
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosures here.

You don’t have to hire a professional to paint your kitchen cabinets! With the right tools & paint, anyone can do it. I’m sharing how my Chalk Painted cabinets have held up, 4 years later.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

Hey Friends!
I’ve been meaning to get around to this post for a very long time.
It’s been sitting in my “draft” folder just waiting for me to write it, titled and all.
I had to change the “3” to a “4”, it’s been that long.

So today is the day I thought I’d tell you how my Chalk Painted Cabinets have held up over the years.

And the answer is…..pretty darn well. 

If you are new around here, I painted my kitchen cabinets with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint over 4 years ago now.
You can read all about that right here, “Kitchen Cabinet Makeover with Chalk Paint“.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

These are a few photos from my recent kitchen tile backsplash project.
But you can see the cabinets and how well they look.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

I also have a Chalk Painted kitchen island.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

You can read all about that here, “Kitchen Island Makeover

Now let me preface this by saying, I did not use wax to seal these Chalk Painted cabinets.
AND I would not recommend using wax to seal cabinets in a kitchen at all.
It’s just too much upkeep (and work, let’s be honest, waxing is not the easiest thing to do).

I painted and waxed (with Annie Sloan Clear Wax) this little bread box that I use in my kitchen.
I’ve had to re-wax and buff it multiple times since having it in here (which is about the same time frame).
Can you imagine if I’d waxed all these cabinets and island?
It’s also got a few small nicks here and there. The finish is just not durable enough, in my opinion, to use in a high-use area like a kitchen.
Plus it tends to look “smudge-y” from all the hands on it.
So just say, ‘no’ to wax in a kitchen.

What I did use (and recommend) is a poly sealer.
I used Varathane sealer that was made for flooring. As a matter of fact, we used it on our wood floors when we refinished them sometime before this.
It was so rock hard there I thought it’d be perfect for my Chalk Painted cabinets.
And I was right!
That stuff is rock hard and why I probably had little noticeable wear.
I was hoping it would not yellow but sadly it did ever so slightly.
If you look at the post I linked at the beginning of this post, you will probably not be able to tell much difference at all.
Like I said, very slightly, but enough that I can tell.
Definitely not as bad as others I’ve used in the past but still just a bit.
That is one of the reasons I’ll be repainting.
And the other reason is because I didn’t paint them white-white from the beginning so they started out a bit on the warm side, poly or no.

Now, let me say that it’s hard to find a good sealer that doesn’t yellow a bit. I’ve yet to find an absolutely perfect one.
With that, I’d say this one was pretty good. (again, not perfect)
Another that I like quite a lot is General Finishes High Performance Top Coat.
I’ve had pretty good luck with it.

Even though I plan to repaint them, I have to say, I’m quite impressed with how well they’ve held up.
However, the paint I applied originally after moving in (regular latex with a glaze over top) also held up very well.
I had no chipping or wear in that paint either but I soon grew tired of the glaze which ended up just looking “dirty” to me.
I’ve also had no chipping and wear in this Chalk Painted cabinet finish either….except in one place.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

The handle above is the silverware drawer. Obviously, one that is used often….and you can see the paint is in great shape.
Down below, well, we have quite a few nicks in the paint at the top of the door. Not really paint wearing away, just the nicks.
This is where our trash can is and the handle is honestly a bit too low to use…..so guess where we open it??
Yep, hands and nails end up hitting that top area to pull it open and have nicked it over time.

But that is honestly the only place in the entire space that has any kind of wear or nicks.
I will be putting a different type of pull (and moving it up closer to the top) when I repaint the island.
No more nicks for us there!!

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

This is the other side.
As you can see, looks pretty great.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

I do have a few spots like this (below) here and there.
Not sure what’s going on here but I’m guessing something spilled and stained it.
It doesn’t go away (dry) and I can’t clean it away either. It’s stained and there for good.
So that’s an odd occurrence I’ve never seen with regular, more traditional paints.
I don’t see this at all on the whiter Chalk Painted cabinets, however, only the blue.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

Here is the cabinet right by the sink that holds vitamins, aspirin, etc.
One we go into daily.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

No wear, nicks, etc.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

To the right of that is the cabinet that holds spices, some plates, and glasses.
Also, used very often.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

I’ve not done any retouching since they’ve been painted….anywhere.
No wear whatsoever around any handle, cabinet edge, etc.
You may be able to see that the seam between the trim (and the door) we applied to the cabinet is cracking a bit.
But that really doesn’t have anything to do with the paint. I’ll lightly sand and re-caulk that area before I paint again.
(We had flat-fronted cabinets when we bought the house and added decorative wood trim to dress them up…I’m planning a tutorial on that soon, too)

Another cabinet and drawer that is used often.

My Chalk Painted Cabinets - 4 Years Later!!! artsychicksrule.com

So, as you can see, not too bad at all!
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend using Chalk Paint on your cabinets.
I would absolutely do it again.
But again, I would not recommend wax of any kind in the kitchen. (or bath, for that matter)

Some things to keep in mind. Chalk Paint tends to leave strokes or not be as smooth as latex.
You can counteract that by lightly sanding in between coats. And on your final coat before applying your sealer.
And another thing, just because you are using Chalk Paint, it does not mean that they have to be “shabby” looking or distressed.
It’s just paint like any other paint. (relatively speaking) So, paint and distress or paint and don’t distress.
Your choice! (just as it’s your choice whether you are using Chalk Paint, acrylic or latex, etc)

Now, what am I using to repaint the cabinets and island??

It won’t be Chalk Paint this time.
Not because I wasn’t happy with it but mainly because I also love another paint and want to give it a go in here.
The paint I’ll be using is General Finishes (in Snow White).  A nice, bright white.
I recently used this exact paint in my Coastal Laundry Makeover. <— You can see it there

I’ll also be using it for the island. The color is undecided but I’m considering Persian Blue.
(and probably a mixed version of it to create a nice, soft, pale blue shade)

So there you have it.
My thoughts and real-life experience with Chalk Painted cabinets.

What are your thoughts?
Have any questions? I’d be glad to answer or help in any way I can!
Just pop it in the comment box below.

EDITED TO UPDATE: Since writing this post, we’ve decided to give our entire home a bit of an overhaul. Which includes finally replacing these 40-year-old cabinets. Having them painted and updating them worked well for 14 years though! I still think this is a great way to update cabinets and if ours weren’t so old, we probably would not have replaced them. It was just time.
Want to see it now?? Check out the whole remodel here >>> Coastal Kitchen Remodel

More home DIY tutorials we have shared here:

Be sure to PIN this Chalk Painted Cabinets review for later!

My Chalk Painted Cabinets, 4 years later!! Want to know how the Chalk Paint has held up? Would I do it again?? Come find out here!

I’ll see you back here on Thursday!
Have a great week until then!
xo


59 Comments

  1. I’m wondering how you plan to prep your cabinets before painting with the General Finishes paint. Is it like the chalk paint, where it will adhere to pretty much any existing finish, or will there be priming or stripping involved?

    1. Hi Judy, I will probably do a very light sand by hand (and I do mean, light, as in a quick run over with the sandpaper) I may also use liquid deglosser. None of that is really necessary since it’s also basically a “no prep” style of paint but I don’t see the harm in a little added protection. :) It is like Chalk Paint in that it doesn’t require much prep beforehand but the product itself is a bit different.

  2. i love General Finishes High Performance topcoat…I use it often. Wax has almost become a product of the past for me.
    However, I have not been as successful with using GF Topcoat over (Their) white. I have had yellowing almost instantly. Just knots my stomach but I just “fix” it and move on.

    1. Isn’t it great? I just love it. And I agree on the wax, I do still use it occasionally but it really depends on the piece. Do you mean the High Performance top coat yellowing over their “Snow White”? If so, I wonder why that is? I’ve used it several times that way with no problems. Sometimes the wood underneath can play a roll. I believe everything I painted Snow White and added the HP topcoat to were previously painted pieces. That might have made a difference. :)

  3. Your cabinets look so nice. Isn’t chalk paint so easy to apply? Pretty kitchen! I just have a short and positive story about chalk paint. I took an old tan metal filing cabinet in my office and put chalk paint on that. Really pretty one year later. The cabinet was washed first, I did not put ANY wax or finish on it and I used metal! Keep in mind it’s being used by one adult only but it’s working out great.

    1. Thank you Lori! And yes, it is and the no prep can’t be beat. That’s an awesome story and a testament to the power of Chalk Paint! :) Thanks for sharing!!

    2. I painted our kitchen cabinets with Annie Sloane chalk paint and I used the wax. I’m not happy with how they have worn over the years and want to fix them but just not sure what I should do since I waxed them and you recommend not to do this. I agree mine looks smudgy probably due to the wax and there is a lot of worn corners…..my wall cabinets are white mixed with cream…show so much dirt and I feel the paint is starting to war right due to so much wiping. My island is Paris gray and shows a lot of discoloration…very spotty in areas. Any advice is much appreciated.

  4. I love chalk paint–especially Annie Sloane! I used pure white with black wax to update my china hutch. I used cream to update my dining set. I darkened the table top with General Finishes Java Gel. I used Varathane Marine Spar varnish on both the paint and the gel finished top. My newest project is 1923 phonograph cabinet I found on the curb! The veneer had been pulled off the top and the rest looked pretty sad but I was so excited to find something vintage just sitting on the curb. That just doesn’t happen in my neighborhood! I was surprised that the sides/legs looked amazing after I applied a couple of coats of Howard Feed n Wax. The top was more challenging! I had to steam off remnants of the old veneer and then fill in some gouges and the space between the planks that had been under the veneer. I used black chalk paint with black wax to finish the top. I love it

    1. Oh that sounds beautiful Nancy! :) And how lucky to have found the cabinet on the curb! I bet that’s going to be a beauty too!! I have several large pieces I need to get busy on! One is a quite large antique radio/turntable cabinet I found at the thrift store for $50. It still had a record from the 1940’s on the turntable! :)

  5. I did use wax on my AS chalk painted cabinets and they are fine. However on the island you can see where hot dinner plates sit. The wax actually changed texture. I now use General Finishes Flat Out Flat top coat.

    1. Oh that’s good to know Linda! Your experience on the island is actually one of the reasons too. I have had people ask about painting and then waxing their kitchen table tops and I always advise not to since nothing hot will be able to be placed there. I had previously painted an old dresser for a coffee bar and found that out the hard way with hot coffee mugs! ;)

  6. I’ve had great luck with Junk Gypsy Clear Coat. It’s water based, tough as nails and doesn’t yellow. I used a polyurethane over duck egg blue on my kitchen chairs and it yellowed and looked awful. I’m redoing them now with Fusion Mineral Paint, which is my new favorite.

    1. Hi Ann,
      I have not heard of that! Will have to look into it. :) Yep, Fusion is a very nice paint too! xo

  7. I had horrible results with my ASCP kitchen cabinets. After reading your posts four years ago, which seems crazy that I have been following your blog for over that long, I decided I could handle painting my cabinets. I followed all of your steps and used the same topcoat. We have so many splatter marks especially around the stove area that the cabinets look terrible. I will say they have held up as far as minimal nicks except on the silverware drawers. If I had the money I would have someone else come in strip the doors and repaint it all.

    1. Hey Ellen!! Yes, you have been around awhile!! I can’t believe I’ve had the blog almost 5 years now! :) But darn, I am so sorry the Chalk Paint did not work out for you! :( Maybe you could give the General Finishes a go in there? It is also a minimal prep type of paint but totally different than Chalk Paint in all other ways. It doesn’t require a seal coat but since it’s a kitchen, I would recommend it. I’ve been very happy with it on my china hutch and now my laundry cabinets. (and everything else I’ve painted with it!) xo

  8. Hi Nancy,

    I can’t thank you enough for helping others by giving such complete and straight forward instructions on how you have achieved the look to the final project pieces shown on your website. I doubt myself but after reading your explanations, that are easily detailed out I feel more at ease and in turn this gives me the confidence needed that I will be able to complete a similar project.
    Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate it.

    Sincerely,
    Lori

  9. I am planning to paint my cabinets this fall and taking your recommendation of using the Varathane poly to seal them… I am wondering what sheen you used or would suggest for kitchen cabinets, semi-gloss or satin? Thanks for all the great tips!

    1. Hi Jo Anne,
      Yes, it will still work. I’ve done formica topped end tables and a desk without any issues (sanding lightly before). With that said, I’d probably still be a little hesitant only because you are dealing with a really slick surface and in a kitchen with more use than a table, etc. I would sand it beforehand, if you decide to go ahead. :)

      1. thank you for such a prompt reply Nancy ! there are only 2 of us using the kitchen and the cabinets as i said are formica (off white) prob 30 years old – we are not able to do a makeover yet for new cabinets and counter so i am just going for it !
        would you suggest something other than sanding lightly and using General Finishes paint ?

        1. You are very welcome. Sounds good! I don’t blame you, I would do the same! Wait, I did! ;) We didn’t replace ours either so paint it was! You can use either General Finishes Milk Paint (in the can) or Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I like both and both perform similarly. You could use a primer such as something called “Gripper” but I really can’t speak to it because I’ve not had the need to ever use it. Even with that, I would still recommend the sanding though. I think for your purposes, you will be okay with sanding (cleaning very well) and painting with either of the paints mentioned. Chalk Paint may hold up a tad better over the formica material. Hope this helps and good luck!!

      2. thank you for such a prompt reply Nancy ! there are only 2 of us using the kitchen and the cabinets as i said are formica (off white) prob 30 years old – we are not able to do a makeover yet for new cabinets and counter so i am just going for it !

  10. May I ask how much paint you used when you painted with the chalk paint? How many coats? And how much GF paint you expect to use? How many coats?
    I’m trying to work up the courage to paint my small condo kitchen. I love GF Top Coat and will try that. Just hunny bunny & i.
    Thank You

    1. Hi Barbara, it’s been quite awhile but I think I used about a can and a half, 2 coats. :) Probably about the same in the GF. I am now considering another paint now…stay tuned! ;) xo

  11. Hello I just love everything you’ve done & love that you show all your work right here for all of us to learn from! Thank you so much for that! I am in the middle of my kitchen cabinet painting project as well. I am painting with ASCP in Old white but might have to add some pure white since it’s a bit too yellow for me. I was wondering about which topseal you prefer & why?
    I know you used Varathane poly top coat on your cupboards previously & was wondering why you’re switching to GF high performance top coat this time around?

    1. Hi Isabelle! thank you! :) Yep, definitely consider adding white to it if you already think it’s too yellow. And also keep in mind that a poly topcoat will yellow it even more, even if it’s just a little bit. I loved the Varathane as it really is rock solid but I also love the GF HP topcoat. I’ve had great luck with that, too. Here’s what I’ve found using the GF HP, as long as you don’t apply heavily or allow to collect in the corners, you will have very minimal yellowing. That is where I have seen a slight bit of yellowing (where it collected too much in a corner. And just know that if the cabinet gets a lot of sunlight, it will also be a bit more prone to yellowing. Not only that, but the types of wood/old paint you are painting over can also have an effect on this. They can all contribute to the yellowing. You can “tint” your top coat with a small portion of the paint to help avoid this even more.
      We have actually decided to stay in our house for a few more years, so instead of painting our 40+ year old cabinets again, we are going to replace them instead. :) They have certainly served us very well but it will be nice to have newer, updated cabinetry in here. :)

  12. Hello. I would love advice on painting kitchen cabinets. This is for a beachy cottage. The kitchen needs to be remodeled but not possible at this time. Rethinking chalk paint after reading your article on chalk paint. It sounds as tho milk paint might be a better choice? This is a very small kitchen. I do not mind sanding and prepping. Oh, this is a rental. Still have pride in my place.
    Thank you for any help/advice.
    Joan

    1. Hi Joan,

      I think you would be okay with either one. (and Milk Paint, as in General Finishes Milk Paint, is the “milk paint” I’m referring to) I would lean towards the GF Milk Paint though. There is very little prep work with either. I have been happy with both finishes, overall, so you really can’t go wrong. :) xoxo

  13. Thank you so much for sharing how your cabinets have held up. When we moved in to our home two years ago the previous owner painted the Oak cabinets almost black and they had chips all over. I recently painted them white using the Annie Sloan chalk paint and waxed them after as I heard the poly would yellow. I have already chipped the one garbage drawer and our cabinet we keep our coffee in as we go in and out daily. I was not aware wax would need to be re-applied, can you put a top coat over the wax as I don’t want to have to keep touching up my cabinets. I am also hesitant as I don’t want them to yellow two of them are on each side of a window. What would you suggest?

    1. Hi Donna,

      Yes, wax will need updating as it wears. Unfortunately, no, you cannot put a poly coat over the wax, it will not adhere properly. You would have to sand to remove the wax and then poly. Since you already have wax, I would just continue with that. You can give them a light buff from time to time to keep them looking nice! :)

  14. Thank you for your quick response and letting me know I will need to sand them if I ever re-paint. Love all of your ideas, keep them coming!

    1. You are very welcome Donna! You can actually repaint again but only with Chalk Paint. And I guess technically you could then use a poly based coating BUT I still would not do that since you have a wax layer underneath. I think it would affect the longevity of the finish. :)

  15. So I’m using chalk paint for my laundry closet cabinets linen white Rust-Oleum.

    In the past I’ve used the same paint on a dresser and done the spray matte fishing’s on it. I haven’t really gone back and noticed if it’s yellowing or not (I’ll have to check now that I’ve read your post). I’m with you on using the spray it will leave a blotchy finish speacially on certain types of colors like grey (which I’ve used on another dresser/nightstand).

    So anyways back to my laundry cabinets… 1) should I Seal them or not? Liquid or spray sealer?
    If I understood your post you were a no on sealing kitchen cabinets because of the high traffic area correct?
    And not sealing them would be an easier process for touch ups if needed later right ?
    2) have you ever done chalk paint on walls? Sealer or not?
    3) have you ever done chalk paint on doors/ crown molding ? My laundry room has a cream color off white trimming? so I was thinking of painting that along with the cabinets as well?

    4) Brush or foam roller. So far I’ve noticed the brush has more of an all cover results (obviously at the trimmings and areas that are not flat). I used the roller on the outer walls of the cabinets and noticed it didn’t cover as well as the brush did on the doors. But it could have been that I didn’t use enough paint??‍♀️? Anyways I also noticed little tiny I guess bubbles (basically uneven?) when I used the roller, is this normal or was it the lack of paint I used?

    1. Hi Vanessa!

      That’s a great paint and one of my favorites! (although, not what I used on these cabinets. I used Annie Sloan’s but they are similar)
      Okay, so let’s answer your questions.
      1. Yes, you should definitely seal them. I would use liquid because the spray is tough to use inside and doesn’t give even coverage like the liquid will.
      And I’m sorry for the confusion, but absolutely seal the paint (in the kitchen or elsewhere). I think what you might have gotten confused about is I didn’t use wax to seal them, which is more typical with chalk paint. I used a poly to seal them instead, which is what I said I would recommend in a kitchen or bath area. (I don’t recommend wax in those areas) If you wax, I don’t think it will hold up as well over time and you’ll have lots of touch ups to do!
      2. I have never done chalk paint on walls.
      3. I have not used chalk paint on trim and doors. You certainly can if you want it to match, just know you will have the extra step of sealing it.
      4. You can use either and I have used both at different times. When I paint cabinets I actually use both at the same time. I will use the brush to cut in and apply, and the roller to smooth out. Make sure you are using a good foam roller that is made specifically for painting cabinets. Try to roll it slowly so you don’t create as many air bubbles in the paint. You can always sand it very, very lightly after the paint dries (and in between coats) to smooth it out a bit before applying the sealer coat.
      Hope this helps!! Good luck! :)

  16. Hi Nancy, love your blog. I have just bought an old kitchen hutch that had been newly chalk painted white before I bought it but hadn’t been sealed. I was going to wax it, but after reading your blog I will use a poly instead. I’m in Australia so brands will be different but I will try to find one that won’t yellow over time. We recently painted our pitched timber lined ceilings, we used Rustoleum Linen white, but it was pretty expensive as we have a large area and one coat wasnt enough so we decided the chalk paint was now the base and we painted two more coats with a regular paint. Hoping the timber doesn’t bleed through in years to come. They look good so far. Thanks again for the information in your post, Jennie ?

  17. Hello! We painted our cabinets water base latex. Needless to say we don’t like results. They are not sealed. I want to repaint them. I have gotten estimates because I almost feel I’ve ruined my cabinets. Very expensive. What do you suggest is the easiest best result I can use.? I have used chalk paint many times. I even make my own for small projects. Please guide me with ideas and inspiration!
    I’m thinking a light color, right now they are country blue. If I use AS paint I think I have to order it. We have several types of chalk paint in our area including Dixie bell. Thank you so Much!

    1. Hi Carol! Oh no! That’s a bummer. It’s so hard to say since I can’t actually see the cabinets, but if the paint is on there good (very well adhered,etc) then I would give them a light sanding (by hand is fine) and paint them with either Chalk Paint or an enamel based latex that is specifically made for cabinets. (I’m not sure what kind of latex you used) Sherwin Williams has one called ProClassic.
      As I mentioned, you can use AS Chalk Paint as I did, or Dixie Belle is another good one. Although I haven’t used that one on cabinets I have used it on quite a few smaller projects. Either of those Chalk Paints might be the easiest next step for you, however. Just make sure your base paint (the latex) has very well adhered or you’ll have chipping no matter what you paint over top. Good luck and don’t worry, it’s only paint, they are not ruined! :) xoxo

      1. This is a great article. We have ugly oak cabinets that I want to chalk paint. I will do a light sand overall first. Did you do a step to add a wipe off stain to add the distressed or aged look? Then after that you seal it? Thanks!

        1. Hi Angie! No, not for these cabinets anyway, but I do have a couple similar to what you are speaking of. Here and here done with white glaze (not dark) but same procedure. Hope that helps! xo

  18. Hi! I love your tutorial! We followed this about a year ago when painting our cabinets and have loved it! No chips, but we do seem to have a hard time cleaning it with smudges and other dirt and grime. What do you use to keep your cabinets clean?

    1. Hi Hannah,
      Great, thanks! Hmm, did you use wax to seal them? I can’t imagine you are getting smudges, dirt, grime, etc with a poly-based sealer?

  19. Hi Nancy,
    I’m in the process of painting my old oak kitchen cabinets. I’ve used the valspar chalk paint from Lowe’s. I had planned to seal them with the clear wax and do a bit of antiquing on them with the dark wax from the same line. I had been leary of using the clear wax to seal them. My kitchen is a busy, high traffic area. So my questions are: 1) what do you suggest I seal them with and 2) I would still like to try to antique them a bit. How would I go about this? I’m assuming I can’t use the dark wax followed by a poly sealant?

    Thanks!
    Brenda

    1. Hi Brenda!
      Yes, I don’t recommend wax in a kitchen, that is correct. I have not used Lowe’s brand of chalk-style paint but in general, you can seal most with poly instead of wax. There are many choices here and it really comes down to personal preference. I used Valspar Floor sealer on our kitchen cabinets actually, and it worked out very well. (very tough) But I’ve also used General Finishes High Performance Top Coat on our laundry cabinets and it has done equally well. You can use the dark wax OVER (not under) the poly once it has dried, but I probably still wouldn’t do that in a kitchen. Another way to get an antiqued look is with a brown glaze. This is what I did the first time I painted my cabinets many years ago. (with latex paint) I also did it again fairly recently on our bath cabinet. You can take a look at that process here. I did more of an “all over” antiqued look but you can also do the “just in the crevices” look as well. It just depends on how much and where you wipe back the glaze. I hope this helps! :)

  20. Hi there.
    I’m so glad I came across your video! I was at home depot and they showed this laminate cabinet that was painted over wih the Behr chalk paint. Then they said to use the wax ( which I am definitely not going to do now!). I do like your suggestion about painting it with a brush then smoothing it out with a roller. And the water base topcoat. I however have a couple questions.
    1. Do you recommend a small foam roller or the “fuzzy” ones? ( do you like my technical term? Lol
    2. Have you ever used the Behr chalk paint? If so what do you think?
    Home Depot also made the cabinet door look antiqued by dry brushing over it. I did like that look. I wish I could show you what they did and what I have to work with to see if you think this would be a good idea. It almost looks like you did this technic on your blue cabinets. If so could you elaborate on the process.
    Thank you
    You have been very helpful this far
    Nicole

    1. Hi Nicole!
      Glad that my post was helpful to you. :)
      Okay, 1., no definitely not the fuzzy ones, look for “cabinet roller” (it’s smaller), or just any type of small foam roller you can find will do.
      2. I have not used Behr chalk paint, as my memory serves. I would assume it is somewhat similar to all of them out there though.
      Hmm, not seeing it, I’m not sure what exactly you are referring to. Here is a post that I used a glaze over top of the paint. >>> Post
      And here is another post where I used a darker shade of paint, dry brushing it over top for more depth… Post
      I hope this helps!!
      xo
      Nancy

  21. Hi there,

    I’m looking to repaint my kitchen cabinets and want to use the chalk paint you used. My cabinets were oak originally and I painted them with a rustoleum kit purchased at Home Depot. My uppers are grey and lowers, brown. I now want white uppers and cobalt blue lowers. My question is, the doors were sealed and are starting to yellow, do I paint right on top of that, after cleaning them of course, or do I need to sand the sealer off first? Same for the brown doors, do I just paint on top or do I need to sand some of the brown away first?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Hello!
      I would clean them well to get all grease, grime or anything else that may be on them. You want them to not have any residue whatsoever before beginning or it will show through. No, as long as the paint is in good condition, (no chipping, etc) you don’t have to sand away the sealer or the brown BUT I would lightly sand by hand all surfaces to be painted. Nothing too involved or time-consuming, you just want to take the shine off and possibly even out any uneven areas from the first paint job, if there are any. I hope that helps! :)

  22. Hi, I am about to start a project paint cabinets and they have a glossy finish. I plan to use chalk paint in a light grey color. Do I need to sand them any? Or can I paint over them with the chalk paint and seal them when done?

    1. Hi Jamie! I would say yes, do a little prep work first. You will not regret it. Glossy finishes will definitely benefit whether using chalk-style paint or not. I would lightly sand by hand just enough to remove the gloss finish. (you don’t have to sand all the way back or do any heavy-duty sanding, light sanding to remove the shine should suffice) Good luck and have fun! :)

  23. Hi Stumbled across your site as I’m seeking info on chalk painting my kitchen cabinets in a condo. First lets talk hinges! Where did you get the silver ones? I redid our bathroom cabinets and found a sort of good fit as I couldn’t find any others. I don’t mind them showing if they are silver. I have a lot more research to do on the chalk paint. Our condo will be rented half of the year (typically traveling nurses or transplants) and thus far they have left the place in excellent condition each time …. but you never know. Will this hold up ok?

    1. Oh gosh, I ordered those online but I have no idea where at this point. I originally painted the cabinets back in 2013, I believe. I’m sorry! You could always spray paint them. I’ve done that before too. Mine held up mostly amazingly well. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. :)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.