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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Stripping Kitchen Cabinets Tutorial

For the last few weeks I have been slowly working on redoing our kitchen. I am starting with stripping our cabinets so I thought I would do a tutorial on stripping paint and show you the before pictures of our kitchen. Here's what the room looks like now. (Ignore the missing cabinet doors on the left. I got a little too excited about stripping paint that I removed them before I took a proper before picture).

View from the living room
I will admit that I was, in fact, the one who picked out the......Bold? Daring? Ok, hideous colors. I was in my early 20's when we purchased our house and being young and not having quite figured out my style yet, I had the great idea of going with a chili pepper/tabasco theme. I had found some orange, green and gold plates and a brightly colored chili pepper table runner. I used those colors for the walls and cabinets. The plates and runner were the perfect pop of color for the kitchen. It was overkill with the walls and cabinets. Lesson learned.
Our walls and counters are very empty and boring right now. We sold all of our decor at our yard sale in July.



View from the back door


Ok onto the paint stripping. I'm stripping the cabinets just to repaint them. I know it seems like a waste of time. Why not just paint over the orange, right? There are already so many coats of paint on the doors that they don't close all the way. I wanted to do it right and start fresh, so here we go!

To start, you'll need to find yourself what I like to call a good stripping station. Mine happens to be an old fish pond with a piece of plywood on top. So fancy! It's nice and sturdy and provides a large working space.

Next, you'll need paint stripper....duh! :) I got mine at Home Depot for about $8.00. 

You'll also need a chip brush, a scraper, a steel wool brush for any nooks and crannies, and a pair of gloves.

Don't forget something to put the scraped paint into. A paper box lid works great!

The instructions say to pour the stripper into a metal container and brush it on. I'm too impatient for that, so I pour small puddles directly onto the door and quickly brush it around. 

After 15-20 minutes the paint should start to look like this. 

Time to start scraping!!!

Sorry, don't know why this picture is sideways???

 Here are the doors after one coat of stripper. I typically only have to do two coats. I strip the paint until there is only a thin film of paint left, if that makes sense. I stop with the coats when I can see wood underneath the film of paint. At that point, it's stripped enough that a good sanding with an electric sander will take care of the rest. 

After the second coat (see how you can see the wood?) I take my steel wool brush and brush off any remaining globs of stripped paint. I also use the brush to get in good along the edges and corners. 

And here's a cabinet door after it's been stripped and sanded. Let me know if you have any other questions!



39 comments:

  1. What a lot of work! Your tutorial is really good, very easy to follow. Can't wait to see the end result.

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  2. HOLY MOLY what a job. Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing and joining my newbie party. Have fun.

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  3. Thanks for the lesson, I've been thinking of doing this and it's so helpful

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  4. Great tutorial! I'm working on stripping paint off a cabinet and let me tell you---that paint does NOT want to come off! Grrr. I will win! I am determined. I just wish it was a bit easier! Ha!

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  5. You go girl! Good tutorial!! Found you via Debbiedoos and have become a new follower. Pop on over for a visit if you get a moment. Tootles, Kathryn
    http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com

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  6. Can't wait to see what you'll be doing with the cabinets. Thanks for the lesson --

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  7. What an endeavor! I can't wait to see the finished result of all this hard work!
    ...and what you do with that little table. I hope you don't strip it, I love it's chippy charm already.

    hoppin' in from the Newbie Party, Pat

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  8. Great tutorial on your cabinets and I think you are doing it the right way, when it's done it will look like you have brand new cabinets!
    Visiting from Debbie Do's!

    Rondell

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  9. Forgot to say that I'm your newest follower and I'll be adding you to my bloglist!

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  10. You covered all the steps except for one...have a beer or glass of wine nearby :) Excellent tutorial. Your newest follower stop by for a blog visit.

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  11. Man, you really worked hard. I just painted mine. Can't wait to see the end result. I'd love if you'd share this at my linky party. http://trophyw.blogspot.com/2011/08/linky-3-will-craft-for-sanity.html

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  12. Following from Time Out Tuesdays...and you did a great job stripping the cabinets...I can't wait to see them when they are done...

    Stop by and say "Hi" when you get a chance!!

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  13. Wowww that looks like a lot of work! But kitchens always have the best pay off in the end I think! I'm one of your newest followers... keep it up!

    messybusiness13.blogspot.com

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  14. Great job! I need to strip a chair and this is very helpful.

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  15. Man, do you have your work cut out! I just stripped a dresser and said I will never strip again! I can't imagine taking on a whole kitchen to strip! You are one tough cookie! I can't wait to see your final reveal, I know you are going to work hard for it! Andrea@ townandprairie

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  16. I can't wait to see how it all looks when its done. We just bought a house that has similar flat face cabinets and I have not been sure how to make them look better. I need ideas!

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  17. Great tutorial! Wow, I really hate stripping, but kitchen cabinets?!? You have patience! And don't feel bad about the colors. Hey - we've all been there! The older I get, the more fun I have reminiscing about some of my interior 'decor' attempts thru the years. Trust me, your colors look just fine ;)

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  18. Great! I'm a Follower now because I wanna see how your kitchen redo turns out! You have me hooked. Nice job :P


    Visiting from Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop Linky Party,
    Smiles,
    Suzanne in IL

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  19. You are sure doing a good job of refinishing those cabinets. I will be looking forward to seeing the end result.

    Thanks for joining the BUNNY HOP Party this week :)

    xoxo Bunny Jean

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  20. I've always wanted to learn how to strip cabinets. It's sounds so challenging and I'd be afraid I'd want to stop in the middle of the project. Thanks so much for the tutorial, much appreciated!! Visiting from Brambleberry Cottage's, Time Travel Thursday. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. That is a great job done.

    Thanks for linking up at Tea-Time Thursdays @ Kreative Korner. Your post added to the celebration. Party for this week is going on now. Hope to see you there.

    http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/2011/08/tea-time-thursdays-3-and-features.html

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  22. This looks great. I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas. Take care Anu

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  23. whew...that is a lot of work...but i'm sure it will be totally worth it in the end...thanks so much for linking up to fridays unfolded!

    alison

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  24. It's a TON of work, isn't it?! I refinished mine and it was one heck of a job! Nice work though :)

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  25. Lots of work but so worth it. Can't wait to see the finished product.

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  26. Nice job! Can't wait to see what you're going to do with your kitchen. I'd love to redo my cabinet, but the 51 drawers and cabinets are a little intimidating...

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  27. Nice Job! Thanks so much for linking up and sharign!

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  28. Great tutorial! Can't wait to see when everything is all beautified :) Thanks for sharing at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays

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  29. Painting them is the fun part....I remember painting all of my cabinets. Thanks for sharing this at my party.

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  30. It looks so much easier when YOU're doing it! Thanks for this informative post. Visiting from Serenity Now.

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  31. It's hard work but you have done a great job! It's so satisfying to see the change taking place and getting rid of the old paint. I love doing stuff like this! I'm following your blog now. :) Amy

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  32. Good job on that. Not an easy task. I have done that to a chest myself. Thanks for linking it to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  33. Perfect tutorial! What a lot of hard work, but when it's finished, so well worth it! Thank you so much for linking up to It's a Party! Keep us posted on the transformation!

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  34. Wow!!!...that's alot of work...you should be proud of yourself for doing it right....can't wait to see the finished project!!!...just became a follower...pls come on over and visit me too...nice to meet you and I'll be back lots more....Mariaelena

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  35. What a great tutorial!! Well done! Thanks for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  36. Great tutorial! This is something that I need to do to my linen cabinets in our hallway {house is super old, so yes, the doors don't close correctly after all that paint!}. Thanks for sharing! :)

    ~Jessie

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  37. Nice job! Can't wait to see what you're going to do with your kitchen thisYou can visit this site and take advantage of it talks about the cabinets and tips on how to buy http://www.facecabinets.blogspot.com/

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