Kitchen related DIY/Decorating.

[Sara_H]

I've just realised that my kitchen looks rubbish.

I've got cherry wood effect units, black work surface, beige walls, black splash back tiles and black floor tiles it's all a bit dark and gloomy, especially given that the kitchen is north facing and quite small.

I have a plan to replace the floor and wall tiles with something a bit lighter, but was wondering about painting the units cream? Is it possible to do this without it looking a pigs ear? The kitchen isn't that bad, so I don't want to ruin it, but if I can get a good looking finish, I'll do it.

Should I wait til I win the lottery and get a new kitchen?

 

[Arch]

NT says:

Yes, perfectly possible, if you prep properly. Take the doors off. Clean well, apply primer, sand it, undercoat, then you could spray them for a nice smooth finish (if you're good at spraying). Alternatively, brush paint, but work over with a roller to reduce brushmarks. Look into getting the right paint for the surface - is it plastic, melamine, etc? Do you want a gloss finish, or what?

Are the doors flat, or do they have any mouldings?

Alternatively, he says, the very cheapest plain doors could be easier and cheaper - just replace the doors. His are plain, flat, white, and look fine, and were a few quid each.

 

[Sara_H]

It's a melamine kitchen. The doors are moulded, but its a very simple square design. I'd be no good at spraying! I was thinking a roller would give the best finish.

This is the problem with having been off work for so long - you start to spot everything wrong with the house! I currently have an ongoing project in the spare room and I'm cogitating about ordering new loose sofa covers in the living room. OH has been put to work fencing the back garden!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I refreshed ours with new doors, new wall tiles and on the (drab grey municipal style flagstone) floor a brighter paint job. To all intents and purposes a brand new set up for the sake of ~£300-£350 and a couple of days graft, rather than ten times the price for a new kitchen.
If you do get new doors, having them pre drilled to take the big round bit of the standard type hinge is best, unless you've got the right bit and a steady hand, but see if you can make sure those holes are measured to fit with your existing hinges in the casing. It's an extra little PITA if you're having to move the hinges slightly, drilling new holes without breaking the outer skin, filling in the old holes and realigning the doors.

Stripping and reglossing 80 years of layers and now yellowy white paint on the room doors next job, what joy.

 

[MontyVeda]

I've just realised that my kitchen looks rubbish.

...

I bet your kitchen looks better than mine does! I'd post a photo but I'm just far too ashamed

 

[Night Train]

It's a melamine kitchen. The doors are moulded, but its a very simple square design. I'd be no good at spraying! I was thinking a roller would give the best finish.

Give them a good clean (sugar soap) and then use the correct primer and under coat. Then use a brush to do the bits the roller can't reach and roller the rest. Use one of those 4" wide mini rollers and check the type of roller is correct for the paint, fluffy or foam, etc.

This is the problem with having been off work for so long - you start to spot everything wrong with the house! I currently have an ongoing project in the spare room and I'm cogitating about ordering new loose sofa covers in the living room. OH has been put to work fencing the back garden!

I know what you mean. My house renovations are getting a bit extreme now that I am time rich and cash poor. Everything is 'What can I do that doesn't cost much and uses up bits I have laying around...'.

And besides the house I also have the electric tractor, the electric truck, the bikes, and a model railway to consume my time. Anything to not vegetate in front of daytime TV.

 

[Sara_H]

I bet your kitchen looks better than mine does! I'd post a photo but I'm just far too ashamed

Ah go on!

 

[Over The Hill]

I have refurbished quite a few kitchens mostly without spending too much time or money.
I have not painted doors but it seems quite a long job for what may end up as a bit of a bodge. Paint is expensive and you may end up spending £50 on paint and many hours for a poor result.
B &Q have a good range of budget kitchen units. The doors are all standard sizes so will just fit. If the hinges are different go with new hinges and they just screw into the inner side of the unit. Very quick and easy - half a day for a small kitchen. Doors are about £12 each for a big one so it may not add up to much. You can look at replacing the kick boards too to match or have contrast.

Floors and walls - usually OK to tile over real tiles, bit of a bodge but sometimes they dont come off very well if say on a plasterboard wall.

Paint - the easy part.

Probably good idea to leave the worktops as that is expensive and tricky.

Good luck!

 

[biggs682]

di it now as do you know when you will win the lottery !

 

[smokeysmoo]

FWIW I've just re-painted all the fitted wardrobe doors in our bedroom.

Prep was easy as someone had already painted them, but a huge +1 for using a mini foam roller, I never brush paint large surfaces when glossing, the roller gives a great finish IME.

 

[vernon]

And besides the house I also have the electric tractor, the electric truck, the bikes, and a model railway to consume my time. Anything to not vegetate in front of daytime TV.

Abandon everything else and focus on the model railway. You'll be designing, making, playing operating, planning its extension and fantasising leaving no time for less worthy distractions.

 

[Mange-tout]

I'm sure I've seen paint in homebase that's called - "kitchen cupboard paint", of all things . Sounds like just the stuff, but not sure whether it is suitable for Melamine.

However, I once painted over tiles in an equally horrible kitchen, years ago, with specialist tile paint, and it looked a mess and peeled off. However, I believe you can tile over existing tiles quite easily (make sure the new tiles lay across the old tiles joins) saving you the mess of taking chunks out of your walls.

Good luck Sarah - and can you please post before and after photos - I just love anything to do with makeovers

 

[Night Train]

Abandon everything else and focus on the model railway. You'll be designing, making, playing operating, planning its extension and fantasising leaving no time for less worthy distractions.

Notice how Arch and I have reduced our posting rate here since we agreed on the model rail idea? Very active on a model rail forum, and out for just over a couple hours photographing Trafford Park railway lines and environment today.

 

[vernon]

Notice how Arch and I have reduced our posting rate here since we agreed on the model rail idea? Very active on a model rail forum, and out for just over a couple hours photographing Trafford Park railway lines and environment today.

Which gauge are you going for?

 

[Arch]

Which gauge are you going for?

OO probably. NT's worked out a basic plan, which is based on elements of Trafford Park, without being a direct copy. The Kelloggs factory will feature, but there will be a fictitious scrapyard too. We spotted a lot of little details today that can be included.

We reckon we'll make a good team - NT is very good on the tech side and design, and I'm looking forward to doing the scenery and props....

One task will be to knock up a dozen or so of these:

at about 4mm across....