Kitchen Remodel

I'm finally typing out the entire process that changed my dark kitchen to something beautiful and bright!

What You Need:

-LollyJane Chalk Paint Powder 

-LollyJane Clear Wax

-Cup/container to mix paint in

-A couple chip brushes (these are super cheap and for some reason, work best)

-Measuring cup & spoons (I bought a cheap set at Walmart)

-water

-A plastic fork to mix paint

-Flat latex paint of your choosing 

-lint-free rag

For this project, I bought the largest size chalk paint powder LollyJane offered and a gallon of Valspar Signature Flat Latex paint. I wanted the cabinets to be white like the other cabinets in my living room, so I brought in a drawer to color match. When the powder comes in the mail, they also send a mixing guide:

I mixed 2 cups worth at a time, so the direction were doubled, and if I had paint leftover, I stored it in a mason jar. The beauty about chalk paint is the only prep involved was wiping down everything with a wet rag and mixing the paint! NO SANDING OR PRIMING! Also, it only takes about 30 minutes to dry! My cabinets were darkly stained, and I was painting them white, so it took three coats of paint, but all of it was done within 2 hours for one section of my kitchen. I started on the frame of the cabinets first, brushing on just like I would a piece of furniture (with the grain). Do keep in mind, these chip brushes are cheap, and several bristles will fall out as you are painting- so keep an eye out so they don't dry into your piece that you are painting.

I wanted a distressed look on all the cabinet doors and drawers, so about an hour after the last coat dried, I lightly sanded the edges and corners. After sanding, it was ready to be waxed. To use the wax, I applied it very thinly in long broad strokes using a lint-free rag- I also wore stripping gloves because I didn't want to mess with getting it off my hands and out from under my fingernails. The wax has a very strong smell, but that's only the curing agent at work, as all the doors and drawers were ready to be put back on after 30 minutes or so of applying the wax.

I did my entire kitchen, eight dining chairs, and the cabinets above my washer and dryer with that one container of chalk paint powder, a gallon of paint, and a container of wax.

Total Cost: about $100!!!!

This was all done almost a month ago, and with a messy husband who drips coffee down the cabinet doors and an active two year old who likes to run his toys into everything, the paint has held up perfectly! I love love love this stuff, and already have plans to chalk paint a dresser for my baby girl's nursery!