DIY Chalk Painted Cabinet Makeover | Before and After

If you saw my last post about the Fish Room, you caught a glimpse of the second-hand furniture that replaced the terrible cabinetry.  There's so much more storage now, which is perfect because my Mom and I streamlined and pooled our sewing supplies.  She has downsized to a much cozier home, plus we always work on sewing projects at my place anyway, so it just made sense to keep everything here.  But I also store my paints, adhesives, and other garage-y things that can't freeze in the Fish Room as well, so the more drawers, cabinets, and shelves the better!

This furniture just happened to fit so well but it was definitely a bit of a hodgepodge - nothing a little paint couldn't fix!  Even though the Ikea furniture had some scratches and dents, I really liked the white melamine and faux wood foil because it has a light and airy vibe with a Scandi feel.  But the pine cabinet I acquired was a little too country for me and I wanted this room to look polished - not like a space where furniture comes to die.

Here's a look at the cabinet before:

It's been a long time since I painted wood because I've really been loving natural wood tones lately (especially walnut!).  When I've decided the wood-look is too much, I've leaned toward pale grey or cream stains to let the grain shine.  But this particular piece needed a paint job and I found the perfect pale blue/grey hue in Rust-Oleum's new chalk paint line.  Their "Serenity Blue" (insanity later) picks up on the blue trim on the glass doors of the Ikea cabinets, which makes my decorating decisions feel intentional (and less "happy accidental," which is what they are).

I hadn't used chalk paint before, so this was a fun experiment and I love that Rust-Oleum has their own line.  It comes as a spray paint or in a can and I opted for the latter for the cabinet so I could avoid any brush strokes.  Although chalk paint doesn't require priming (sweet!), I did lightly sand the entire unit.  I didn't tape off any areas - I just spray painted it closed, to preserve the cedar interior.
 


I am in love with how QUICKLY this paint dries!  I had dragged it outside when I was home alone one day and had sprayed on the first coat before heading back into the Fish Room to work on another project.  I had only been working for about 15 minutes when I heard a rumble and realized my beautiful, sunny day with clear skies had morphed into a thunder storm.  I ran to the drive way, convinced I'd ruined my paint job but the paint was dry enough for me to heave and shove and drag this massively heavy chest back into the garage.  A few days later the skies cleared again and I finished applying the second and third coats.  Any other paint would have been ruined by the sudden downpour - and my manhandling - but this paint was unscathed.

The coverage was splotchy at first but after three coats it was so seamless and smooth - I love the matte finish and how it modernized this somewhat dated piece.  The stenciled design on the front was covered perfectly, the but irregularities in the wood (which seem faux, to be honest) were preserved. 

To keep things simple, I painted the wood knobs too.

To help prevent that furniture graveyard look even more, Hubby and I added some DIY plywood shelves that line up with the shelves in the Ikea cabinets, but are painted the same blue/grey chalk paint as the cabinet.  For the shelves, however, I decided to try brushing on the paint.  For that application, you have to commit!  No re-brushing is allowed - you have to work quickly and confidently to avoid streaks or brush marks.  But it also goes on really well and a little goes a long way so I have tons left (you might have spotted the color because I used it for my mini potted plant ornaments!)

I found the brackets in the garage and spray painted them white but, in hindsight, we should have sprung for some tougher brackets like the ones in the kitchen.  I wanted to work with what I had but these light duty brackets mean we can't really load down the shelves - which might be a wise idea anyway.  I'll see how they hold up.



When we renovate this space for real, we'll spring for new cabinets, but for now it was so nice to re-purpose and find a home for this random grouping - along with some bits and bobs from the garage.

I am planning on sharing the full before and after tour in the new year - I decided to make a few last minute additions.  But really, when is a space ever "done"?

A Cute, Blue Utility Trailer Makeover

This is the kind of DIY project where you see how much of a country mouse I've become... 

Spring has sprung - the first shipping vessel came to my city recently and the captain reported that there's barely any ice on Lake Superior, which is totally unbelievable.  The shipping season has opened earlier as a result and with surprisingly balmy temperatures, that familiar smell of spring (damp leaves and dog poop) is in the air already!

I'm excited.

It means we can get the boat out on the lake earlier, which means I can actually share more photos and (finally!) some aerial videos with our drone (last year we launched too late in the season because of repairs).  An early spring also means we can start tackling yard work pretty soon too - we just need those last few heaps of snow to melt, but I'm already seeing tons of grass!  To help move our yard work along, we bought a little utility trailer from Kijiji to use with our riding lawn mower to haul stuff around the property.  Wheelbarrows are for chumps.  These mini trailers are normally hundreds of bucks (this one is the most similar to our dump cart) but we got this for $80. 

It was a little rusty and beat up, though, but functioned perfectly.  Hubby asked me to paint it, but I was super busy with other projects and work, so he dangled this carrot: "you can paint in turquoise".

Sold.

I had a case of Rust-Oleum Harbor Blue in my spray paint stash and, after prepping the wagon (thorough wash, light sand), I blasted it with multiple thin, light coats - even the wheels!  Now I'm eyeing up our ugly old riding lawnmower too...

Between this trailer, our turquoise front door, and the turquoise guesthouse trim and door, I'm easing the neighbors into the day I decided to paint our entire garage bright turquoise with a huge, Instagram-worthy mural on the garage door.  #notkidding

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How to Repair and Refinish Laminate Counters

In my Mom's budget-friendly kitchen makeover, it's difficult to see just how much better the counters look now because her old counters were surprisingly photogenic.  They had a really pretty, subtle design, but over the years they had become stained, scratched, chipped, and were actually de-laminating from the MDF. 

Mom didn't want to replace them because this kitchen spruce is just temporary, so we used a Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations kit to give them a new look.  There are different kinds: the faux granite kit, the "Fleck" kit and the "Mica" kit.  We opted for the Mica in White, which turned out to be so pretty!  It's a subtle change in the photos, but in real life it really freshened up the space while still keeping the kitchen light and bright:

But before we refinished the laminate counters, we had to make some repairs first.  Here's what we did to repair the chips, fix the peeling laminate, and ultimately re-coat the counters for a fresh new look.
   
How to Repair Laminate Counter That's Lifting From the MDF:

Before we did anything, we needed to reattach the laminate to the MDF because it was lifting:

We squeezed in some construction adhesive and then, using a series of clamps, held the counter in place while the adhesive dried.  To avoid dents or a wavy edge, we used paint stir sticks beneath the clamps to hold down the entire counter edge evenly.  We did this way back in the early part of the summer, and it's still holding strong! 

  
How to Repair Laminate Counter Chips:

The laminate counter had chipped in many place and I was partly to blame!  I leaned against the counter and the edge (which had been separating from the MDF) caught on the back pocket of my jeans and when I moved, I took a piece with me.  I may have done this more than once - my rear end was, apparently, the perfect height for this destruction.  Luckily Mom kept the pieces, which we glued back with construction adhesive.  For the lost chips, like the one below, I built up the chip with an adhesive putty.

 I kneaded the epoxy together, as per the instructions, and then applied it to the missing area.  I pressed it into the MDF and smoothed it as best I could.  Once it was dry, I sanded it and then the repair was hidden beneath the Rust-Oleum product.  It looks good - but not 100% - because I really should have smoothed it much flatter before it dried.  I thought I could fix any bumps in sanding but once it dries it's really, really hard.  So if you try this trick, get it as perfect as possible while it's still mold-able.  Otherwise, we were all really impressed with what a great quick fix this was.  And the shimmering new counter coating really does disguise the repair job - it is definitely much better than a huge missing chunk!

How to Refinish Laminate Counter Tops:

With the laminate glued back in place and the chips repaired, it was time to start refinishing the laminate with the Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformation kit!

We removed the sink because we were replacing it anyway and this made the finished counter look much better (but you can work around a sink, that's no problem).  If you try this kit, follow the instructions included - to the letter!  But here's a brief overview so you can see what to expect.

We covered the freshly refinished cabinets with plastic and taped off the wall behind the backsplash.  Before starting, we gave the counters a good scrub with soap and water and let everything dry completely.   

Following the Rust-Oleum instructions (there's a really great instructional video), we sanded the entire surface using the diamond-embedded sanding block provided in the kit.  This was dusty, tiring work (a dust mask and eye protection were required!), but an essential step to ensure the new finish adhered properly.  The sanding served to de-gloss and dull the counter top by creating super fine scratches.  To remove the dust, we used a dust pan and then wiped thoroughly with a damp cloth - it took a few passes to get it clean.  It was handy working together because we had two sets of eyes to check for any dust residue before moving on to the next step. 

For the base coat (which requires two coats), Mom and I worked as a team so I don't have many photos.  I painted the base coat with a brush onto the backsplash and onto the counter a few inches, in addition to painting the edges where the stove and fridge go.  Meanwhile, Mom used the small roller provided to apply the base coat to the surface of the counter.  We applied the two coats of base coat two hours apart.  It was a bit tricky getting an even coat without applying it too thick - re-rolling, as per the instructions, was the most stressful part.  This base coat performs differently than paint, but we eventually got the hang of it.    

Here's a shot right after we painted the second base coat application (excuse the dim photo, I don't even want to admit how late at night we were working on this):

Before calling it quits, we removed the painter's tape.  We allowed the base coat to dry 12 hours (overnight) and then applied the mica top coat - which has to be applied within 24 hours.  It's so sparkly!  Opening this can is what prompted me to try to add glitter to my painted vinyl floor (which I'm still planning on trying when I turn our "fish room" into a cute craft room).

We wiped the counter with a damp cloth and allowed it to dry while we re-applied the painter's tape.  We mixed the two part top coat, which had to be stirred for two minutes, and then we had four hours to apply the mica.  It doesn't take that long to do, but that's how long you have until it's no longer good.  Once again, we brushed it onto the backsplash and then rolled on the surface, spreading out the mica so it didn't clump.  It was challenging to get good coverage without the clear coat pooling in any areas where the counter wasn't level, but we fussed with it until it looked good. 
 

Can you see that huge gap between the counter and the wall?  Didn't see that in the reveal, right?  That's because I have mad caulking skills.

It was definitely a full weekend of work to repair and refinish these laminate counters, but when it was all done, Mom and I were thrilled!  My Dad was less thrilled, because they had to wait two days before resuming light kitchen use and a whole week before the kitchen could be used as normal (how would he make the COFFEE?!?!), but it was worth the wait for my Mom.  She's just smitten with her "new" counters.



The only drawback was that the clear coat yellowed the surface more than we anticipated and it became a creamy white as opposed to the stark white we were hoping for.  For a moment, we wished we'd chosen black, which seemed more foolproof.  But once we finished the kitchen and styled the counter ever so slightly (I'm trying to wean my Mom off kitchen clutter), the creamy white worked - and looked gorgeous against the blush pink walls.  So it was the perfect choice in the end, but just know that the white will be more of an off-white, if you're tempted to try this kit.

It's difficult to capture the mica because it blurs when the light hits, but just know that this counter can be REALLY shimmery when the sun hits - you have to like sparkle (which we do!).

When the sun or under cabinet lighting aren't shining on it, the counter is best described as glossy - no, gleaming:

Look at the pink McCoy pots actually reflecting in the surface!  This glossy finish is perfect for a small kitchen because it really bounces the light around. 

Would I recommend the Rust-Oleum Counter Top Transformation Kit?

Yes, definitely - but only if your counters are super sad looking.  

For my Mom's kitchen, with terribly worn out counters, the repairs plus the kit made a HUGE improvement and my Mom is thrilled!  The Rust-Oleum coating hid the scratches and our repairs, and just brightened the room.  But I think that, in some lights, it does have a "painted" look - especially because the seams are now hidden.  More importantly, my Mom has reported that you can't put anything hot on it, not even a hot coffee pot, so it's a little less durable than before.

If your counters are in excellent, amazing shape I wouldn't recommend this unless they are truly hideous and you can't stand the sight of them.  If you're on the fence, don't risk bunging them up because the base coat and top coat are not foolproof.  But if your counters have seen better days, this is definitely worth the time and effort.  Mom's counters just look SO much better now.  We would definitely try this again! 

This post is collaboration with Rust-Oleum, a long time supporter of Dans le Lakehouse.  

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Mid-Century Tulip Table Makeover

This vintage tulip table makeover has taken me since 2010 to accomplish.  That's when I scored a tulip table base at a yard sale for $5.00.  I know that at least a few of my wonderful readers have been with me since the beginning - did you ever think I'd finally get around to giving this tulip table a makeover?  No, me neither... 

I really love tulip tables, but in the townhouse we already had a really gorgeous mid-century teak table in the kitchen and another one in the dining room.  My Mom ended up stealing the base from me, but because the apple didn't fall far from the tree, she didn't do anything with it for many years either.

Poor little unloved table.

In the process of tackling her budget-friendly kitchen makeover, Mom jettisoned the table that was in there.  My parents live in a small, post-war home with no dining room and a small eat in kitchen, which drove my Mom nuts because when there were people sitting at the rather large, square table, she couldn't open the stove, the fridge, or even leave the kitchen very easily.  Finally following my advice, she moved the dining room table to the living room.  Eventually a bedroom on the main floor (which is currently occupied) will become the official dining room - we already bought an insanely gorgeous brushed gold light fixture in preparation.  Even though Mom wanted the kitchen 100% table-free, I thought that a smaller table and smaller scale chairs would afford us a nice spot to have a cup of tea when I visit, without using as much floor space and disrupting the flow, so I rooted around in her garage until I found the old tulip table base and forcibly made her use it in the kitchen.

First I gave it a new look - and found a new top!

Painting the Tulip Table Base:

To revive the metal base (the existing white finish was scratched and chipped and just really worn), I scrubbed it clean, gave it a light sand, removed any dust with a tack cloth and then applied many light coats of Rust-Oleum's Universal Metallic in Pure Gold - the same paint I used for the typewriter table makeover awhile back.  (This table is most definitely a knock-off tulip table - vintage, but still not a real Saarinen - so I didn't feel guilty about re-painting it.)

I LOVE the tulip base now because Mom's kitchen cabinet hardware is brushed gold (thanks to our little DIY) and so are the hairpin legs on the new pink dog bowl stand we made.  More importantly, Mom's thrilled - the chipped old base made her sad. 

Finding a Replacement Tulip Table Top:

Finding a replacement tulip table top was trickier.  We could have made something from scratch (walnut!) but Mom's not 100% committed to the table being there so, instead of spending the time and money, I just ordered a cheap pine table top online.  I didn't love the profile, though:

I wanted the profile to look more like this.  Not to worry!  When Hubs and I went to my father-in-law's for some wood chopping, I lugged along the table top and my father-in-law routed the edge with a 45-degree chamfer router bit.

It was a bit tricky to do, because my father-in-law said it's easier to just cut the edge with that angle in the first place, as opposed to shaving off a small amount after the fact, but he managed to change the profile:

Looking for an Inexpensive Tulip Table Replacement Top?

This kind of round top can be bought in a lot of home improvement stores for really cheap and you could just use it as-is.  But if you want to change the profile, this doesn't take very long so a woodworker in your area might do it for a small fee.  As well, if the local high school or college has a woodworking class, a Starbucks gift card might be all you need to get an edge routed.  You might also want to check out some shops on Etsy that make and sell this kind of wood top and see if they can route the edge during manufacturing.  There are other options as well: this table top on Amazon is more money, but it already has a more delicate profile.  This solid reclaimed wood top is kind of neat too.  If you're not a mid-century purist, it's fairly easy to track down an affordable solution.  

Painting the Tulip Table Top:

With the edge routed, I gave the table top a light sand before applying light coats of Rust-Oleum Gloss White spray paint.  My Mom loathes pine (and it doesn't take stain well anyway) so I opted for paint instead of stain.  I also wanted to add some lightness into the kitchen because although we kept the counters white, the white cabinets were painted light grey and her once white vinyl floor was replaced with a darker, busier patterned floor - which you can spy in these photos.  A white table top was was a welcome addition.

To pair with the table, I loaned her (who am I kidding?  I'm never getting those back) my teak dining chairs from the townhouse kitchen.  Remember how I lovingly upholstered them in black and white houndstooth?  I laughed at the person who would have to remove all 1,000,001 staples.  That person was me.  But it was worth it because the new fabric - a gorgeous, luminous gold tweed ($5.00 on clearance from Fabricland - this is similar) is the perfect fit for Mom's style because she has pops of this hue elsewhere in the house, so the whole place is starting to look really pulled together. 

And so, after a little budget-friendly makeover, here is what that poor little abandoned tulip table looks like now:

Such a change!



My Mom's kitchen is DONE - did I mention that?!?  I'm so excited to share the reveal because it looks so refreshed, with a cute vintage appeal, for so little money.  We chose everything together and you'll be amazed to learn there is not. one. stitch of turquoise.  Yep, I can do that!

I just need to photograph the finished room and then I'll break it down into posts focusing on a few of the bigger projects (like refinishing the cabinets and repairing/painting the counters) - but expect a FULL TOUR with before and after photos very soon!

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