Painting kitchen cupboards and tiles?

SarahLou

Hi everyone,

Just done a quick search for this topic and found quite a few threads relating to it but they were all quite old threads that I found so didn't want to "bump" one up after they've not been talked about for a long time. Hence starting a new one.

Here is a photo of our kitchen (albeit now got a new natural stone/terracotta coloured lino floor down) - this photo was taken when we viewed the property so please excuse the tip (the lady didn't "sell" the house well and clearly had never seen any property "how to sell your house fast" type programmes!) :rotfl:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/sarahlouise83/kitchen.jpg

So apart from the tip, if you imagine it is exactly the same except for a natural stone type coloured floor instead of the horrible green lino stuff she had down.

The cupboards seem to have a "coating" on them - its not painted in the green colour, as there are a few little bits on the edges of a few of the cupboards that are peeling off a little, hence I can tell its like a lining stuff over the wood underneath.

Sooo, my question is as follows - can I paint over this? I've heard lots about sugar soaping, cleaning grease off, sanding the doors down, etc, etc. but I'm assuming this applies to natural wood doors? As I suspect sanding down a plastic-type coating won't do anything will it? (Albeit obviously I would thoroughly clean them first).

I'm thinking either painting them in a cream type colour or going for white. Then buying a new work surface as the dark green thing is horrible. Plus wouldn't look right on white or cream coloured kitchen units.

So assuming you reckon it'd be OK to paint (or spray) them either white or cream (depending on if anyone knows what I'm on about when I say the green colour they are now is some kind of coating they've got on so its not just fresh onto the wood).

Obviously then I need to get rid of the green tiles too. Worst case scenrio may just have to have it re-tiled but then I came across the idea of painting them. Our tiles are a bit "bumpy" in effect (may be able to make it out on the photo?) and some are patterened with raised fruit style effects so I'd probably leave those well alone any maybe paint the remaining, normal "flat" tiles in like a cream colour?

Anyone got any ideas? Especially with regards to our cupboards most definitely having a green sheet/covering type effect. Not sure what the technical term is?!



And finally, I read a good question in one of the old threads on this topic - assuming I do go ahead and be brave and paint my kitchen, how does one then clean it? Does the kitchen cupboard paint/spray stuff stand-up to conventional kitchen cleaners being used on the cupboard doors/edges/etc?

lee12_2

We had simula door to yours in our old house and they had centre panels and we just got a tester pot of duluxe once and that worked just fine, as for tiles i know you can get tile paint but we had horrid pink tiles in a bathroom once and I just glossed the white and painted the odd one or two yellow.The only thing with the tiles they need a roller not a brush, only because of lines but its just as easy to re tile over the top of the old ones and you get a good new look and a good solid surface to tile onto.As for worktops if you change the colour on the doors I bet the top wont need changing (unless damaged), And one last tip that pipe above the cupboards we put up a wooden frame from cupboard top to celin covered the front in chip board and wallpapered it , you cant see our pipe and it just look like the cupboards are recessed in the wall, and on a big plus side it will never need cleaning up there again!

angelavdavis

Personally, you should be ok removing the doors and giving them a good scrub with some sugar soap, allow to dry then give a light sanding with a fine paper to provide a key for any paint. You can fill any missing pieces of surface with wood filler and give the same treatment to the cornicing, etc.

I would then use primer on both sides, use a brush for the mouldings and roller for the rest and then put two coats of eggshell in a colour of your choice. You will get a much tougher finish.

As far as the tiles are concerned, I really would try removing them carefully to avoid too much damage to the walls and applying new. I have tried tile paint in bathrooms and kitchens following all the instructions to the letter, it starts off OK but it simply flakes off with constant cleaning. I also think the textured style of your tiles might actually make it more difficult to apply it uniformly.

loracan1

When I eventually get round to giving my kitchen doors a fresh lick of paint I'm going to follow the guide on here.

And it might be surprising how the change of door colour would change your worktops - mine are a deep blue with tiny turquoise and orangey flecks, had the walls painted all sorts of colours and it's amazing how different the top looks with different backgrounds. As for the tiles - it would be worth the tenner or so trying the tilepaint to see how it goes.

SarahLou

Thanks everyone. Now just got to persuade the hubby to let me have a go at it - his initial thoughts are "theres nowt wrong with the kitchen as it is, why would Sarah want to risk ruining it?!" :rotfl:

Little does he know that green is SOOOO horrible and makes the kitchen feel really enclosed. A splash of a different colour and some nice new chrome looking handles would really brighten it all up. (He never watches property development type programmes... more fool him )

Good point about the work surface probably looking alright afterwards. And a good tip with regards to the pipe above the cooker hood too. Thanks again. Will update this thread as and when I've persuaded hubby to let me have a go with it (or I might just do it next time he gets sent away with work.... :A) and let you all know how it goes.