Kitchen Makeover on a Budget

Craving a new kitchen but a remodel or overhaul isn’t in the budget? Join the club my friends – but check out the stunning kitchen makeover I did with just a few hours work, a Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation Kit and some stunning new hardware!

*This post is sponsored by Rust-Oleum Canada and Liberty Hardware. I was provided with the materials to transform my kitchen in exchange for reviewing the products. As always, all opinions are my own and sincere.

Are you guys ready to see part one of my new kitchen reveal?

I know, I know – it’s been months in the working – but not because the transformation itself was difficult; in fact, Rust-Oleum’s Cabinet Transformation kits provide you with everything you need to makeover your kitchen in less than a week. My delay was in procrastinating for so long. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into and I kept putting it off and putting it off worried about what a monstrous task I was undertaking. Thankfully I was only painting my kitchen and not doing anything more serious. If I ever decide to get a completely new kitchen fitted at some point in the future, I will have to make sure that I get a general contractor, otherwise, my kitchen might never be completed since I procrastinate from completing any task that I need to do when I’m worried.

I can tell you now that I procrastinated and worried for no reason.

It is SO EASY – and no, you don’t have to have any special equipment or experience to take your kitchen from this:

to this:

There are a few steps involved, which are clearly laid out on the DVD that comes with the Rust-Oleum Kitchen Transformation kit (and are also available on YouTube), but basically there are 5 things you need to do:

Kitchen makeover:

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remove cupboard doors and drawer fronts (make sure to label each so they are easy to put back on later) ~30 minutes

wash down your cupboards to get rid of grease and grime ~30 minutes

use the Embossing liquid (provided in the kit) to scrub down your cupboards one more time to rough up the surface and remove any sheen that will keep the paint from sticking ~1 hour – you really need to be thorough here.[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

paint your cabinets using the “Bond coat” in the kit. Rust-Oleum has a ton of colours to choose from, but if you “know a guy” at Home Depot, then a custom tint can be achieved also. ~1 hour

second coat of paint ~ 45 minutes

Protective top coat ~ 1 hour

Optional (and I didn’t do it on my kitchen makeover) but there is a glazing finish that you can wipe onto your cupboards for a more antiqued look.

That’s 6 steps to your total kitchen makeover and about 5 hours of actual work. It’s the drying time between coats that drags the process on for a few days.

You can totally do this!

I picked up a few tester pots of colours and slapped a bit on my cupboards – you don’t want to re-do your kitchen makeover because the colour was off – so I suggest living with the ugly samples for a week or two (or a couple of months like I did). This will allow you to see your options in daylight and evening and with yellow lighting versus natural lighting.

The colours I chose were pretty close together – so they don’t look like much on the cupboards – but the difference would have been considerable on the entire surface.

What is Rust-Oleum Kitchen Transformation Kit?

9-Piece Colour Kit is a revolutionary do-it-yourself kitchen cabinet paint coating system that completely changes the dated or worn look of your cabinets for a fraction of the cost of purchasing new ones. The kit includes an informational DVD, 2 scrubbing pads, stir sticks, a roll of lint-free cloths, 1 bottle of degassing liquid, 2 quarts of bond coat untainted paint, 1 quart protective top coat and 2 pints of glaze. The only additional items you need to purchase outside of the kit is a quality (mohair or better) roller pad, paintbrush and tray.

Is painting kitchen cabinets worth it?

Painting kitchen cabinets is one of the easiest kitchen transformations you can take on, especially if you don’t need to do the sanding and priming, plus go through all the stress of a total kitchen makeover. It’s well worth the cost in most cases. If you feel like you need a massive kitchen transformation though, it might be worth working with professionals.

Does Cabinet Transformations Work On Laminate, Melamine, Or Metal Cabinetry?

Yes, Cabinet Transformations works on all wood, laminate, and melamine surfaces providing the same beautiful look.

Do I Have To Strip Or Sand My Cabinets As Part Of The Preparation?

Stripping, sanding, or priming are not necessary with Cabinet Transformations™. Simply use the Deglosser and scrub pads provided to prepare your cabinets prior to applying the Bond Coat.

Do I have to have a paint sprayer or special equipment to makeover my kitchen?

While I do have a paint sprayer, I found that using a 4″ mohair roller (linked below) to be the easiest and best option for painting my cabinets. The roller removes any brush strokes and the bond coat in the Cabinet Transformation kit is the best self-levelling paint I’ve ever used – seriously. I don’t know what they put in this stuff, but it should be bottled for individual sale it’s so great!

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How Long Will Cabinet Transformations Last?

With normal use and proper care, your refinished surface will last for years.

One thing to be prepared for though is the mess – once cupboard doors are off and drawers are removed all of that crap has to go someplace.

Kitchen makeover, painted cabinets, painting kitchen cabinets, Rust-Oleum cabinet transformation

I added a few dirty dishes and tennis balls strictly for effect. My kitchen never has things like this on display. (facepalm)

Oh well, real is real and it makes the kitchen makeover that much more satisfying. The upside to this is the massive purge I was able to finish – I not only cleaned the outside of the cabinets and drawers, but the insides are pared down and organized now too!

My cabinets were previously a cherry-hazelnut colour, which I’ve heard is coming back in, but the wear and tear of 15 years was really beginning to show.

I still love the look of shaker-style cabinets – so even if I had the budget for a new kitchen installation, I wouldn’t really have changed anything about the layout or style of the cabinets – that’s why Rust-Oleum’s Cabinet Transformation kits are so spectacular for kitchen makeovers – you save thousands upon thousands of dollars, but get a brand new look.

Part 2 of my kitchen makeover was new hardware – and if you don’t think hardware makes a difference (a CONSIDERABLE difference) then check this out:

Boring builder-grade brushed nickel knobs to gorgeous, sophisticated champagne bronze handles and knobs from Liberty Hardware.

Charmaine pull, Liberty Hardware, champagne bronze, cabinet hardware — *click image for where to buy*

I went with the Charmaine collection for pulls and knobs and just look at the difference – from boring and blah to elegant and refined:

I especially love the look of the Charmaine pulls against the blue-grey of the kitchen island.

I still have a bit to do for my kitchen makeover; Part 3 includes finishing painting out the walls to BM’s Dune White (and removing the paint spills on my tile floor) and Part 4 will be new countertops – you get a hint of what’s to come below, but I’m working with Instant Granite to come up with a countertop solution to finish out my kitchen makeover on a budget.