To Paint or Polish?

[Oola]

When I lived in this house with my parents, my Mum had some wooden cupboard fronts made by a local carpenter for the kitchen.

Over the years, due in part to mine and Rich's neglect, the cupboards have become old and worn, and haven't been kept beeswaxed enough to look new. The ones near the cooker have also fallen foul to streaks of cooking oil that seems to have been easily absorped into the wood.

We're currently redecorating the kitchen, and we're in two minds what to do about the cupboards. I started sanding them down and they look a lot better, but on some of them I think the oil and grease has penetrated too much and we might not be able to get rid of the marks.

Mum and Dad still own this house (we're looking to buy later on when we're in a position too), but as sort of 'tenants' they've allowed us to make what changes we want, paying for it ourselves. However Mum still quite likes the cupboards au naturel, sanded and polished with beeswax. However, we've been thinking maybe it might look neater to paint them in an eggshell paint, a nice subtle light colour (maybe duck egg, hint of olive or maybe a sort of buttercream colour?) as it might look neater overall. Mum is open to this idea but I can tell and she's said that she'd rather we kept them as they are, as she's still attached to this house despite the fact she's not lived in it for nearly 8 years!

I'm not quite sure which I think would look best, so was wondering what other people thought (will try to get some pics up), and if anyone's had any experience/triumphs/disasters with painting kitchen cupboards. Thing is if we paint them, there's no going back really!

[sheddie]

What type of wood are they Oola and are they old or modern? X

[jazzactivist]

Hi Oola, I always opt for the natural wood look if I can, as paint can start to look shabby quite quickly and you have to keep repainting. I think that you can buy professional products used by woodworkers / antiques renovators that will get rid of the grease stains in wood. I would sand down, smooth and then rewax them. They will look great.

[fife]

Hi Oola,

I love oil eggshell i think it looks clean, fresh and can give that all important country look. Farrow and ball is a very good paint to use and is made in England, they also have some unusual colours. Although i have said this i do also like the country wood look really it comes down to how bright you want your kitchen and also the other point is that oil eggshell does mark bad especially in light colours.

Hope this helps Fife

[Oola]

Thanks for all your input, certainly food for thought. Sheddie I think the cupboards are pine, but they look a sort of oak colour. Quite a warm colour but I think Rich is setting his sights on painting them. I'm not too keen, although he said we could try painting the inside of one of the cupboards to see how they look. Thanks for the tips jazz and fife, I will definitely keep them in mind.

If I sanded down and beeswaxed a door, then decided we wanted to paint, would I be able to paint over it, or would I have to sand it down again for the paint to take?

[lily]

Have you thought about Dulux cupboard paint, it's much tougher than ordinary satin finish. Although designed primarily to cover laminate doors, I would think it would be a robust finish over plain wood as well.
If you wanted to paint again after waxing, you would need to remove the waxy finish, otherwise the paint would not adhere well. However if you wanted a "distressed" look, you do paint over wax. Complicated isn't it?

[Oola]

It certainly is, sometimes too much choice makes things a whole lot harder ;)

[sheddie]

I don't think they are pine if they have a brownish look Oola, I would say paint but they will certainly take some rubbing down first. Dingers Oh is the painter he would know what to do, I shall tell her to look on this thread. X

[dinger]

I have only just seen this thread Oola and have asked my husband what you should do . He says the doors need washing down thoroughly with sugar soap to get rid of the grease but you must follow the makers instructions .Nothing will stay on otherwise paint or bees wax unless you do this . Once done the choice is yours paint or wax. Hope this is a help to you .