Painting oak cabinets white

12 years ago

I am painting my outdated oak cabinets white and will update other features with stainless appliances, gray walls and complimentary countertops and flooring (not yet chosen). I am using General Finishes Snow White milk paint because it shows off the oak grain. I would love to add a gray color to the grain, but have not been successful. The attached picture is what I want my cabinets to look like. I was able to add a gray contrast to the grain, but it was too thick and did not keep the gray paint in all the grain. Any ideas? I'm very pleased with the milk paint and will just use plain white if I cannot achieve this masterpiece. Thank you for considering.

Featured Answer

Eileen van Hooydonk

12 years ago

Try buying a sample of a gray that you like. Mix in about 25% water. Wipe onto your cabinets with a rag or sponge. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and then wipe off with a clean dry rag using only enough pressure to remove the paint from the high spots.
Advise from your friendly neighborhood cabinetmaker :)

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Comments (9)

PRO
Dytecture
12 years ago
Milk paint might be too thin of a consistency.
Kat S
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you Eileen. I did get good advice at my local,woodworking shop. I hope this works out! This pattern, to me, is so classy! I'll post my "after" pics when I'm done....but it will take me a good while to tackle this project.
Joy
12 years ago
Last year I updated a dresser the way Eileen has suggested and it turned out like your posted picture. Very easy to do, fun project. I also applied several coats of polyurethane for protection. It also gave a nice "depth" to the finish.
Xia Zou
11 years ago
I really want to try this, for a bed, how do you do it exactly? Do you stain it with the grey first and then milk paint over it, or milk paint then stain it? And did you prime it before you painted it, if you do, will the grain disappear? Thanks!!
mslucytoo
11 years ago
I actually did this with oak kitchen cabinets to brighten a smallish kitchen. The grain showed through but not as nicely as yours. Good job!
rcis719
10 years ago
May I ask you, Kat s and mslucytoo, how many coats of milk paint you used? I have oak kitchen cabinets that I was thinking of painting with milk paint, but I DON'T want the grain to show. Is this possible?
Ashley Jaeger
9 years ago
I am wanting to achieve either the look in the first photo posted or Joy's dresser! Can anyone tell me the step-by-step's to achieve this and what type of paint to use? I am gathering you could do a gray stain and then milk paint white over top. Am I correct on this? What type of topcoats can be used? I am wanting to do this for solid oak kitchen cabinets! Thank you for any help!
dani_m08
5 years ago
@Joy - would you mind posting some closer photos of your dresser? Also, will you please share the exact method you used (including exact paint brand)? Thanks!

@Kat S - did you ever accomplish the look in your inspiration photo? I would love to see photos! Thanks!