Home & Garden → Home →
Kitchen Makeover: Paint and Contact Paper
by Christine Chitnis
I recently watched my friend* work some serious magic on her rental kitchen, and I just had to know her secret. The before picture (below) highlights all that is wrong with the space: dingy yellow counters and cheap, wood cabinets.
The after picture (below) shows what appears to be an entirely new kitchen! Her secret? Contact paper, a couple coats of white paint and plenty of elbow grease!
Tips to Update a Kitchen:
When painting over dark wood, make sure to use a high-quality primer. Even though you may be tempted to skip this step, since you are painting with white anyway, a primer will ensure the best coverage possible.
Before sticking your contact paper to your counters, make sure they are clean and dry. Lay out your contact paper like a puzzle piece, cutting each piece to fit around corners and curves, before removing the sticky backing.
-You may decide to put a coat of waterproof sealant, or a layer of laminate over your contact paper, if it is not waterproof.
If your counters have a lip, use push pins to secure the underside of where the contact paper meets the counter (see picture below).
*Idea and elbow grease courtesy of Lauren Olaksen! Amazing job Lauren...thanks for letting me feature your hard work!
Reader Comments
Comment from marcella poole on June 24, 2011
are you kidding? that\'s very tacky. ;)
Comment from Donna Hanson on March 6, 2012
How did you make the stove disappear and the cabinets more narrow? Tricky!
Comment from Robert Greene on March 6, 2012
Come on folks - that's not the same room! Cabinets are different, sink is missing, the wall outlet is in a different location....If one of my tenants removed the sink, I'd be a little upset......
Please try for some truthful hints........
Comment from Brenda Darroch on March 6, 2012
Hi Donna and Robert -- Thank you for your comments. You are correct that the photos above are of different areas of the same project. You can see the full apartment tour -- including the made-over sink area from the before picture shown above -- at: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/elizabeths-urban-artist-retrea-164242
Comment from Donna TurnerWoods on March 7, 2012
went to site you suggested....very nice!
Registered users can add comments.
Registration is free, and just takes a moment.
Login or Register.