We show you how to take your melamine cupboards from drab to fab, with just a few licks of paint.

Shopping list (prices approximate)

• handles (about R60)
• Annie Sloan paintbrush no 8 (R230)
• Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: 1 litre Emile (R250)
• Mod Podge (R45 for 100ml)
• Annie Sloan Clear Wax (R140)
• silver Magic Rub paint (R75)
• 1m embossed wallpaper (R80)

Plus

• glue
• wood filler
• acrylic filler
• 120-grit sandpaper (for sanding the wood filler)
• 220-grit sandpaper

Tools

• brushes
• cordless drill or screwdriver
• pencil
• measuring tape
• pair of scissors

Before:

Get started

1 Remove cupboard doors so it’s easier to work with them. Prepare the surfaces by removing the handles and cleaning the doors properly. Fill the holes where the old handles were fitted with wood filler and sand these areas once dry.

2 Cut out the embossed sections of your chosen wallpaper to glue to the doors. Coat the back of the wallpaper with Mod Podge as well as those areas on the doors where you want to stick it. Glue the wallpaper to the doors and wait for it to dry. Make sure that no Mod Podge has leaked out at the edges – it will make creases when you paint it later.

3 Dilute the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (colour Emile) with a little water and apply two coats to the doors. If the paint starts to crumble (because it dries quickly), just dip the paintbrush in water and make it smooth again. Wait for each coat of paint to dry thoroughly. Using a soft cloth, apply a protective coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax over all the painted areas. Rub with a clean cloth until it’s shiny and there’s no residue on the cloth.
TIP For a very smooth finish, sand with 220-grit sandpaper before applying the second coat.

4 Finally, with the tip of your finger, apply the Magic Rub to the wallpaper to accentuate the embossed layers. Refit the cupboard doors and then attach the new handles.

 

Make a chandelier to match with this DIY

Source: Home magazine