Expert: Jamie Yocono - 11/10/2011

Question
My home was built in 1999 when the popular kitchen cabinet was Honey Oak.  Now, fast forward a decade, and most kitchens being built or refinished have beautiful Dark Maple cabinets.  I would love to take my kitchen cabinets out of the 90's and create a more up-to-date look.  I found a product that promises to help homeowners change the color of their cabinets.  It is called Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformation.  Do you know if a person, like myself, with a home improvement skill set of 3 (out of 10) could achieve a color change from honey oak to espresso while maintaing a  factory-finished look?   I am terrified that my cabinets will scream weekend DIY project?  You can find out more about Cabinet Transformations at www.rustoleumtransformations.com.  I would really appreciate your expertise.  I have a ton of cabinets and don't want to regret my decision to change their color.  My instinct tells me to leave well enough alone, but my inner decorator says make the change.

Answer
Hi Valane,

I read your question last night, watched the Rustoleum videos, and slept on it. I'll be honest - I'm with you - whenever a product touts how easy it is to use, I'm a little skeptical.

In the past, I've used products like these maybe three or four times, and have never had much success. Sure, the end result looks OK, but not fabulous, which is what you want it to look like.

My best suggestion - buy one of their kits and try it out on a cabinet that doesn't matter to you. Maybe you can pick up a used cabinet of Craigslist or at a local secondhand store. Get something old and cheap, and experiment. See if you get the type of results that you want, and then decide.

I will say this - many years ago, I learned that the quality of the paintbrush you use will make all the difference in the world. If you have a cheap one, you will never achieve good results. So know this - right from the start, you're going to have to buy a $20 Purdy or Wooster brush, and you're going to treat it well. That means thorough cleaning and proper storage.

My experience has always been that rookies don't have the proper brushing techniques, nor the proper way of glazing the panels with kits like this. Get a good brush, experiment until you start to achieve the look you want, and then decide if it's worth the time, money and effort you'll have to put out to re-do your kitchen. In some cases, if you judge your work to be if poor quality, you may want to consider a different option.

Something else to consider - I meet interior designers and painters all the time, and most are begging for work. You could always try to hire one of them to re-do your cabinets. Try putting an ad on Craigslist and see who answers. Just a thought....

Good luck, I hope this helps. Follow your instinct. Write back if you have any other questions.
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Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com