Javalicious, A Grand Reveal (Staining Update #3)
September 14, 2012 // Posted in: DIY, Kitchen, Living Room // By: Emily // 37 responsesThanks to everyone for the constant support as I tackled this scary, scary project. It’s a big day for my little merrypad as I share the happy aftermath of my kitchen staining project. BAM, how ’bout that view?
Do you remember what it looked like before?
Getting to this point has required hours and hours of painful brainpower over three years, during which time I’ve asked more people than I have fingers and toes their opinion on oak, painted oak, stained oak, orange cabinets, gray cabinets, white cabinets, dirty cabinets, and beveled cabinets. If you were ever on the receiving end of my 20-question spitfire, my apologies, I’ve sorted it all out now. Life is good.
Since I last updated you on my progress:
1. I finished staining everything.
Both sides of each door and the full cabinet base in the kitchen received not one, not two, but three coats of General Finishes Gel Stain in Java
I did all of my staining bare-handed, completely without gloves, because I found it harder to get into the nooks and crannies of the door bevels with an extra obstacle and none of my rubber gloves fit tight enough to not be a nuisance. Gloves actually made it sloppier to apply, and while going without made clean up a lot messier, it was worth it in the end to have such control over the application. Consequently, my hands have looked really, really bad for many weeks now. Between the staining and the fading henna from Morocco, people must just think I have a skin condition, and that’s OK, because I don’t like people standing that close to me anyways. I think my nails will need to fully grow out before I’m back to normal. Maybe that’ll happen before our December wedding.
2. I have perma-poly’d hands.
I don’t care what you hear from the specialists at Sephora: Straight out of the quart polyurethane is the ultimate nail polish topcoat. My dingy nail polish has been fused beneath it for a week.
I considered going with any common polyurethane to save a few bucks, but I had such a great experience with General Finishes stain that I splurged on a quart of their satin polyacrylic
Just like with the stain, I used pieces of fine weave scrap fabric to apply the poly (actually, an old piece of bed sheet fabric that had already been once downgraded into a painters tarp worked really well). The poly, unlike the stain, was water-based, but I still allowed a minimum of 24 hours between each coat. I didn’t let polyurethaning drag on quite in the same way as staining had, and six coats (three on one side of the cabinets, three on the other) were completed 7 days after returning from Morocco.
3. Installation was quick and easy.
Black and Decker unknowingly sponsored the heck out of this post after sending me its newest cordless screwdriver, the GYRO, at the end of last week. It’s the world’s first motion activated screwdriver, and that is awesome.
Pete can attest to all of the pleasantries that I’ve been spewing about this new lightweight screwdriver, I’ve really begun to feel like Emily ScissorDrillhands, fixing everything in sight because it’s just that great to use; a few quick points:
- Dude. It knows which way to spin based on how the drill is balanced when you engage it. Twist it right, it tightens. Twist it left, it loosens. Somehow it works correctly upside down, facing straight up, and in all other directions you find yourself awkwardly wielding a drill when working in tiny spaces.
- Tilt it a little, it turns the bit a little. Tilt it a lot, it turns the bit a lot. This took me a little getting used to, but is a really great feature and makes the tool easy to control.
- Oh, and there’s no trigger, it’s activated by a button that sits in the palm of your hand as you hold and tilt it. For real, it’s magical, it needs an iridescent horn and a saddle for a tiny princess to ride it into the sunset. Have I had enough sleep lately?
- Seriously, it’s great in tiny spaces, say, when you’re trying to reattach drawer tracks to refinished drawer fronts, and that point alone deserves it’s own bullet.
- It’s armed with a 4V lithium-ion rechargeable battery, which compared to some of our other tools is mighty low-voltage, but it had plenty of juice with a single charge to install every single cabinet hinge, which was about 160 screws total. It may not have lasted that screwing into holes that weren’t predrilled, but I haven’t tested that comprehensively yet.
- It made hanging the high cabinets so easy–there was no sense of awkwardly trying to hold a 5-lb drill above your head while you pulled the trigger gently. This, I know you can relate to.
4. Some stuff is going to stay, and some stuff is about to change.
It was always in the back of our minds that if we changed the color of the base cabinets, the countertop would have to be updated as well. Right now, it’s a flecked black/gray that for whatever reason picks up any reflection of blue in the vicinity, and while it’s not horrible with the dark cabinets, it’s still not what we have in mind, which is a pretty clean white. We’re in the process of quoting a new countertop right now, and hope to pull the trigger on it before winter.
I’m kind of surprised to say that I don’t hate the old brushed nickel knobs as much as I thought I would with the new dark brown finish, and even when I went to the store to price out alternates, I still ended up leaning towards the very same single knob style instead of something more modern (let’s face it, this house and the bevels in these doors do not scream “I’m uber-contemporary”). It may be something I change out in the future, but for now I think we’re going to get a little more wear out of the ones that came with the house.
The kitchen island needs an update too, a project that Pete and I have been considering for a long time. It was originally a freebie find on the side of the road that I made work, but we have something much different in mind. It’ll make for a good wintertime project. The fact of the matter is that right now it looks so out of place, I don’t even want to photograph it.
Other subtle touches will be making their way into our “new” kitchen, one of which being new hand towels. I bought this one handmade by Kaye Rachelle on fab.com because I thought Pete would find it super manly. I’m sure he’s not as amused as I am, but it’s great.
The appliances all around came with the house, and that itself is a small miracle this day in age. I’ve had no problems with them, and therefore have spent no money repairing or replacing them. We had planned to sell the older models and replace them with a matching set once we refinished the cabinets, but the black finish on the dishwasher, stove, and microwave blends in really nicely and so our priorities have changed. Unless we find a can’t-pass-up deal, we’ll likely live with them a little longer.
I hope you’re as thrilled as I am about the reveal, and at the very least, maybe just a little inspired. If you missed any other posts relating to this project, you can read them here:
- Staining test #1: What not to do.
- When I hesitantly tried to keep the project moving.
- Staining test #2: When I reattempted to stain with more vigor.
- Staining test #3: Ah yes, the winning stain.
- Actual progress: Getting down to business.
- Actual progress: Gel stain is awesome.
Looking for the Gel Stain that I used to stain the kitchen cabinets? I could not find it in stores, and my best resource was General Finishes via Amazon. Learn more about the product and purchase it for yourself right here
Leave a Comment
Recently, this:
Comments
Kit @ DIYdiva
250 days ago -I’ve been waiting to see how these turned out, and they look fantastic! Such a huge difference and I so admire your patience with this project… When I start painting my kitchen cabs I’m afraid the ADD will kick in half-way and I’ll be sans cabinet doors for a year. lol.
Pete : dadand.com
250 days ago -No worries about the ADD, no doors just makes it easier to grab treats.
Emily
250 days ago -I felt close to that same feeling after they had even removed for a month, and then my dog started eating paper out of the garbage, so I got haulin’. Glad you like the end result!
Elisa
250 days ago -Yeeeeees! This looks amazing, seriously. And that Gyro totally just went on my Christmas list.
Emily
250 days ago -Woot! So glad you stuck around long enough to enjoy the final reveal, phew :)
Lu
250 days ago -OMG beautiful! It looks absolutely amazing!
Emily
250 days ago -Thanks Lu!!
Katharine
250 days ago -Looks awesome!
scott hamilton
250 days ago -That looks great! Nice work
Emily
250 days ago -Thanks Scott! Need to set up another dinner once the countertops are done so you both can see it in full effect.
Andres
250 days ago -Looks way better. I enjoy reading your articles as sort of the reverse of the story of the aged fisherman who caught a big fish and then had all the flesh on the fish ripped off by sharks as he brought it back to shore. My interest/enjoyment in home improvements/DIY had been ripped off and your efforts are putting some flesh back on the fish.
Emily
250 days ago -Charming analogy, Andres.
Kate
250 days ago -Oh my I love the new look! Modern yet still warm because you can see the wood grain. What a difference another color makes! I’m partial to contrasting colors so the white walls/shelves and the almost-black cabinets really makes the kitchen sing. Great job! You can’t even tell they are the same cabinets.
I took the same gel stain and went to down on my kitchen laminate wood floor, turning it from pinkish-beige to dark java brown. I kept telling myself I’m crazy, that gel stains are supposed to be for chairs or tables or cabinets, but I just couldn’t take the pink-beige anymore when the alternative was to paint them or replace them. Much happier with my “new” floor. Total gel stain convert here.
Cait @ Hernando House
250 days ago -Your kitchen looks FABULOUS!!! (and I never say fabulous. ever.)
I think I remember being part of a “should I paint my cabinets/island?” comment thread a while back. I was totally voting white, or “a color”, but now I’m sold on Java (what, they didn’t have a Mocha? I kid.) Loving the hardware, too.
Can’t wait to see what you do with the counters/island!!
mary
250 days ago -Stunning! Those turned out really fabulous, I’m glad you decided to commit to the big job. It really updates the look of your kitchen.
Marylou
249 days ago -Looks beautiful….wow what a lot of work you put into this project- impressive. Bet it looks nice with the wall in the dining room. Will you have any touch of color in the kitchen?
Emily
248 days ago -It does complement the shiplap nicely! I still think any pops of color will come from our dinnerware and bakeware, but it’s yet to be considered.
Ashley @ DesignBuildLove
249 days ago -WOW Em! Seriously, no comparison! That doesn’t even look like the same kitchen at all!!!!!!!!! Nicely done! If we end up deciding on dark cabinets instead of white, I might be following your tutorials!
Gwen
247 days ago -Are you planning on doing a budget break down? :)
Emily
247 days ago -I can! The whole project was actually really affordable:
- Sandpaper could cost $15-30 (mine was already owned, I was thoughtfully gifted an assortment of it last year)
- My first 1/2 pint of Gel Stain was $14.48 (with shipping). The quart that I bought to finish the project was $27.50 (with shipping).
- The quart of poly cost $28.50 (with shipping)
The rough cost to refinish the cabinets with gel stain was: $70.78 + sandpaper!
Sharon
247 days ago -The dark stained cabinets look wonderful. And I’m sure they look much better than if you’d just painted them.
Katrina
238 days ago -I’m late to this kitchen reveal party, but WOW these turned out amazing! I’m extra impressed by your dedication to what sounds like a really labor-intense process. Your hard work paid off though – these look brand new and professionally done. You’re providing hope to tired oak cabinets everywhere that they can someday be something beautiful again. Love it!
Emily
238 days ago -So nice of you to say – thanks Katrina! I’m so happy (and relieved) that they turned out really nice; I’m still debating on whether the finish is too glossy (it’s just Satin, not even semi-gloss!) but will live with it for awhile before daring to mute it. :)
sara
204 days ago -What do the inside of your cabinets look like ? Do you again them as well?
sara
204 days ago -I’m sorry… That was supposed to say, did you stain them as well?
Kirk
186 days ago -Love your finished project. Im in the middle of doing the same thing to my kitchen as well. It does take long time but its worth it. Did you have problems with the stain coming off on your 2nd coat exposing the old stain? I’m having that problem and I dont know what to do. Any suggestions would be great.
Emily
186 days ago -Hmmm! My only thought is that maybe the first coat didn’t cure long enough? Make sure it sets for 24-48 hours before applying the second coat. Are you using the same gel stain I used (General Finishes)? I did not have that issue but i know from other staining projects that if I apply a second coat too early or are too rough in its application, it kind of takes off the first coat.
will
88 days ago -Did you use the gel stain on the outside and sides of the cabinet bases? As you commented, these are faux wood. Did you paint these surfaces along with the inside area and shelves? Thx
Emily
88 days ago -I did, the same exact treatment and poly. The gel stain allows the base sides to match the door fronts perfectly even though the grain is quite different. Good luck if you’re trying this at home!
Emily
88 days ago -Oops, forgot to comment that while I stained the outside, I did not touch the insides or the shelves. I’ve been weighing the time investment of the whole undertaking… Plus I’m not sure if I’d go in the paint or stain direction. Sorry! Hope this helps.
Emily
88 days ago -Also, Will, I corrected a typo in my second response but if you saw it, I was not calling you “Pops”. Haha.
Gabe
75 days ago -Emily great job with these! Now it’s 6 months after you completed this project–can you comment on the durability of the finish? Do you notice any wear from places you touch regularly (or do you only touch the hardware).
Regards, Gabe
Emily
75 days ago -Hi Gabe! A 6-month assessment yielded NO wear on the finish, not even any dings or nicks in the surface. What we have noticed, however, is that in some of the stain on the inset panels the corners have cracked a little bit, like you might expect to see paint crack. I believe this might be related to changing temperatures in the house, as the wood is still natural beneath that stain and it might have expanded or contracted slightly. I can get in there with a little paint brush and the same stain and patch it right up, I presume. Other than that, the finish is in very good shape – still contemplating taking the finish down to a matte so that’s it’s not as shiny. If you’re trying it yourself at home, good luck and let me know if you come into any snags!
Janean
74 days ago -So glad to happen upon your reveal from Pinterest! We are in the process of redoing the bathroom vanity to determine if we want to try the kitchen! I love the change, but am nervous about undertaking the kitchen. We have beautiful cabinets, they are just honey oak in color. I’m thinking the java color will bring easier sale of our house in three months. What do you think? Does the java color make it look updated? We are also replacing the laminate countertops with granite and we have gray tile flooring that will stay. Thanks again for the reveal!!
Emily
73 days ago -Hi Janean! I DO think that staining the cabinets would give the kitchen an overall great, updated look (especially with the tile and granite you speak of). Did your realtor mention that might help with the home’s sale? In your case, I’m trying to imagine what a home buyer would want to see in a new home. Sometimes we wander through open houses thinking that the sellers did too much to try and “update” and “prepare” the space for showing, making some rooms look more updated to a certain look than the rest of the house. But with that said, aside from the time investment, it’s a really inexpensive update to take on, and does have an impacting result if the dark java look would tie your kitchen into the way the rest of the home is being staged. Plus, if the buyer doesn’t like it it’s still easy to paint, they just can’t go backwards to natural wood. Final thought, several people have told me this already, “awww you lost the pretty oak grain, I love oak grain in cabinets”.
GOOD LUCK!
Kim
41 days ago -Hi Emily!
Firstly, thank you so much for posting this amazing tutorial! I’ve followed your instructions, and my once ugly oak cabinets are now a beautiful rich java… love them!
Only problem is that now I’m putting on my General Finishes polyurethane top coat, it’s pulling out little streaks in my stain! Do your cabinets have that? Or did it stay the uniform colour? I’m wondering if it’s the type of topcoat I chose… maybe I should try to hunt down the polyacrylic that you used here in Canada. My stain is bone dry (it’s been 9 days), and I really want to keep these cabinets that beautiful colour! Any suggestions? Thanks for your help! :o)
Emily
40 days ago -Hi Kim!
1. I noticed this a LITTLE bit too. I wondered if it had been that the polycrylic was accenting areas that weren’t properly coated in the first place. I didn’t experience “wiping away” of the stain so much as thinking that it just brought out inconsistencies (shiny tends to do that anyways, like how flat wall paint hides problem areas and glossy coats accent them).
2. After I used the poly and it dried completely, I did go back over the most noticeable places with a rag with the STAIN on it again. I essentially restained a few spots over the poly, waited for it to dry, and then poly’ed over it once more. You would never know that the touch-ups were done, and the finish is perfectly smooth.
I hope these thoughts help! Glad that my initial tutorial was helpful!
Emily