In this post, you’ll find out how to transform your Kitchen Cabinet using Fusion Mineral Paint.
I get to meet the most wonderful, creative people in my workshops, and many go on to make their dreams a reality, changing the world one piece of furniture at a time. I’d love to introduce you to Alice, who has attended a couple of my hands-on workshops and taken what she’s learned, to make some big changes in her home – like paint kitchens for example!
My name is Alice Brown and I’m a retired Registered nurse, Irish born and proud to call Australia home since 1974.
I keep busy pursuing my favourite activities which include: looking after my grandkids; gardening and a recent interest in succulents, finding creative ways to display them. I’ve planted them in birdcages, picture frame shadow boxes made by my husband & painted with Fusion paints and I’m about to upcycle an old window frame, when I figure out how to make pockets for my well established plants.
I love doing crafts with my grandkids and sourcing ways of recycling “stuff” that would normally end up as landfill.
Cooking is another love and because one of my three children is vegan I have found a new challenge catering at family get togethers.
I enjoy walking and am about to embark on a 270 km walk through Portugal and Spain as part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. I also love to travel and and try to visit my mum, who’s 101, living in Ireland, as often as I can.
Our House …
Our house in Elanora (Gold Coast, QLD) is 40+ years old and we’ve lived here for 17 years.
Last year we updated the ensuite and my husband commented earlier this year that if I wanted a new kitchen we would have to forego a European holiday for a couple of years as we couldn’t afford both.
I loved the layout and the “bones” were good, so I researched ways of doing it on a tight budget so that I could still have my annual European holiday! I was a woman on a mission. Thank God for Google!
I looked at resurfacing but the OCD in me couldn’t cope with opening cabinets to see orange pine staring at me on the back of the doors! Replacing 17 doors and 7 drawers wasn’t in my budget so what next? Painting, of course!
I have painted each of the houses we’ve lived in and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when each interior and on occasion, exterior painting jobs were completed. But furniture? Well that’s a different story.
A few years ago I decided to paint a very dark timber bedside table white to fit in the beachy themed bedroom my grandkids use when they have sleepovers. Let’s just say you won’t be seeing any photos of that piece which is in the garage waiting for paint stripper to be applied!
Back to google and lots of articles read on painting kitchen cabinets.
How Do You Paint a Kitchen Cabinet?
Excitement started to kick in after reading about Fusion Mineral Paint and I was determined to learn as much as possible to achieve the best result.
I felt that, although I’d scoured every Youtube video on the subject, I needed a hands on experience.
Enter the lovely Sharon from I Restore Stuff. My first I Restore Stuff Workshop was a great introduction to Fusion.
We helped Sharon prep and paint a cabinet and as a bonus, learnt how to apply an embossed stencil, and methods of using different sealers and finishes.
Every aspect was covered from the best brushes to use and how to care for them, colour charts to take home, discount for items purchased on the day and any bookings for future workshops. I was hooked!
The second workshop I attended was a BYO Furniture to prep and paint and under the expert guidance of Sharon I completed a small table and a mirror.
I learnt some basics from Youtube, but I would highly recommend a workshop for a hands on experience to achieve the perfect finish to your item. “Laying on the paint” as described by Sharon is definitely an acquired skill after using a different technique to paint walls, doors and skirting boards.
My husband was equally impressed with my first attempt. I returned home full of enthusiasm and confidence to practice my new found skill to transform my kitchen.
Kitchen Transformation
One of the most difficult aspects was choosing the colour, but with a vote from my husband and kids we chose Sterling (a light grey) for the cabinets and Casement (white) for the open shelving.
Fast forward a few months, I won’t admit to how many, and I’m delighted to reveal the finished look. [Before & after below]
Alice’s kitchen before the Fusion makeover.
After: Fusion Mineral Paint colour Sterling on the cabinets.
The most frustrating part was when prepping around the cooktop which is set into an alcove that a layer of what I can only guess was polyurethane started peeling off, so I knew my paint finish wasn’t going to be perfect.
Aluminium sheeting to the rescue and easier than paint to keep clean (see alcove in pic above).
I recycled the hinges by first soaking in vinegar and then spraying and they look like new.
New handles, pendant lights and resurfaced benchtops complete the transformation.
Before: dated 80s kitchen
Fusion was a dream to use with minimal prep.
After: Casement white inside open shelving.
Cost of Kitchen makeover:
$1,200 for benchtops (professionally resurfaced)
$80 for a drawer front replacement (don’t ask my husband why!)
$200 Pendant lights and fitting
$260 Stainless steel sheeting and fitting for splash back
$68 new handles
$32 new sliders for 1 drawer
$120 approx. of Fusion Mineral Paint
Total: $1,960
Sharon was my first contact when I had questions that needed answering and is still helping me with problems that have arisen since I have now moved onto painting furniture.
The assurance that my problems are solved is unmeasurable.
Other Projects I’ve Completed:
Another one of Alice’s DIY projects. Bed turned into a bench seat.
I’ve loved transforming furniture that would have ended in landfill and can often be found in Op shops, auction houses and on gumtree sourcing my next project. My completed items are gracing my daughter’s nursery awaiting the arrival of my 5th grandchild and I’m giving my orange pine a facelift in my own home. 
My husband will be delighted to regain some of his garage space, and the need to navigate his way around my Fusion painted furniture in just about every room in our house. Hmm he hasn’t found my stash yet!
The next workshop that I’m looking forward to, will be learning the technique of transferring images to wood, but first, I have my walk in Spain…
Thanks heaps Sharon for your guidance, expertise and tuition. Without you I wouldn’t be having a holiday!!
Thank you Alice, for sharing your experience with us. If you have any more questions about painting your furniture, especially kitchen cabinets, feel free to ask in the comments below. I recommend finding a workshop close to you. Ask your local Fusion Mineral Paint stockist for workshop details.
More on Painting Kitchen Cabinets with Fusion
Creator of Fusion Mineral Paint, Jennylyn Pringle, has this video with some great hints and tips on painting kitchen cabinets that have a glossy or slick surface: