DIY Network

Glazing the Cabinets Glazing the Cabinets From "Weekend Decorating" episode WDC-208

Glaze will give the newly painted cabinets an older look and complement the look of the newly designed kitchen. Glaze is simply paint mixed with water or solvent, and it can be purchased premixed, or you can mix your own. If you are using latex-based paint, mix with water with a ratio of four parts water to one part paint, and if you are using oil-based paint, mix with a solvent to a ratio of three parts solvent to one part paint.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	The kitchen cabinets after staining.

This glazing process is very forgiving: if you don't like how it looks, you can wipe it off and reapply. It is not a perfect process, so expect your cabinet doors to vary slightly. If your cabinets are flush panels, you will not get the same effect. The raised panels used here allow the stain to settle into the seams and give the feeling of depth.

Steps:

1. When using wood stains, remember: They are messy. Use drop cloths to cover everything around the cabinets, and tape off any areas that might be stained by accident.

2. When using oil-based paint or wood stains, you need to use a natural- or china-bristle brush. This type of brush will not expand and gives a cleaner finish.

3. Apply the stain (two parts chocolate-brown stain to one part sable-brown stain), going with the grain of the wood (figure A). It's okay if the stain stays in the grain or in the ridges: that's natural to this process.

4. Use a towel or rag to wipe over the freshly applied stain (figure B). This will give a striated look, with the edges staying slightly darker.

5. As the surface dries, it becomes tacky to the touch and will not allow the towel to move over it smoothly. To prevent the surface from becoming too tacky to wipe down, stain and wipe one cabinet door at a time.

6. Drying time is approximately eight hours.

Next: Tiling the Floor