For this kitchen painting project I traveled to Newmillerdam, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The kitchen itself was handmade solid ‘pipped’ oak and beautiful quality. The layout worked perfectly for the clients but with tastes having changed, they wanted to make the room feel lighter and more contemporary.

Alongside the painting of the kitchen cabinets, the clients changed the colour scheme on the walls and woodwork and had new tiles fitted to give the room  a totally new look and feel. During the consultation we looked at potential colour options and felt that painting both the island and dresser in a different colour to the main units would create a great contrast. After painting up some samples, the colours chosen were; Farrow & Ball’s ‘Manor House’ for the main cabinets and ‘Down Pipe’ for the island and dresser. The client added some fantastic bursts of colour with new mustard coloured seating and matching appliances and accessories.

When you’re painting any kitchen, preparation is the key to a quality, show room finish. With ‘pipped’ oak kitchens each and every hole, pip and knot needs to be gradually filled, made perfectly smooth, and then sealed with 2 coats of shellac stain blocker. It’s a time consuming process but one that is vital to ensure the best possible finish.

With the holes filled and each door meticulously cleaned and sanded, 2 coats of high adhesion primer is applied, and then 2 coats of my specialist top coat paint from Finland, (accurately tinted to the equivalent chosen colours). Lightly sanding between each coat ensures maximum adhesion and durability and when combined with using top quality rollers and specialist brushes for the paint application, the results are second to none. This tried and tested process offers a finish that is smooth, durable and hugs the contours of doors to give an exceptionally clean look.

The project took several weeks to complete so having a workroom and preparing and painting all the doors and drawers ‘off-site’ is invaluable and dramatically reduces any disruption caused.

Lee works throughout Yorkshire hand painting kitchens and is within easy reach for kitchen painting projects in Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wetherby, Otley, Ilkley and all the surrounding areas.