Hi, DIYers!! We’re happy to finally share Ami’s kitchen makeover with you in more detail! We love how her kitchen turned out! It’s so much brighter, and looks more open now! Here are some before and after pics!
✨ POOF! ✨ Now this kitchen reflects Ami’s minimalist and bright, modern style!
The biggest impact of the “new” kitchen is all that white! It's so cheerful compared to the old, drab brown cabinetry. Plus, that new grey wall adds to the pretty, monochromatic vibe that we were going for.
To recreate her look, you’ll need:
- Nuvo's Titanium Infusion Kit
- Giani's White Diamond Kit
- Wall Color: Repose Gray SW 7015
- Cosmas Nickel Cabinet Hardware
Additional Items you may need for your Giani & Nuvo makeover:
- FrogTape® Painter's Tape
- Roller Trays
- Thin Artist's Brushes
- Wood Filler for Deep Nicks or Seams
- #300 Grit Sandpaper for your Cabinets
- #600 Grit Sandpaper for your Countertops
- TSP Substitute or De-greaser
- SOS® or Brillo® Cleaning Pads
- Clear Acrylic Caulk
- Screwdriver
The first step to any makeover is planning. For a Giani and Nuvo makeover, you’ll want to plan for two weekends of work. We recommend painting your cabinets first so that you don’t accidently get paint on your Giani finish.
Follow along with our videos for project instructions and read here for detailed written instructions.
Weekend 1: Nuvo Cabinet Paint
If you’re looking to update your kitchen on a budget, painting your existing cabinets can be a great way to improve the look and feel of your space. There may be a little more elbow grease involved, but it is so worth it!
Our prep was simple; we sanded all the surfaces down, especially high-traffic areas, with a #300 grit sandpaper and then cleaned thoroughly with TSP substitute. Just follow the standard Nuvo prep process, take your time, and your painting should be a breeze!
Now, comes the fun part – painting on your new, gorgeous Nuvo color! Ami chose Titanium Infusion for her kitchen makeover. If that color doesn’t excite you, then take a look at our 10 other pretty cabinet colors.
You’ll start by brushing on Nuvo on all of your cabinet frames and then you would roll it on the cabinet doors and frames till all of your cabinets are covered. Apply in thin coats to prevent cracking and paint build-up. Then, repeat till you reach full coverage!
Phew! That’s one weekend of work down!
Weekend 2: Giani Countertop Paint
Painting your countertops seems scary right? Well, do not fear! With some patience you can create a beautiful granite look on your countertops for so much less than real granite. Giani can be as durable as any conventional countertop as well, but even if you follow the prep instructions to a T, its lifespan is really dependent on its care and maintenance. It is paint after all so as long as you keep that in mind that its care will be different than standard countertops, Giani can be a great and affordable option to update your kitchen!
Note: You can read more about care and maintenance on the 3rd page of our instructions.
You would follow the standard prep and instructions for Steps 1 and 3, but we thought we would go into more detail of the sponging process.
Here’s a few tips to sponging on your minerals:
- Dab off excess paint from your sponge onto a clean paper plate. You want to create a nice imprint of the sponge, so don't use too much pressure, otherwise you will get a paint blob instead.
- Dab up and down to avoid smearing the paint.
- Finally, you'll want to sponge randomly, but that does not mean sponging further apart or haphazardly; it just means that you shouldn't sponge in a row or line. Sponge close together because you want to cover up a majority of the black primer underneath. Your imprints should overlap each other as you add on each mineral color.
Now, let’s get painting!
After your primer has dried for 8 hours, and before painting, stir your Pearl Mica well, because its metallic flecks may have settled at the bottom of the can. Sponge on your first mineral color, Pearl Mica, in a small 2x2 foot section. Since Pearl Mica has an opaqueness to it, sponge it on densely so that the section is fully covered. You will want to cover up most of the black primer underneath so that when you apply the next two colors they will blend and fill in the gaps. Don’t forget to sponge the backsplash before you move onto each new color!
TIP: Use an artist brush to get into the creases of the backsplash, or you can cut and attach a piece of sponge to the end of a pencil.
Once you’ve completed your 2x2 foot section in Pearl Mica, immediately start sponging on the Inca Gold in that same section. Add light, small dabs of the Inca Gold mineral to add subtle natural accents to your countertops. Be sure to apply it sparingly, as a little bit will go a long way. This is why we include a small 4 oz. can of Inca Gold in your kit.
TIP: Dab off most of the Inca Gold mineral off of your sponge before applying.
The Pearl Mica and Inca Gold minerals should have covered up most of the black primer underneath by the time you complete your first section. Now, immediately add White Limestone to lighten up your countertops and fill in any areas showing too much black. Repeat this process until all your countertops are covered. Your first layer is done!!
You can see in the collage and video clip that the “first layer” has all 3 mineral colors sponged in a tight pattern. Once they dried (for at least an hour), we went back in and started applying a heavy sponging of White Limestone. Let dry for 4 hours and then you’re ready to topcoat!
We LOVE how Ami’s kitchen turned out! And so does she! By painting the cabinets and countertops herself, she transformed her kitchen for under $300 (and that includes the wall paint and hardware)! LOVE your kitchen again with Giani and Nuvo!
