Darrensmom: Here's a link to the glazing job I did on my bathroom cabinets and kitchen cabinets. You can also see the millwork I glazed, at the ceiling of the bathroom. http://www.pbase.com/don_may/image/84952575 click NEXT for next picture.. People really like the color and glaze I did in the kitchen. Originally, these were flat panel, oak cabinets that I installed in 1981. They got dirty and dingy...so instead of buying new ones (not an option at this point in this old house full of to do's...) I decided to glaze them. I painted them a celery...almost baby puke green. It was a sage celery kinda color...but bright. Well, significant other said "The cabinets look like crap. Baby crap." I knew what I was doing...you have to paint a bright color when you're going to apply a dark glaze...as everything will get muted and toned down when you put the glaze to it...if you paint them a color that is exactly what you want...when you glaze, you'll end up with a much darker version...which probably ISN'T what you wanted. Anyway...I used water and isopropyl rubbing alcohol to remove as much grease as I could. I'm sure there are better cleaning agents...but that's what I used, and the alcohol melted through the grease. After that, I sanded with 0000 steel wool. Then I painted the cabinets. (Use an eggshell or enamel finish....you can't use a flat paint...the glaze will soak right into it and give you a muddy result) Be careful to get the paint OUT of the grooves of any millwork...and after a day of drying, sand them, again with 0000 steel wool. (just a light buffing will do...you're just trying to get some 'tooth' to hold the paint) I always use an oil base glaze, and then mix an oil base paint with it. Also, I always end up with way too much glaze...but better too much than not enough. Anyway, I applied the glaze with a brush, making sure to get glazing in the crevices of the cabinet face...then I used a combination of a new (dry) brush and rags to pull off the glaze and create a faux woodgrain appearance. It's always wise to practice a bit on another surface...find something with some detail, so you can learn how to work with the glaze for the best result...THEN attack your cabinets...I took a dry rag and a finger to hit the high surfaces of the routed frame of my cabinets, leaving the dark glaze in the crevices. Be very careful...if you pull the glaze outta the crevices you'll ruin the look you're going for. Finally...a Q Tip did whatever detail work I thought was needed. Take your time...and if you can, do it all at once...for some reason, your technique will change if you do part of your cabinets one day, then some others the next. Believe me. Using a dry brush to make a woodgrain effect was the most effective way I could find to get it right. If you use a brush already soaked in glaze..you're just pushing glaze around...not removing it. Work your (flat end, not tapered) brush into the frame, then drag it slowly DOWN to the other end. With your brush in the frame of the cabinet face...work then from THAT end, dragging the brush UP to the other end. Alternate this way, dragging your brush UP and DOWN and you'll achieve consistency. Well, hopefully! I finished my cabinets off with two coats of polyurethane. I does leave a yellowish cast, so you might use a satin lacquer or other to be your finish coat. Again...use TWO coats...you never know what you miss until it's too late, and the two coats will give you a durable surface. And...don't let polyurethane collect in the corners of your face frames, then drip down the face of the corner. Work a brush into the corner and remove excess poly(or other finish)...nothing looks more amateurish than those damn drips. I also glazed the cabinets in my bathroom, and all of the millwork. I painted these cabinets a kinda taupe color, then glazed them. Since we've got an old 1917 house...the walls couldn't be repaired, so I added some more damage with joint compound, then glazed the walls as well. Looks very funky and old...like the bathroom is the original! Good luck... Don

You are all so wonderful! I'm kind of having a bad day, and coming here to 28 responses made my day!! :) Some background I should have included: I am having reconstructive surgery on my knee next week. I tore my ACL skiing this winter...the only trip my husband and I have had together for about 8 years, and look what happens. Oh well! But for the past month, I've been in total cleaning and re-decorating mode. I know i'm going to not be able to do a lot of things for a few months, and so I'm trying to get things done now. Every spring brings lots of projects inside and out, and I'm trying to get done now what I can. Plus, I'm addicted to HGTV, and watching it every day will definitely make you want to get working! By the way, I've had lots of help. I'm able to do a lot by myself, but I don't push it. :) Those light fixtures are from Rejuvenation and were pretty expensive (for me! I saved for all three!), so I don't think it's anything I could replace just yet. I had a chandelier here when I moved in, and I just felt like my house wasn't big enough for one. My house is really small. Well, maybe 1500 square feet with a finished basement, but it's a common 20's foursquare. I have no entryway, for example. Just a big front porch and a door that opens straight into my living room. I will consider moving the table sideways - thanks! And the pics of my babies, I will consider that, too. I will find a pic of the rug and post it tonight. Why I got a dark-colored area rug with two kids is beyond me! :) But it's pretty. Hopefully, this fall, I'll be able to return to part-time work and have some extra cash for accessories. I love this room, but I just felt like something was missing. Granite would be awesome, in my dreams! I never thought I'd forget the details of my kitchen remodel, but I have! I will try to remember the name of my laminate. It really was a good choice, I think. Lots of people think it's something other than laminate, and it's held up pretty well. Some scratches, but nothing major. Here are some more pics of the kitchen until I can get more of the rug. Thanks for making me feel like my kitchen isn't outdated yet! I would love interior shutters on this window. As you can see, I have a lovely view of the AC unit next door. :)

I bought the glaze at Lowes (Valspar brand) but I'd imagine you can get it at SW or BM, General Finishes may sell the water based as well, I don't know. It's milky white but dries clear, you mix a small amount of paint into it, the container will give suggested amounts of paint (20 - 50% I think) less to let more wood grain or cabinet color show through, and then 3 or 4 coats of Polycrylic. That was harder to work with than the glaze, it's thin and wanted to drip, sag and dry faster than I could brush them out. And with a thin glaze coat underneath, sanding between coats was too risky, imo. I wanted mine to keep the stained wood look only more brown (but not nearly as dark as java) and to fix some finish damage, here's a before and after of the sink run (I dislike the counters but haven't convinced hub yet that they need replacing, along with the double bowl sink which I also detest lol):

I think the cabinets look nice, and probably are a better match to your floors than any color you could change them to. I would leave the cabinets alone, and focus instead on changing the counters and the backsplash. Both are taking away from your otherwise open and airy kitchen, and if they are freshened, would make your kitchen look really nice. That kind of multi-colored backsplash is dated, and also makes the rest of the kitchen difficult to be cohesive. A single-bowl sink is also more current, and not too expensive an upgrade (look at the Kraus brand of sinks, they are a lot of bang for your buck). I suggest you look at a light Quartz counter, but just stay away from the ones with the big chunky veins in their pattern. After choosing the counter, then choose the backsplash. You can't really choose a new backsplash until the new counter is chosen first, or you will likely make a mistake.