Two of the most pressing items on my list were painting the quarter round on the toe kick and the sink cabinet doors in the kitchen. The quarter round had chipped paint in several areas, and not in areas of enough traffic for me to think it was a matter of me repeatedly kicking the same spot while I prepared food. The same went for the sink cabinet doors. The paint along the top of the cabinet doors had flaked off over the last few years and is bare wood in some places. It looked terrible.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with the sink cabinet. In fact, I’ve had the doors replaced twice the first two years we had the kitchen for the same reason. A year after the second replacement, the problem started up again. This time, my cabinet dealer was no longer in business. I figured I would have to repair the doors myself. So it sat on the to-do list I keep in my head for two more years.
A couple of weeks ago, probably while I was cleaning the cabinets or organizing the drawers, I started thinking about the quarter round and sink cabinet doors. It occurred to me that I could contact KraftMaid, the manufacturer of our cabinets, and see if they could help with what I felt was a warranty issue.
I went back and forth with customer service over email, and they agreed to send out a representative to see the problem firsthand. Fred came over last week, and explained to me the problems with my cabinet doors center around our farm sink. I was able to get two more doors under warranty, and now know how to prevent–or delay–the cabinets from chipping in the future.
It’s a bit detailed, so I will share it in another post soon because I think it is important for those who are considering farm sinks or painted finish cabinetry. For today, I want to stay on task and focus on what I did Day 30: painting quarter round.
I don’t know if you are the type of person who is bothered by little things like chipped quarter round, but it drives me bonkers. It’s the sort of small detail that can make your home look shabby, and not in a way that is intentional, franchised, and sold at Target. There is shabby-chic, and there is just plain shabby. This is just plain shabby.
But this was not a warranty issue. It’s what happens when you wash your floor regularly with a wet mop and live in an older home with a floor that dips and waves. This is water damage.
Fred presented me with several options.
I could buy more quarter round through KraftMaid, but he didn’t recommend it. The problem will continue until I get the floors leveled or replaced, and KraftMaid quarter round is expensive. We want the floors replaced with a different material, but can’t do that anytime soon. Buying new quarter round through KraftMaid was out.
I could replace the chipped quarter round with a stained wood, which would be more durable and less likely to show as much water damage. I don’t like the look of stained quarter round, especially on against different floor and cabinetry. No.
I could replace the quarter round on my own, or repaint it on my own. Repainting it on my own was the least expensive option, so that’s what I did.
But first I had the Mister tap in a few nails on a corner that pulled away from the cabinetry. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see it back, somewhat, in place. This has been driving me batty for months. I could have done it myself but, honestly? I woke up on Day 30 with a painful sore throat and achy muscles. I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to do any project at all. Delegation to the rescue!
I did manage to do the rest under a haze of cold medication. And, really, it wasn’t that bad. A kitchen as small as mine (9×11, roughly) takes minutes to tape off.
I decided to save money and take a piece of trim to Home Depot and have it color matched. With two boys in private school, our discretionary income is very, very low. I tackled every project this month with the budget as a primary concern. Fred recommend I use oil-based paint, but after crunching the numbers, I decided to stick with Behr’s Premium Plus Ultra paint and primer, which still costs a whopping $18 for one quart. I say whopping because I only needed 4 tablespoons of paint. Blargh. I tried to get a sample pot, but those only come in flat finish. Oh well.
The painting went quickly, but after the second coat I was ready to toss in the towel. My throat really started to hurt, and I needed to stop. It’s not a perfect job, but it still looks great, much better than before. Up close…maybe not that great. But, the way I see it, if you’re stooped down on my floor inspecting my quarter round at 40x magnification, you’re not one whose opinion I value anyway.
I did notice while I was down there that the toe kick needs repainting as well. Another day, another project.
I wanted to share one more thing about my visit with Fred. I forgot he was coming, to be honest. I didn’t get a chance to tidy up like I normally do before people come over, so he walked into the kitchen and saw it in its “everyday wear.” It was exactly what I needed.
He noted repeatedly how nice the kitchen looked, how he couldn’t believe the cabinets were 7 years old, and that they were almost “showroom condition.” He complimented me on how organized everything was (he had to go through my cabinets to check for water damage, which I was not expecting), and marveled at our pride in ownership and how well we maintained the kitchen. He said, and I quote, “Clearly you clean your cabinets, so I don’t have to tell you they need to be cleaned and polished at least once every year.” Hah!
Fred’s comments made me so happy. It made this long month of hard work worth it, and was the motivation I needed to keep going, even when I don’t feel well and am counting down the seconds until I get my weekends back. It made me appreciate the importance of general upkeep and maintenance and consider other little touches our home may need. Yes, it’s boring to scoot across a floor on a Saturday and paint trim, and spending $18 to use an ounce of paint stings, but it’s worth it.
It’s really worth it. Don’t give up. Keep working, because you can do it in your home, too. Shish-boom-bah, kumbaya, and all that jazz.
New here? For the next 31 days Im living according to the famous William Morris quote. You can learn more about the project here.
That paint really is the best. I love me some Martha Stewart, but cannot deny the quality of the Behr Premium Plus Ultra. It’s my paint of choice. Painting the quarter round may be a tiny detail, but it’s those tiny details that heavily impact your house-pride (for me, anyway).
It ended up being the cheapest option, too. Fred suggested oil-based paint, but for that I had to buy mineral spirits. I considered all the cheaper paint, but then I would have to buy primer. If it ends up not too durable, at least I have plenty to use for touch ups!
The small details really make a difference, don’t they. I am really anxious to hear about the painted cabinet information. We are at the beginning stages of redoing our kitchen and I have
been looking at some painted finish cabinets. I think I will hesitate until I hear what “Fred” has to say.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Farm sinks spread water far and wide, and it’s recommended you use a stained sink cabinet with them versus a painted one, like mine.
See how below Vickie has my same setup but a stained sink cabinet? Vickie was smart.
It looks great!! I had to do some repainting of our kitchen cabinets and quarter round in the last year, too. I completely agree with you…so very worth it. I would guess that can of paint will get used again for future touchups, even after you get to the toekick. Well worth the investment.
I agree, Carrie.
Looks great, my quarter round always gets beat up around the wall by the frigde so you have inspired me to touch up. I always buy the gallon size even if I have a little to do. Put 500ml into a mason jar when yoou are done (for the future) and you can bring it back to the store and have more tint put in if it’s a neutral color to repaint a powder room/laundry room or other small space. The guy at our hardware store can color match pretty well even with a quarter of it gone.
BTW, what did Fred mean by polishing your cupboards. We clean ours regularily, but is there a finishing product he recommended?
Feel better soon.
He gave me a KraftMaid cleansing + polishing cream as a courtesy. I haven’t tried it yet; I got sick right after he left. I’m a little confused on how one is supposed to polish painted finish cabinetry.
I am curious about polishing the cabinets too.
I have craft maid cabinets that are peeling in a couple of areas… hope Fred’s information will help me as well.
Is it peeling around the sink area?
I can’t believe you did this when you were sick, you are a trooper and it looks great (Fred was right to compliment you).
Tell me about it. I ended up listening to a book on tape on my ipod, so it wasn’t too bad.
It looks fab Jules! I know how tedious that job would have been, flu, or not :) Lucky you getting those lovely comments from Fred – no one ever turns up here when things are clean and tidy – Murphy’s law I guess!
Well, my toe kick was covered in dust bunnies and dog hair, so it wasn’t all perfect. :) My vindication came when he had to open my cabinets and drawers!
Looks like we have the same Kraftmaid cabinets, and I also splurged on a farm sink. I have a mix of painted and stained though, with the sink base being stain. So no issues there & five years later, I still love my cabinetry.
Also, thanks for the inspiration. I’m a purger, but hate some of the detail work. Example; my closet is small, so I’m ruthless about my clothes, but the bottom has become an absolute cancer. This week, I must have had a seizure of some sort, because before I knew it, I had bags and bags of Donate and Toss. All day I kept returning to the closet, opening the door and smiling.
I did that when I cleaned out my entry closet! I kept opening the door and smiling. :)
Two words: you rock.
So glad I found you through Simple Mom a few weeks ago. I am inspired.
I’m glad you found me, too. I’m a big fan of your blog. :)
I have your same cabinets, too, made by a local manufacturer. Before I can even think about paint, though, I have to scrub the heck out of them. They’re filthy!
I’m also wanting a farm style sink and am looking forward to what you, er Fred, has to say.
They look great, by the way!
Thank you! Clean your cabinets–you’ll feel so much better once you get it off your plate.
Looks great–I too have painted cabinets, not sure of brand, but similar to KMaid I think. They are chipped in places and the toe-kick is beat up in spots. I commented 2 x to you about products to clean them, but keep forgetting to check back to see if you answered and then have no idea how to find the day that I blogged back! I am sorry to be a dim witted space cadet! I would be very interested in any advice about cabinet care. My kitchen is 12 years old and I keep thinking 15 is the magic number when I get someone to come in and paint all the cabinets. The down side is that the factory finish may not be readily achieved by regular painting and where they look good, they look good, but where they look bad, it’s bad. You are such an inspiration!
Jeanne–click on the link at the bottom of this post. It will take you to Day 1. Once there, scan the list of projects and click on the link for cleaning my cabinets. Your question–and my answer–is in that comment thread!
Jules–Thank you! Dawn is a wonderful product–gets out a lot of stains in clothes, too if you treat asap. I am going to tackle that cabinet over the stove with a bucket of soapy water on my day off this week. What about the black marks on the toe kick–any thoughts on those?
Loved this series and I would love to see it continued. I totally share your simple life view and feel I am busting at the seams with stuff (much inherited that I have to disengage from emotionally to purge it). This weekend I tackled the laundry room after I found a crusty dog poop on the floor (sorry for sharing tha, but it was a good motivator!). It was a good feeling to make a bit of order there and scrub with a mop, though much still needs to be done. I intend to get there, a little at a time. . . .thanks for sharing all your pics and advise this month!
And really, it’s so good to have touch up paint around. We didn’t get to choose our finish colors, since we rent, so I brought in bits and pieces to be color matched when we moved in. Having that paint available is great – I find that I end up touching up this one particular area or our entryway wall at least three times a year. Not sure what’s going on there, but I blame D’s surfboards/bikes being carried through.
Hi Jules! (I hope it’s alright if I call you that.) Was reading each one of these posts last night and the night before (found you by way of the blog that had the William Morris quote- was it the Nester?- who I found by way of Pinterest I think…) Anway, I’ve been reading your posts, and I just wanted you to know that I have been thoroughly inspired by these posts. I wrote my own list down last night, and hung it by my computer… Today I got 4 of the 23 items on my list done!!! (Fridays are usually a school day for us- we homeschool- but today I let the lesson be about caring for our home.) :D I spent about 4.5 hrs and purged my china cabinet, the junk drawer (that is now JUST a tool drawer), the miscellaneous containers cabinet, and the serving tray cabinet. Then I moved the china cabinet into the garage to be given away to my niece. I took so many pictures and posted them to FB, I think most of my friends must have thought me kind of nutty. :D I didn’t think about blogging about it until I was done, and then I was just too tired to do it. LOL! So all that to say Thank You for inspiring me. I hope to continue this and have a beautiful, organized, simplified home when I’m all done. :D