Updated Hardware for Old Bathroom Cabinets

Before and After.

I can take my kids anywhere. Seriously. I am so blessed to be able to drag them (ok, we really have fun!) to home improvement stores while I am searching for the perfect pair of knobs.

Yes, I  had a mild, 48 hour obsession with cabinet hardware. I am kind of sad it is over.

While currently planning the all-weekend master bedroom re-do, I needed to fill a few hours this week to scratch another home improvement item off my list for 2013.

So, new knobs it was! If you are extra curious, you can peek at my "Upstairs Bathroom" Pinterest board. I am sure I have annoyed a few followers with 25 different "brushed nickel" knobs popping up on their Pinterest homepage. Oh, well.

Here is how my scratched, outdated cabinetry looked before the update:

For starters, I had to re-stain the cabinetry. David and I used warm, soapy microfiber rags to lightly wash all the dust, toothpaste, and film off the cabinets. I then removed all the outdated hardware from the cabinets. I left the hinges. Someday, I might want to put in brushed nickel ones but it wasn't a priority for me on this update. David liked throwing all the cabinet pieces into the hardware bucket with a loud "Clang!".

After the cabinets dried, David went downstairs to have popcorn with his dad, and I suited up in a mask or Paint Odor Valved Respirator. Yes, I was extremely good looking. I also laid out a canvas drop cloth to control splatters on my tile.

I then, slowly and evenly applied a 1-step stain and polyurethane wood stain to my cabinets with a 2" flat chip brush. I wanted a duo stain, because I am impatient and didn't want to subject the entire family to extra paint vapors. I brushed the stain on, keeping with the grain of the wood and dabbed a bit more stain where there was extra wear on the cabinets.

I let the cabinets dry overnight and attached my hardware the following day. I picked out pulls for the drawers and knobs for the cabinets:

I was originally going to use pulls on the cabinet doors, as well as the drawers but I changed my mind last minute and got knobs instead. I am happy with my decision.

Here is my stained cabinet, hardware updated, upstairs bathroom! I think it looks so much better.

 

Shopping list:

Minwax PolyShades 1 Qt. Satin 1-Step Stain and Polyurethane $10.47

Economy 2 in. Flat Chip Brush $.93

Liberty 2-3/4 in. Newton Cabinet Hardware Pull 2 at $1.78 or  $3.56

Conquest Collection Knob 6 at $1.69 or $10.14 

Total: $25.10

 

Other items I have in store for my bathroom?

Brushed nickle switch plate and wall register.

New vanity light.

New faucet (maybe).

Spray paint wicker basket.

New frame or wall shelving above toilet.

New towels.

New rubs (maybe).

Updated bathroom accessories.

 

Have you completed any minor or major home improvements since the new year?