Elevating Your Kitchen Aesthetic With Chantilly Lace Cabinets

Crisp, clean, and timelessly elegant--these are the hallmarks of Chantilly Lace, a popular paint color by Benjamin Moore that has become a go-to shade for kitchen cabinets. With its subtle cool undertones and lack of yellow, Chantilly Lace offers a pristine white aesthetic that can transform and modernize any kitchen design.

But is this versatile neutral with barely-there gray undertones the right choice your kitchen? By understanding the color's undertones and aesthetic strengths, as well as carefully considering complementary elements like walls, hardware, and counters, you can employ Chantilly Lace cabinets to create a seamlessly sophisticated space you'll adore spending time in.

Deciding Between Painting or Staining Kitchen Cabinets

When planning a kitchen refresh, one of the first decisions involves your cabinetry. Will you paint or stain your existing cabinets, replace them entirely, or refinish and enhance what's already there? Each option carries pros, cons and varying price points.

Painting vs. Staining for Kitchen Cabinets

Painting over your existing cabinet boxes and doors offers an affordable way to refresh the heart of your kitchen with limited hassle or renovation work required. The crisp, clean white of Chantilly Lace paint provides a light and bright update that pairs well with stainless steel appliances and opens up smaller kitchens. On average, expect to pay $2,000-$3,500 for cabinet painting services, not including the paint itself.

Staining over existing cabinet wood allows you to enhance and deepen the natural wood tones while showcasing the wood grain beauty. Stains skew darker than paints, lending a more traditional, rustic aesthetic. Staining costs less than painting at around $1,500-$2,500 since minimal prep work is required, but won't provide as dramatic of a transformation.

Replacing or Refinishing Cabinets

For some homeowners, refinishing cabinets through techniques like repainting or adding new hardware and hinges does the trick. Others opt to replace their cabinets entirely with new cabinet boxes, doors and organizational updates, which costs $12,000-$16,000 on average.

Preparing Existing Cabinets for Painting

If you opt to paint your wood or laminate cabinets white with Chantilly Lace, careful prep work ensures the pristine, polished look you're after. Proper sanding removes existing grime or gloss for better paint adhesion. Using filler on any holes or imperfections creates a smooth finish. Priming cabinets before painting helps the color go on evenly.

Cleaning Cabinets and Sanding Surface

Give cabinets a deep clean with an all-purpose cleaner and water before lightly sanding to rough up the surface. For wood cabinets with existing paint or varnish, use 220 grit sandpaper. For laminate, a fine 120 grit works better to avoid scratches.

Filling Holes and Imperfections

Use a painter's putty specifically designed for kitchen cabinets to fill any holes from old hardware or dents, allowing you to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.

Choosing the Right Primer

Opt for an enamel undercoater primer in either white or grey to prepare your cabinets for Chantilly Lace's white paint. The tinted primer helps prevent yellow from bleeding through. Apply one coat with a small paint roller or brush, allowing it to dry completely before painting.

Painting Cabinets in Chantilly Lace Like the Pros

With the right materials and proper brushwork technique, even amateur painters can achieve seamless, professional-quality results painting cabinets at home. Investing in quality paintbrushes and mini rollers designed for cabinet use prevents visible brushstrokes.

Supplies You'll Need

Gather these supplies before starting your Chantilly Lace cabinet paint project:

• Chantilly Lace paint in eggshell or semi-gloss
• Angled paintbrushes for cutting in
• High-density foam roller and tray set
• Painter's tape
• Drop cloths

Achieving a Smooth Finish

When painting cabinets, technique matters. Allow coats to dry fully between applications and lightly sand before adding the final coat. Roll horizontally first, then vertically to ensure even coverage.

Number of Paint Coats

Plan to apply at least 3 coats of Chantilly Lace paint for best color consistency and coverage, sanding lightly after coats 1 and 2. The pigment concentration in darker paint colors often allows them to cover in fewer coats.

Design Considerations for Chantilly Lace Kitchens

While Chantilly Lace's cool white tone serves as a pristine, neutral canvas, thoughtful coordination with elements like walls, hardware, counters and floors creates a holistic, considered space.

Counters That Complement

Chantilly Lace pairs beautifully with both light and dark countertop materials. White quartz or marble counters play up the light and bright scheme while concrete, butcher block or black granite make the cabinets pop.

Backsplash Patterns Add Interest

Incorporate visual intrigue through your kitchen backsplash while also protecting the space between counters and cabinets. Subway tiles, marble mosaics, or hand-painted tiles help ground Chantilly Lace's cool tone.

Hardware for Contrast

Varying your hardware finish from standard stainless steel offers an eye-catching detail. Unlacquered brass, black iron pulls and satin bronze work well with this versatile white cabinet color.

Caring for Your Chantilly Lace Kitchen Long-Term

By following best practices for cleaning and maintenance, your pristine white Chantilly Lace cabinets will maintain their like-new appearance for years before needing a refresh.

Regular Cleaning

Use a mild, eco-friendly soap and lukewarm water solution for surface cleaning cabinets monthly. This removes everyday grease and grime buildup left from cooking.

Addressing Nicks and Scratches

Thanks to durable cabinet materials and multiple coats of paint, minor abrasions happen rarely. Lightly sand any problem areas and touch up paint for an invisible fix.

Expect to repaint cabinets every 5-7 years as Chantilly Lace, like any light color, slowly loses its vibrancy over time with cleaning, oils and sunlight. Look for visible color shift or unevenness as signs to prep and repaint.