Ray Hogan

Ray is a member of The Sunday Times "Ask the Experts" panel of experts, where readers send in queries relating to property and the home. Here is a recent contribution:

I recently moved into a house with a built-in kitchen that is at least 15 years old and showing signs of its age. I cannot afford to replace it and would like to give it a makeover. The doors and kick boards are factory-finished wood and although the timber is in good condition, the surface is a bit scruffy. I would like to brighten up the kitchen and was thinking of painting the cupboards. I am not sure if this can be done and if so, whether any specialist techniques are required. I was also wondering whether I should do the work myself.

DPE, Dublin 7

The simple answer is yes, it should be possible to brighten up your kitchen this way. However, a precondition for a successful transformation is that you have a sound, functioning kitchen to start with. This means the doors and cupboards should be intact and have no extensive water damage. With developments in paint technology, all surfaces can be painted, including melamine, manufactured doors, MDF and varnished wood. While it would be possible to take on the task yourself, it is a laborious and intensive one, and a standard-sized kitchen would usually take a professional at least eight days to complete. In my experience, my clients who were thinking of taking it on themselves have been very glad that they didn't. It is usually possible to keep using your kitchen as normal, within reason.

If you prefer to do it yourself, remember that all exposed wood should be painted, including the pelmets, kick boards and doorframes. The process will require four coats of paint (one more in the case of specialised wood effects), then two coats of varnish to seal and to render the surface durable and washable. A flat painting technique is used, which ensures a smooth finished surface. Get yourself a set of good quality rollers and brushes.

Before applying any paint, the surfaces need to be properly prepared: they need to be sanded and cleaned with no residue or grease on them. As minimalism is now in vogue, plain colour finishes are often preferred. However, more elaborate designer-style finishes are also possible. For example, a distressed finish can suit an older house. The final colour is of course up to you but cream variants are popular at the moment and may well be what you are looking for to brighten up your kitchen.

Ray Hogan is a decorative and special effect painter, www.rayinteriors.com

Before

After