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Reason #76 to ALWAYS pick up the Mistinted Test Pots

January 23, 2012

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I have a bunch of paint tester pots from the mistinted section at the hardware store.  They are always marked down to .50 and I use them for all sorts of small projects and even large paintings.  Today, I put a dark turquoise one I had on hand to use in the kitchen.  
It’s true, this microwave cabinet isn’t permanent.  None of the cabinets in our kitchen are staying once we get the renovation under way.  But, considering, we are still trying to finalize a layout (yep, we’re back to the drawing board)–I figured we have some time before we break out the sledge hammers and this open microwave cabinet could use a facelift in the meantime.  
The interiors of all of our cabinets are this natural wood–which I really don’t mind because the cabinets are usually closed.  The microwave cabinet never had a door on it–so this light wood with dark screws is always on display–which I do mind.

So I took out the microwave and gave it a good scrubbing and removed all the dust.

After a coat of primer and two coats of a very rich turquoise color (it’s a mistinted tester pot, so unfortunately I don’t have the name) this little cabinet looked 100x better:

Normally, I wouldn’t recommend painting the interiors of your cabinets because dishes are constantly moving around in there which could make for some scratched paint in no time.  However, because we never move our microwave and the cabinet is an open one, there is no reason not to make it look a little more sophisticated.

I painted all 5 sides of the interior box twice and only used about half of the tester pot.  So does that mean that this project cost a whopping .25??  Why yes, I guess it does.  

An hour and .25 cents–no one has an excuse not to do this.  :)

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What do you think?

  1. A 25 cent makeover?!? You rule. Love the colour, too.

  2. Kristine says:

    great job. it looks so much better.. and finished being painted!

  3. Ncsiszer says:

    LOVE it. If there was such a thing as a sophisticated microwave cabinet, this is it!

  4. Ooh, I love that color! The transformative power of paint is pretty wonderful, isn’t it?

  5. Great idea! So simple, but it really adds to your kitchen!

  6. I wasn’t sold until your last line

  7. meaganbriggs3 says:

    That color is delicious. I love anything jewel colored. It is such a deep saturated color. (do I sound like Stacy and Clinton???)

  8. Stephanie Narup says:

    FUN! I’m adding a trip to the hardware store to my to-do list this week. Thanks for the tip! :)

  9. Jane says:

    such a good idea! it’s amazing what a lift it gives. SO CHEAP!

  10. Tamsyn says:

    Wow, I can’t believe the cost or the result! Gorgeous!!

  11. Julia F says:

    this is a great idea. i will check out the hardware store!

  12. That looks great! And for a quarter – you can’t go wrong!! I always skip by the mistints. I will now stop to check them out!
    -Diana

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