Hi Debra,

I have been redoing my kitchen since before Christmas. I have completely striped off all paint to bare wood and I can not find a finish that I really like.

Me and my husband like the old warn out look but we would like the wood grain to show to and we just can not get the right look.

I have had help from a paint store and trying to help me with showing me on a board that is the same wood as my cabnets.

And yes, color… that is another thing - you should see my walls all different color samples everywhere.

My new floor is like rock or stone so you would think picking a color would be easy (WRONG) not for me. It is either to dark, to light, to something.

I am about ready to give it up. PLEASE HELP Thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I completely understand your dilemma. This is what we are here for.

It would be so much easier to help you with colors and finish if you could email us a few pictures. But if not, have you thought about doing a white wash finish on your cabinets?

This is a great look that would allow the natural wood grain to show through, but lighten up the look a bit.

What colors are you leaning towards for your walls? That Painter Lady, DAWN

Hi Dawn,

Yes I have tried the white wash pickling stain on some of my wood but to me it was chalky looking. But yes I did like the way the grain showed.

I think we would like something like that but more distressed and maybe not so white.

I have not picked a color for my walls yet. I was told to do the cabinets first. I have tried several different colors on my walls and have not found one yet I really like that much. Thanks Lisa

Hi Again Lisa,

There are many different color stains available that you can use on your cabinets. This would be a great option for the natural woodgrain to show through.

You can then distress them by sanding the edges and then adding a darker glaze in the recessed areas of the cabinets. Use an artist brush to get in there, rub the color in and rub off the excess with a rag.

THAT Painter Lady - Dawn

Click here for more information about White washing real wood paneling