Long Island New York, Refinishing kitchens using a faux finishing process.

     One of the busiest areas of my Long Island faux finishing company revolves around refinishing cabinetry.  Every thing from mantels, to tables, chairs, vanities and railings.  But kitchen cabinets are by far the majority of my refinishing work.

      Why refinish?  There are so many reason's, for one the price.  Refinishing is 1/3 the price of refacing and more then 1/2 the cost of replacing.  If your happy with your kitchen layout then why deal with the mess, cost and hassle? My clients refinish because their cabinets are solid wood but the they are oak or worn.  The color is more traditional or modern then they want.  Most of my clients are referrals,  they did not even realize that this is an option.

     How do I do it?  To answer that I am going to provide you with an example,  when you eat at a restaurant the food just taste better.  A chef can take the same ingredients you use and prepare a meal that tastes better.   Why?  Put simply he/she is trained,  they have ingredients that are professional grade.  The meat they purchase is a much better grade then what is sold in your local supermarket.  And so for the same reasons I can provide you with a beautiful factory like finish.  I am using products that are for professionals only,  I spray the finish (no brush strokes) and I use lacquer.  Lacquer is what is used on factory finished cabinets.  I do all the prep work to ensure the finish looks feels and lasts as long as newly installed cabinetry,  I guarantee it!

    What makes me an expert at refinishing your kitchen/bath cabinetry?   I have been trained, am licensed and insured.  The faux wood finish I provide is so realistic that it actually looks better then a factory produced finish.  Seeing is believing,  during my initial consultation I bring samples which show the old and new finish.  In addition I provide my clients with a sample of the finish on their cabinetry and I have a portfolio filled with before and after photo's of completed projects.  Below is just one example of a door that I refinished as a sample for a client.  Keep in mind this particular door started out as .  Artistically I created a finish that offers a much higher end look.

Here is just a few more examples of a sample finishes I prepared for a clients.  The bottom two door were created with a faux wood is artistically rendered.  

I work with my clients and provide them advise on how to add value by changing certain things like counter tops, lighting or color which will give them the dream kitchen at a budget then can actually afford.  Please feel free to follow me on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/DiMontiDecorativeFinishes or visit my online portfolio at www.dimontifinishes.com   

Pictures say a thousand words so let me just place one before and after photo of a kitchen I refinish.  The original finish was oak,  the client liked the grain of the wood so I re-stained the kitchen in a much richer mahogany finish.  

It's that time of the year again.... Christmas Creations

 Although I love Christmas I noticed I was stressing more and enjoying less.  For starters,  the tree needs to go up,  the lights need to be hung and the house needs to be decorated.  For me decorating the house is no small project because I can literally spend an entire month decorating and redecorating my home (love doing it though).  Then of course there is shopping for gifts and of course there's Christmas cards (I would love to know who came up with the whole Christmas photo card deal).  Since I am such a procrastinator with things like this, this has become my  least favorite holiday chore.  I have to literally schedule a day to get my family (four kids) dressed (without T shirts).   What's worse is trying to get them to smile simultaneously especially when their asked too.  I try to at least choose one shot where two of them are looking at the camera.     Oh,  I forgot to mention Christmas Dinner!   With eleven siblings, Christmas Dinner is more like a catering event, especially when you factor in the in-laws and nieces and nephews.  It's now over 40 people.  Of course since my husband is a chef we always host Christmas.  Thankfully we honestly love doing it.  The point is this, other then shopping for gifts and Christmas Dinner it's my sole responsibility.    As much as I enjoy the holidays the list seems to grow every year making it a bit harder to actually enjoy it. 

     Well I found a way to actually stress just a little bit less and enjoy just a little more.  It started almost by accident but ever since it started I can't seem to stop,  nor do I want to.  Every once in a while I get the urge to paint or create something for myself.  I do it all the time for my clients but when you actually get to paint something for yourself its a real treat.  Several years back I was shopping at local home store.  I was looking for the perfect holiday gift for my daughters teacher. As I was browsing through the Christmas isle I came across some really beautiful items.  Little sleds or door hangings and for some reason and idea came to me.  "I can make this".  So I did.  Of course it was much more time consuming then I originally anticipated but it was completed I just  couldn't stop.  I always come up with ways to alter my inspired pieces by adding my own creative twist but it has really made the whole gift giving more enjoyable.  Now, every year I create or paint something during the holidays.   It may become a gift or something I hang onto.  Now I have photo's of thing's  my past creations,  it really makes the holidays so much more enjoyable.   With Pintrest, the ideas are overflowing.

Below are sone example of my creations.  It's a mini sled made out of MDF.  Almost two feet in length.  I painted and creates several of these over the years.  Too much fun and it makes the perfect gift! I would love to know your opinion's? 

Santa Sled

Cardinal sled

Snowman Sled

Furniture redo with stencil reliefs

I absolutely love painting furniture. This time I didn't put much thought into what I was going to do but I ended up with a piece I am pleased with. Different then the typical re-do don't you think? This tutorial was done on a sample board because I finished the furniture before taking any photos.

1.Choose a base color. I chose Anne Sloane Chalk paint because I had it on hand and I didn't have to prime. I mixed Paris Blue and Old Orche (not sure of the amount but very little Paris Blue was added). Before the paint dried I took old white (also chalk paint) and just dipped my brush in the paint and used what was on the brush to create some interest with horizontal strokes. Although there isn't a photo posted of this you can see it in later photo's.

2. Once that was dried you can use a stencil any stencil. Use a good amount of Joint compound to create a raised relief stencil. Place an even coat of spackle over the stencil making sure to cover the entire stencil. Then remove stencil.

3. After the Joint compound dries paint over the relief. I did not seal prior to painting but I'm sure it would help to keep the raised stencil crisp. If you don't seal just make sure you don't over work painting the stenciled areas.






4. Next I loaded a paint brush with Vandyke brown and offloaded most of it onto a paper towel. Then gently brush over the recessed areas. I sanded back the corners on the furniture to give it more of a distressed look.


5. Now all that's left is to seal the piece with a clear coat (your choice). I sprayed my piece using a water based lacquer. FYI, To create the relief you can use a number of different products. I have used Venetian plaster with excellent results in the past. This is not a piece that will with stand abuse and the lacquer will aide in protecting the stencils.

The end result.

How to correct a wall color choice without repainting the walls | DiMonti's Decorative Finishes

How to correct a wall color choice without repainting the walls | DiMonti's Decorative Finishes

Blogs | DiMonti's Decorative Finishes

Blogs | DiMonti's Decorative Finishes

Bird house

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad trait but I tend to try almost anything. This is a bird house similar to one saw displayed on a front lawn close to where I live. For months every time I passed that house I would look at it and think to myself, "I can make that." This is the result of that attempt.