How to Antique White Cabinets

Remove drawer and cabinet hardware with a screwdriver. Remove hinges and take out cabinet doors and drawers. Place doors and drawers on a plastic tarp in the work area.

Go over all the surfaces you plan to antique, including trim, cabinet and drawer faces, with medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe the surfaces with a water-dampened cloth after sanding to remove dust. Apply a coat of acrylic-bonding primer with a paintbrush, letting it dry for four hours before continuing.

Mix equal parts powdered milk paint and water with a stirring stick in a plastic container until the paint has the consistency of heavy cream. Make only as much paint as you need, because it will spoil within a couple of days. Milk paint will give the cabinets a soft, mellow look. Let the paint dry for four hours, and then apply a second coat.

Touch up areas like corners and edges with gold paint to add a little extra character and depth, using an artist's paintbrush.

Purchase and install replacement knobs, handles and drawer pulls that are gold, brass, glass or porcelain to add a finishing touch.