Adding Gold Accents To My Pink Studio Cabinets
I know this is a controversial subject, and many people said that I shouldn’t add any gold accents to the studio cabinets. But y’all know me well enough to know that once I get an idea in my head, I have to try it. And I’ve envisioned gold accents on my pink studio cabinets for quite some time now, and I wasn’t ready to give up on the idea.
After considering many different options for adding gold accents (paint pen, gold leaf, liquid gilding, etc.), I decided to try the Krylon 18kt. gold leafing pen (affiliate link).
I figured that a pen would be the fastest and easiest way to add gold accents. I’ve used gold leaf on cabinets before, and while it wasn’t difficult at all, it was a very time-consuming project. It required a lot of taping, two coats of adhesive to make sure the leaf stuck really well, and lots of patience.
If you missed out on my green and gold kitchen, you can see it here, and you can see the gold leafing process here.
But for these cabinets, I wanted something quick and easy (at least for now) so that I could just test out the idea and see if I even like it on the pink. Well, as it turns out, I love it! I absolutely love that bit of subtle shimmer that it adds to the cabinets. Here’s a look at the middle section with the six drawers. The top two have the gold accents and the rest are plain pink.
And here’s that section with all six drawers done. I love this subtle shimmer!
The Krylon 18kt. gold leafing pen is absolutely beautiful. I selected it after watching a few videos on YouTube that compared various gold pens, and this one had the most metallic appearance of all of them.
One issue I had is that after using the pen on several drawers, the ink (which I’m pretty sure is alcohol ink) wasn’t flowing as freely as when the pen was new. I could tell that it had dried bits of ink in the nib.
To clean it, I pulled the nib out of the pen (it pulls out very easily)…
And then soaked it in a little container (I used a Bai lid) of isopropyl alcohol.
I rolled the nib around in the alcohol, emptied the lid, and filled it with fresh alcohol and did it again. I think I did that three times before the nib appeared clean, free of dried ink bits, and porous again.
Then I dried it on a paper towel, popped it back into the pen, re-primed the pen according to the directions, and continued on with the project.
To get the lines as perfect as possible, I did two passes on each side. The first pass was on the corner of the trim, and I held my hand as rigid as possible with my ring finger on the edge of the door or drawer, and pulled the marker down the edge while keeping my hand in the same position the whole way. My ring finger along the edge is what kept me on a straight line.
Here’s how it looked after that first pass.
The second pass was more on top of the trim. To do that, I held the pen so that my middle finger was right on the edge of the nib of the pen.
And then I placed my middle finger on the edge of the trim, and pulled the pen down the length of the trim. That middle finger being right up against the nib, and right on the side of the trim, kept the line straight all the way down.
Here’s a look at one finished side…
It’s so beautiful and shimmery and subtle. I wish y’all could see it in person!
I’m not quite finished yet because I was down for the count this weekend with a cold. But I’ll be back at it today!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I personally wouldn’t paint my cabinets pink but yours are beautiful, the gold really bring them alive. And I keep learning from you Kristi, have never heart of gold leaf pens until today.
Love the gold accent. Since you chose a warm pink I think it works beautifully. Your pinstriping is so beautifully done. And who doesn’t like a little glimmer in their life?
I love the gold! Looks beautiful!
I totally agree with you that the gold really makes the cabinets shine. Very special! You have the vision for sure.
I love the gold on the pink!
I think it’s absolutely beautiful!!
Glamorous! 👍
Absolutely gorgeous!
I love the gold accents and drawer pulls! And the technique you demonstrated is so clever! I really admire your courage in doing the accents like this. When I tried a similar technique I ended up with crooked lines….
You always inspire me!
Amazing, but not surprised!!!
Looks gorgeous. Great job!
First, I was wondering how you’d add gold to that particular trim and second, I wasn’t so sure if just the fresh pink wouldn’t be better but I actually love it. It adds just a hint of glimmer without being overdone. Wish I had your steady hand because I think I’d still have to tape off to get a straight line.
Absolutely love it!
As I was reading, I was saying “no,no,no!” After seeing the gold on the drawer edges, I actually like it. The gold touch elevates the cabinets to a whole new level. I need to quit doubting your ideas! Ha!
Same…
Love the gold. would it be too much if you did the inside edges too?
Yes Kristi! Yes Yes Yes! I LOVE that. It looks so great! Again, sorry mom, pink and gold are fabulous together.
I am so impressed by your steady hand and nerve. The accent is very nice! thanks for the tutorial, we learn so much from you.
Perfect accent masterfully done.
Love the added sparkle! I’m definitely impressed with your steady hands.
That subtle touch of gold just makes the cabinets pop. Well done. Beautiful!
I love it!!!
Ooh, I like it! I didn’t think I would. Good for you for testing it out!
I absolutely love pink and gold together, and this is simply stunning!! I’m so glad you did what YOU wanted.
That is gorgeous!
It looks fantastic!
Looks fancy! I like it! Will you then have to poly over it?
I don’t plan on it.
Wow – it’s gorgeous – love it!
I thought you were going to paint the entire top of the raised trim and thought that may be too much gold. This is very pretty! I didn’t know these paint pens existed. I’ve been putting off repainting the top of a French provincial desk I found at Salvation Army because I would need to repaint the gold accent in the grooves around the edges. It was very tedious. I needed to tape it off because I wasn’t good at controlling the paintbrush. Paint pens would probably work much better!
Just Beautiful! I would never have thought to do this! I absolutely love it! But, of course, it would not be in a straight line like yours! You amaze me with your talent and visions!
OK, Kirstie, you got me again! I am now officially on Team Gold! The accents are beautiful. I’m putting stark white cabinets in my new kitchen. I may have to try this with either silver or black. May use some pinstriping tape first to see if I like the look!
Forgot to mention, for those of you who have trouble holding a steady line while painting, I use a MAHL. I made one out of a 14″ #10 knitting needle. Ground the little end piece off and used a large decorative eraser to prevent slipping. I rarely paint but I draw on the surface screen of my Luminaire XP Embroidery machine and if I accidently touch my finger to the screen, it registers as a stitch. I use one of those computer pens to draw with. The MAHL keeps me steady and I don’t screw up my pattern. I learned about these is a painting class and my 2 brain cells transferred it to my fiber art.
💖💖
LOVE the gold touch!!!
You’re right as rain! It looks marvelous. I had my doubts. But it’s just enough IMHO!
Love the gold! And thanks for the info about the pen.
Wow!! The gold accent is absolutely gorgeous, it really elevates the pink cabinetry beautifully. Looks very glamorous!!
I love the gold accents!
GORGEOUS!!!!!
Oh, they are really pretty!
Love it!
It helps make the gold handles ‘make sense’ more too. <3
Gold on pink. It’s all so beautiful. Gosh, you sure do have a steady hand. I love the way you showed us exactly how you did it. I’m wondering if you will need to put any kind of protective top coat over the gold leaf? Or, it the gold leaf strong enough to withstand possible bumps now and then.
I did not expect to like it, but I love the finished product! It makes the cabinets so special, not ordinary at all. What a great idea (and a steady hand!).
Love the gold!! It was exactly what it needed!! I just love all the color that you use!!
It looks pretty, but not for a work room. Bedroom maybe, but not for a studio. That is, of course, my opinion.
Your cabinets look beautiful! Did you put any adhesive before using your gold paint pen?
No, it doesn’t need adhesive. It’s not actually gold leaf. It’s a liquid paint.
Those cabinets rock. I just love how the gold really sets them off. I love the pens, but I found a great product that I have been using for the antique ornate shelves for our formal living room. It’s called Liquid Leaf and I get it Amazon. It is amazing as a paint and highlighter. You get a lot out of a little jar, but once that puppy is open, use it up. I definitely think the pens were a better product to use for your application. I am flirting with doing that to my butler’s pantry cabinets that are in black, and for the lighting in that room I have painted the under part of the shades in gold and changed up rather inexpensive wall lights into something that looks super expensive…gosh, I love gold. I love how your studio is coming together, keep going, you’re just amazing.
Very pretty! As for cleaning the nib, what about using either a small rubbermaid container or a plastic bag? The container could be shaken, and the bag you could smoosh it around.
Initially I thought you meant a pattern (leafy, flowery,geometric) and my vote was a big NO. But I LOVE this, the way you have done it. 🙂 It is subtle enough, yet brings a shine to the area.
Love the pink. I have always been a fan of this happy color. I have also used a gold metallic pen but liked your suggestion on cleaning the nib. Your cabinetry looks stunning.
Pamela
http://www.becolorfulcoastal
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Brilliant!!!
I really LOVE it! Pink is my favorite color and this is so very inspiring to watch. Thank You for sharing!!
Hello Kristi, always love your wonderful ideas!!!
I loved this idea of the gold leafing on the cabinets—it has given me the idea of doing
this on my bathroom cabinets but I am planning on using “Silver” any tips on the right pen???
Thank you for giving us all such neat and creative ideas.
I haven’t tested out any silver pens, and I haven’t watched any videos on them, so I’m no help at all. I’d try YouTube, though. There are always people doing product comparisons on YouTube, and I’m sure you’ll find one about silver metallic paint pens.
The same brand of pen Kristi is useing comes in silver and bronze. Ive used them. I don’t know if they have other colors. I get mine at Hobby Lobby.
After trying many gold applications l useded that gold pen. It’s beyond better than any! Some things ive used it on years ago still look as good as new! I’ve used it on many different surfaces and also to sign my name on oil paintings on canvas! You will be very impressed by it!
I always have 2 on hand. I trim the point with exacto
Knife some times. Alsi flip the nub over so i dont have to clean right away. Enjoy!
Love the cabinets!
That looks wonderful! I love it. And, I love it with the pink. It adds so much to the whole look, and you were so right all along. Can’t wait to see it all done.