About Kristina
A little about me!
I am originally from Sydney, Australia. I grew up in a family that owned an Antique business and it was there that I began my love for pretty things! Prior to becoming a painter, I was a Nuclear Medicine Technologist.. I participated in a work exchange program with the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and it was there I met my husband. We live in Franklin MA and have two beautiful children and a Foxhound named Charlee.
I love to decorate and garden, and have found my 'true 'passion which is to breathe new life into well loved pieces of furniture and cabinetry. I specialize in painting, using different techniques, products and styles, always keeping up to date with the latest trends. From elegant shabby chic to clean lines, I love to create! Custom painting is what I do, and 'I LOVE WHAT I DO!'
I believe what sets me apart is that I am an owner operator. What you are getting when you hire me is my many years of honing my skills and my dedication to my craft to ensure the finest and most durable finish.
Thank you for visiting and I am looking forward to serving you and your family!
Kristina
Our Process
We follow a detailed and thorough approach that will give your Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Cabinets or Vanities and furniture with nothing short of a professional finish and beautiful new look.
Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets
These projects can generally take 10-14 days. Over this period you should expect for us to be in your home 4-5 times. Below is an outline of a typical schedule we follow:
Day 1
- Remove hinges (they are bagged and labelled to corresponding cabinet doors)
- Remove all cabinet doors and drawer fronts, which are then transported to my workshop
- Properly clean cabinets with a degreaser, leaving no residue
- Sand to ensure a smooth surface: We vacuum cabinets to remove any residue after sanding
- Tape walls, floors, ceilings (if needed) and protect appliances and counters
- Apply bonding primer: we prime cabinets using a high-quality bonding primer, to promote adhesion and BIN Shellac based stain/tannin blocking primer
*We have a HEPA dust extractor attached to our sander to greatly minimize any dust in your home.
Day 2
- Sand first coat of primer smooth
- Apply stain blocking primer
- Apply first coat of paint: we utilize a high-quality water based self-leveling paint, applying thin coats to ensure durability and a smooth finish
*We do not caulk seams which can cause coating failure.
Day 3 & Day 4
- Apply second coat of paint day 3 and if needed apply third coat on
Day 4
- If requested, application of specialty finishing: pin striping or antiquing
Day 5
- Installation Day: All cabinet doors and drawers will be reinstalled
*We leave the worksite clean after each visit and during the job and after the job is done!
Furniture
- For furniture we follow a similar process and schedule as Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets above and this includes:
- A thorough cleaning/degreasing and scuff sanding
- The application of two different primers, a bonding primer to ensure adhesion and a stain blocking primer to block tannins prior to painting
- A light sanding between coats of paint to ensure a smooth flawless finish.
- Apply specialty finishing if requested: Staining, Distressed Edges or Antiquing
For Furniture Only: Staining specialty finish:
- Stripping to bare wood
- Finish sanding using different grit sandpaper to ensure no sanding marks and a lovely flawless surface ready to apply stain to
- 3-4 coats of poly
*Please note that not all projects are the same and the schedule may vary.
PERSONALIZED SERVICE
Kristina does the initial consultation and meets with you one on one to assess your needs
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
We pay attention to detail by honing our painting skills and experience we have acquired for over a decade.
NETWORK OF RESOURCES
We have access to top quality home building resources in the Franklin, MA area and surrounding towns.