The Erin Napier-Adored Cabinet Choice That Will Brighten Up Your Kitchen

If you haven't heard of this controversial cabinet choice, Erin Napier is a major fan of its brightening abilities. Ceruse was originally a lead-based powder used in vintage makeup, which eventually resulted in the toxic material being banned in cosmetics. The French then began using the powder to lighten oak furniture, which is a style that stuck around for centuries. Today, ceruse woodwork no longer includes lead, making it safe to use anywhere in the home.

Cerused wood is a beautiful alternative to painting your natural wood cabinets. After all, light wood furniture and home decor are coming back in style. If you're stuck between loving the warmth of wood but wanting your kitchen to look modern and bright, cerused cabinetry is an excellent middle ground. Erin tells HGTV viewers why she chose the finish for her own home: "In a craftsman home from the 1920s, the cabinetry would probably be a little bit darker. But, because this is the 2020 version of 1920, I wanted a ceruse finish. And if you look really closely, you can see in the grain of the wood, there's just a touch of white." No matter the style and era of your kitchen, there are tons of variations of cerused cabinetry to explore.

Cerused cabinetry is a timeless and creative way to use limewash paint to transform your home. Homes with extensive cabinetry will particularly benefit from cerused wood. Erin explains why: "So, ceruse means kind of a lime finish. Or, like, whitewashing. But really, really lightly done. And I love that because it keeps our kitchen from feeling heavy, and we have solid wood cabinets that go up to the ceiling. I don't want it to feel oppressive." If your home is lacking natural light, cerused cabinets will allow you to maintain the all-wood look without darkening your interior. It's also a great way to turn your dated, orange cabinets into a more textured neutral.

Although you can purchase cerused cabinetry directly, a DIY approach is an affordable option to consider. Just as you can limewash your own walls, you can also give your solid wood cabinetry a cerused finish. However, the technique works best on ring-porous woods like red oak, white oak, ash, elm, and chestnut. You'll need to prep the surface by stripping the paint or existing finish and then wire brushing the wood grain. Next, decide what color stain you want to show through the ceruse finish. For the cerusing, use a mineral-based paint and dilute it at least 25%. After about 10 minutes, use the wire brush to remove some of the paint. For more ideas on how to incorporate natural wood into your contemporary kitchen, this gorgeous wood cabinet inspo proves they don't have to look dated.