Painting - painting

I would like to do a distressed look on my kitchen cabinets, but don't know how. Where do I start and what do I need?

There are quite a few different types of distress techniques depending on how you would like it to look..Can you describe the "distressed look" that you have seen so I may be able to help you further??

Dear TOPTOSHER,

The Distressd look I'm after is the main colour is white and has the cracks like it is aged or weathered.

Ok then..Sounds like you want some crackle glaze!!
option 1 :First you provide a key to the surface of your cabinets..A coat of B.I.N 123 should do the trick..Then a dark colour oil based(slow drying) paint.You can even mix a little linseed oil to your paint to slow the drying process.
Long Before this dries apply a fast drying water/acrylic based white paint and aid the drying process further with the use of a hair dryer or electric heat gun.(quite a thick coat is required.
Sounds crazy I know but because the top coat dries quicker than the base coat it actually shrinks and cracks..The final stage would be after a few days when all the paint has cured..Very lightly rub down the finish with a very fine paper and then apply a satin/gloss or matt varnish.
Before you go to work on this method..try the process first on a scrap piece of timber or an old chair to see if it provides the effect you are looking for..
Option 2. There are products available that are entirely water/acrilic based that can be purchased from decorators merchants..They are usually bought in kit form with an instruction booklet.
There are other products available that produce a less dramatic effect uch as cracklure..this effect is much finer cracks like might be found on an old oil painting for example..
Best of luck with your ageing process!!

http://www.scumble-goosie.co.uk/project1.html

:) thanks for the help. that will give me a great start.