HOW TO GUIDE. TRANSFORM A SECOND HAND PIECE OF FURNITURE INTO SOMETHING SIMILIAR TO AN ANTIQUE.
This was not the best first picture but hey ho!
I loved the little details on this cuboard. I think they will work perfectly for this project. When i have used Graphite (AS) and dark wax it has worked well with pieces with details like this one has.
I picked up the cuboard nearby, i was told that the top had quite a bit of water damage but was still in good shape otherwise. She thought it was nice that i was going to give it a new lease of life.
I love taking something that nobody wants and making it into something that people will happily spend a half decent amount of money on.
Step 1.
Because of the water damage, i had to remove the veneer. To do this i laid a wet piece of material over the top and left it to soak into the veneer to loosen it.
I then used an old iron to heat up the material laid over the veneer. I use the steam setting. I run the iron backwards and forewards over a small area then peel back the veneer with sometthing sharp.
This ended up taking a few hours with this piece. Fun fun fun….
It is however extremely satisfying peeling it off.
(Use gloves as this is a messy job)
Step 2.
I then sanded and used wood filler to create a smooth surface ontop of the piece. I also sanded very lightly over the whole cuboard to give the chalk paint more to adhere to.
Step 3.
After i had done these stages i left it to dry and then began painting. I used Graphite by Annie Sloan. I love this colour, it gives such a rich warm black when it is sealed with dark wax.
(When i distress i stick to edges, details and corners, this gives a more authentic look, i feel, i do also do a few random spots lightly)
Step 4.
I painted 3 thin coats over the whole piece to give the undistressed areas depth.
Step 5.
After the paint had dried. I used (Annie Sloans) dark wax to seal it. I use steel wool to rub in the wax. This is a great way to get the wax to sink into the chalk paint, it also helps to distress the sections you want to distress at the same time. To do this i press harder with the steel wool on the areas i want to distress.
The important thing with waxing is to make sure there is no residue left over. The surface should not be tacky after you have wiped it.
The difference is quite amazing!
The colour changes completely when the dark wax is added.
Step 6.
I wanted to do something with the inside of the cuboard, but wasnt sure what?! hmm
I then decided to test a section, i watered down some of the black paint and did a black wash. I painted on the wash then wiped it off again. This ended up turning out really nice.
Before After
This was an easy look to achieve with just some paint and a brush!
(I decided to seal this with a clear topcoat as i was selling it)
I would love to try different colour washes, they look really nice and it is a fun process to watch develop. I am in the middle of a white wash at the moment, the piece is made out of pine and seems to be hand made.
I love the look that is achieved it. It looks like it has naturally aged. It is not perfect.
I think this kind of style is great for old pieces that have alot of little dings and scratches.
It brings out the beauty in the carvings and texture of the wood.
Have a great day everyone!
Hope you liked the article. Hope you enjoyed reading and would like to join me to see other fantastic furniture and decor makeover ideas.
Anna x
