HI EVERYONE! THANKS FOR JOINING ME FOR MY NEWEST PROJECT. THIS WAS ANOTHER FUN PROJECT. I LOVE THE EFFECT THAT GRAPHITE GIVES TO FURNITURE, IT ALWAYS GIVES SUCH A CLASSIC LOOK.
THIS WAS A LOVELY SIMPLE PROJECT. I LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL EFFECT ANNIE SLOANS GRAPHITE GIVES TO THE CARVINGS ON FURNITURE. SEEING THE BROWN WOOD PEEKING THROUGH THE BLACK WASH GIVES A GORGEOUS EFFECT.
I JUST FINISHED A POST ABOUT THIS GORGEOUS PINK ROSE MIRROR WHICH IS PAINTED WITH ANNIE SLOANS HENRIETTE. I HAD ADDED ROSE APPLIQUES AND FINISHED THE FRAME WITH DARK WAX AND GOLD GILDING WAX, COME JOIN ME AND TAKE A LOOK. Rose Gold Mirror Frame
Step 1 – Cleaning
Before i start painting anything i give it a good clean. I am constantly shocked by the dirt and grime that builds up on furniture over the years.
Looking at the water after you see that it was an important step.
I usually use a cleaning solution i buy from my local hardware store (Similiar to TSP).
I clean every item i ever paint, from frames, plant pots, mirror frames, furniture etc.
Sometimes it is not visible but there is always some kind of dirt that has built up over the years.
I am also a little OCD when it comes to cleaning!
This sideboard was quite damaged with water rings and marks all over the top and scratches and dents to the body.
Step 2 – Sanding
I gave the whole piece a good sanding with 180 grit sand paper, i wanted to create small, rough ridges in the wood for the paint to adhere to.
Prep is a massive must when it comes to furniture redesign. It effects the final result and the overall longevity of a piece of furniture.
Sanding makes such a difference with adhesion of paint to the surface.
I went over the whole piece inside and out and all inbetween the carvings.
Step 3 – Painting
The surface was beautiful but damaged. So i decided to save it with a lick of paint.
I decided to use Graphite by Annie Sloan. This is a grey color that becomes dark grey/ black when you use a sealer on it (Polycrylic/wax).
This color has a gorgeous aged appearance when sealed.
I used a cheap chip brush for this job.
For this process i mix a little water into the paint, I usually have a cup i use to mix the paint and water together.
It becomes rusty in the can. It is easy to think it is fine to just add water into the can but it will rust rather quickly. So it is best to mix in another container.
I then give the paint and water mixture a good stir. This mixture should just be a little runny, you want to create a slightly watered down paint consistency.
I then paint the surface and have a slightly damp cloth on hand to wipe away. I wipe on the detailing of the wood, any raised surfaces, edges or detailing.
This gives a stunning effect. The color of the wood peeks through the paint and it appears naturally aged.
This has been a very popular look with my customers. I have often been asked to recreate this look for custom orders.
I do 2-3 coats repeating the same process. I also wait for the paint to dry inbetween.
For some areas on the piece i wipe away alot of the paint or add little to begin with so the naturally beauty of the wood shines through. (Visable on the picture of the leg 2 pics down).
Items i needed for this project:
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Graphite. This can be found on www.anniesloan.com through a stockist near you.
- Spray misting bottle (super handy when painting with water based paint)
- Chip brushes
- Minwax Polycrylic
Step 4 – Sealing
I decided to seal this piece with a Polycrylic sealer. I love this one because it dries super quick so it is easy to recoat after 2 hours and i get the job done quickly, without having to wait for ages.
I have used this sealer on many projects recently and it protects very well against water and my 2 year old.
It gives a clear finish which looks very nice over the Graphite.
I decided to apply 3 coats of the polycrylic. Inbetween the coats i lightly sanded any bumps to get a smooth surface.
Step 5 – Using dark wax to highlight any exposed wood
I felt that the exposed wood needed some depth so i decided to add dark wax by Annie Sloan.
This gives a warmth to the color of the wood.
This added a gorgeous effect to the piece and was incredible easy to do.
I took a little wax on a lint free cloth and rubbed it into the area i wanted to highlight.
Before i applied the wax i waited 24 hours for the polycrylic to cure.
There is something so classic about black furniture. It always fits so easily in with many decors. I have had a lot of custom orders in this style.
I hope you enjoyed reading my article.
Love Anna x
