Everyday, my Facebook feed is filled with gorgeous images of French antiques, aged over time with lovely worn patinas. When I acquired this very dated and tired looking buffet, I thought it was time to recreate the finishes I've admired for so long...
She had the structure and design that was practical for today's living, but that orange finish from the 50s needed to go!
I had some ideas on how I'd tackle this project, but it took some trial and error to the finish I was looking for.
Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of my ongoing process, so I'll show you pictures of the finished product and explain my process with each pic...
I knew I wanted to remove the handles on the doors, and apply a shabby applique I got from DoItYourselfChic.
And I thought some additional detail on the outside corners would be a nice touch...
I knew I wanted a refinished top....but didn't want my usual Dark Walnut finish....I wanted it to look natural. So I stripped it completely and nurtured the wood with a combination of Dark Wax and Hemp Oil.
Now, let's get to the crackled finish! I started with a rough, thick coat of ASCP French Linen. Slop it on, folks! Texture is important!
Next I applied Easy Crackle. I let it dry and then mixed some Paris Gray and Pure White for the top coat.
After the FP/PW coat has dried, you can see the most beautiful crackling, patina developing. It's like magic! Some light sanding to get the roughness out...then applied clear and dark wax.
I just love how the dark wax settles into the details!
Here she is in all her glory!
On another note, I live in Southeast Virginia and our nearest Annie Sloan Stockist is 45 minutes away. When I first started painting, I read a lot of tutorials about products, techniques, etc. It's at that stage when I discovered Trish at The Purple Painted Lady. Her shipping rates are so reasonable and if I order something on Tuesday, UPS gets it to me on Thursday. Her tutorials and information on her website are so informative. I get all of my Annie Sloan and MissMustardseed products from her...And in case you are wondering, I have not been compensated for these comments. I love dealing with The Purple Painted Lady and thought a shout out was in order!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope sharing my experience with this technique will help you discover some new way to 'breathe new life into old treasures'!
If you like what you see here, you may want to consider following me on Facebook. I don't always write blog posts on my reloves, but I do post every piece I transform on FB. If you see something you like and have questions, please feel free to reach out to me..I'm always happy to help!
Robin
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