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Distressing Furniture

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1102 -- More Projects »
Antiques expert Tim Franke tells how to revive an old piece of furniture by giving it a distressed paint finish.

Materials:

furniture piece
damp rag or household brush
flat latex paint for topcoat (in the color of your choice)
paintbrushes
fine-grit sandpaper, steel wool, scraper or chisel (any or all)
screwdriver
paste wax with stain
screwdrivers

Steps:


  1. Clean the piece of furniture with a damp rag or household brush. If it is really dirty spray it down with a garden hose. Let dry completely.
PHOTO

Figure A
PHOTO

Figure B
  • Wipe off any loose paint with a dry rag (figure A).

  • Paint the piece with one to two coats of flat latex paint (figure B). It is OK to paint right over the old paint. You can use one color or two. The undercoat will show through once the piece is distressed. Let dry. A good tip is that you can also start distressing the piece of furniture before it is completely dry. That way it is easier to scrape the paint off.
    • PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Use sandpaper, steel wool, screwdrivers or other scraping tools to begin removing the paint from key areas on the furniture (figure C). It is important to distress only the areas that would normally see a lot of wear and tear such as around knobs or handles, edges, feet and where keys would typically be found.

  • Now you are ready to apply the wax. Use a paste wax with stain. The stain helps add to the distressed look of the furniture. The color of the wax you choose depends on how "dirty" you want it to look. Dark-color stains look best with dark paint. Apply the stain with a brush. A good tip is to cut the bristles of your brush with a scissors until you have about three inches left. Shorter bristles makes it easier to apply the paste wax.
    • PHOTO

    Figure D
  • Let the waxed piece sit for two to three hours, then wipe with a cloth (figure D).
    • Guests
    Tim Franke
    Antique Expert, International Country Antiques
    5358 Quam Circle NE
    St. Michaels, MN 55376
    Phone: 763-497-1967
    Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1102
    •Fun Family Kitchen Art
    •Homemade Loaf Soap
    •Distressing Furniture
    •Tip of the Day
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