Creating a Distressed, Antiqued Finish

While something new may be bright and beautiful, objects with age have a certain
personality, they have unique characteristics, developed through use and wear
over the years. Every bruise and scratch, is actually a badge of service, as
well as a textural and visual element, giving the piece a rich history which can
be read in its mottled brow. While you can wait and achieve such a look slowly
over the years, there is also a painting technique that you can use to transform
a brand new piece of unfinished furniture into an antiqued treasure of ancient
years in a matter of a couple of hours.

This painting technique can sometimes be a little tricky, so novices will want
to try it out on a spare piece of wood first in order to ensure that you get the
hang of it before you start in on a piece of furniture that is important to you.
Just make certain that the testing wood is the same sort of material as the
final piece you will be working on.

The first step is to score the wood, giving it textural interest, by running any
of a variety of materials over its surface. Nails and screws can be used to
score the wood, hex bolts can chip it, and wire mesh can scratch it. As you
work, try to scratch the surface following the line of the woods grain, so that
the marks you make will flow naturally with the surface of the material.

The first coat you apply should be a clear latex interior wood stain, mixed with
a small squirt of burnt umber universal tint. This will create a very washed
out, subdued color mix, that should be applied evenly to the entire piece. Once
dry, the wood will be fully sealed and ready to take on further coloring.

Next you should combine eight parts black paint with one part water, to create a
thin paint solution. This should be applied very lightly to the surface of the
piece, with the brush being only barely damp as you trail it over the wood.
Allow this coat to dry thoroughly as well.

The next step is to create two different paint mixtures in two separate
containers. One is a mix of equal parts Lafayette green paint and latex glaze.
The other will consist of one part Covington blue paint, one part glaze, and one
part water. These two solutions should be applied to the piece with separate
brushes. Apply them to the wood very lightly, following the grain of the piece
as you go. The less paint you add to the piece here, the less sanding you will
have to do later.

Once all of the coats have dried thoroughly, take some medium grade sand paper
and scuff the piece up in a couple of places. Your best bet is to pay attention
to places that might have seen the most wear and tear if the piece was actually
aged, including corners, hinges, and anywhere that there might be moving parts.

Finally, take some medium grade wire brush and scuff it over the surface of the
piece. This will create a mask of age that will cause the wood surface to glow
slightly with the tiny score marks.

This article is provided courtesy of the absorbent
beverage coasters, crafted from real natural, mountain born sandstone,
which can be found at PebbleZ. The author of this article is stone artist and
designer Joey Pebble.