How I Achieve the Look

Now, when I start a paint project I usually don't even know exactly what I am going to do to the piece. Kind of like an artist that looks at a canvas and then they just start painting as it comes to them. Sometimes I start painting a piece one color and then totally change it.

Several of you were very close at guessing how many colors I used on this mirror frame.

I used three paints and glaze.

If you want to see the original post go here.

First thing I did was lightly sand the whole surface to take the shine off and then wiped it all down.

Then I had to fill all these little holes down each side with wood putty and let that dry. After they were dry I sanded the sides smooth.

This is all my stuff.

I was bad and did not take a picture of the first coat which was just the white. I used Ivorie by Sherwin Williams. Then I used the silver mist by SW and just took a sponge brush and swiped it on it spots over the white. You are not trying to be neat. Just slap it on.

This photo may show the silver mist better. After this was dry I then used Benjamin Moore paint

in Georgian green and did the same thing as the gray color and brushed it on in spots. I am bad and did not take a picture of the green step, but it was the same as the gray (silver mist).

Here you can see the green that I brushed on and you can see the spots of gray. After I got through adding the green it was looking too solid so I took a little of the ivorie paint and mixed it with water and dipped my brush in and dabbed it on a paper towel and dry brushed a thin coat of the ivorie  over the surface in a few places and that helped it look better. You just have to keep stepping back and looking to see if you need add any more or if it has the look you want. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but this will give you an idea of how I achieve this look.

Here it shows how I sanded to the original finish to give it that worn look. Just choose spots here and there and sand.

Next I used Valspar Translucent glaze in Mocha and brushed it on with a foam brush and get it in all the cracks and crevices and take a damp rag to wipe it off. Most of the glaze will stay in the crevices and on the sanded edges as you can see in this photo. If you take off too much just do it again.

Let this dry over night and then you can use minwax finishing paste in natural or you can use a polyurethane. I used the paste and you just rub it on with a soft cloth and let it dry for a few minutes and buff with a soft cloth till it shines.

Items used:
Ivorie paint by Sherwin Williams in satin finish
Silver mist paint by Sherwin Williams in satin finish
Georgian green paint by Benjamin Moore in semi gloss
Valspar Translucent Glaze in mocha
sandpaper, one medium grit and one fine grit
rags and brushes
minwax paste wax in natural

If you have any questions just shoot them at me.
Have a wonderful weekend!

KIM

Linking to the following:
My Romantic Home for show and tell Friday
French Country Cottage for feathered nest Friday
Southern in my Heart for inspiration Fridays
Miss Mustard Seed for furniture Friday
Room Remix the blog for paint party 1-28-11
Stories of A 2 Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday