So I decided to try my luck at refinishing a dark espresso dining table in that weathered, driftwood finish that is becoming so popular right now. (Ya know you might have seen it at Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Wisteria, Ballard Designs)
My Objective: To paint OVER the dark wood instead of sanding down the tabletop to the raw wood for hours on end.
Here’s a look at the table when I initially started sanding it. (Realized about 20 minutes into the process what I had gotten myself into and decided to find an easier way to achieve the look with paint).
Here’s the finished product….remember this is NOT sanded down to the grain…just looks this way with paint!
The pictures don’t really do it justice since you can’t see the true depth of all the colors.
So to start the process, you will need the following materials:
1. Wood Graining Tool-(I got mine at Lowe’s in the paint section)
2. Small Paint Brush (doesn’t need to be anything expensive, you can even use your kids watercolor paint brush)
3. Big Paint Brush: A large good quality bristle brush (Purdy makes a good one. I swear I’ve used mine a hundred times already…even forgot to wash it and left paint dried up on it and it’s still my fav!)
4. Steel Wool: the courser the better
5. Clear Mixing Glaze: I get mine at Lowe’s in the Faux Finishing Specialty Paint Section
My Paint Colors for the Driftwood Finish Effect: (Note: Make sure these paints are in a flat finish….the goal is not for a glossy sheen….you want it to have a flat finish to be more realistic of weathered wood)
1. Peach Flat Paint (make sure it’s a true peachy hue….think 1980’s country kitchen)
2. Dark Gray Flat Paint
3. Honey Mustard Flat Paint
4. Saddle Brown Flat Paint
5. Cream Flat Paint
Okay, so don’t over-analyze these paint colors….I know they seem totally crazy but in the end, you will come out with this effect:
In the next section of this tutorial, I’m going to attempt to show you how I layered these colors to create the Driftwood look. Please ask me any questions you have about the materials listed and I’ll be happy to help!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Tutorial (to come soon!)
My Objective: To paint OVER the dark wood instead of sanding down the tabletop to the raw wood for hours on end.
Here’s a look at the table when I initially started sanding it. (Realized about 20 minutes into the process what I had gotten myself into and decided to find an easier way to achieve the look with paint).
Here’s the finished product….remember this is NOT sanded down to the grain…just looks this way with paint!
The pictures don’t really do it justice since you can’t see the true depth of all the colors.
So to start the process, you will need the following materials:
1. Wood Graining Tool-(I got mine at Lowe’s in the paint section)
2. Small Paint Brush (doesn’t need to be anything expensive, you can even use your kids watercolor paint brush)
3. Big Paint Brush: A large good quality bristle brush (Purdy makes a good one. I swear I’ve used mine a hundred times already…even forgot to wash it and left paint dried up on it and it’s still my fav!)
4. Steel Wool: the courser the better
5. Clear Mixing Glaze: I get mine at Lowe’s in the Faux Finishing Specialty Paint Section
6. Primer (I like Zinsser spray primer...less messy)
On to the fun part…The Paint Colors!
So this is where you just have to eyeball it….I usually get my paints for my Experimental Paint Lab from the “Oops Paint Section” (for those that don’t know about the Oops paints…I’m here to let you in on a wonderful little secret, mi amigo! These are the paints that have been marked down to ridiculously low prices because they were mistints or returns. I’m talking $1-$5 for a gallon sometimes! I love these reject paints for play time in the paint lab!)My Paint Colors for the Driftwood Finish Effect: (Note: Make sure these paints are in a flat finish….the goal is not for a glossy sheen….you want it to have a flat finish to be more realistic of weathered wood)
1. Peach Flat Paint (make sure it’s a true peachy hue….think 1980’s country kitchen)
2. Dark Gray Flat Paint
3. Honey Mustard Flat Paint
4. Saddle Brown Flat Paint
5. Cream Flat Paint
Okay, so don’t over-analyze these paint colors….I know they seem totally crazy but in the end, you will come out with this effect:
In the next section of this tutorial, I’m going to attempt to show you how I layered these colors to create the Driftwood look. Please ask me any questions you have about the materials listed and I’ll be happy to help!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Tutorial (to come soon!)
Great work! That is really cool to do the "faux" grain. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNo problem! I'm trying to restrain from doing every piece in my house in this finish...new technique always makes a little over-excited!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to Part Two! The results of this technique are truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteI know...so sorry I haven't gotten the Part 2 posted yet! I was hoping to do a video of how I do the technique, but I usually do this stuff during the day when my hubby is at work....nobody to hold the video camera! (wonder if my 4 year old could manage to be the camera man?) :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kristen! Love this technique and wanted to let you know I'm linking to you today on my blog (design-eye). thank you so much for posting this technique, can't wait to try it out!
ReplyDelete