DIY: A Copper Bronze Furniture Finish

There are many things I love about being a decorative artist. Near the top of that list is the thrill of finding diamond in the rough furniture.  I've spent many weekends at flea markets, consignment stores and antique shops on the hunt for unloved but unique pieces. And best of all, since no one knows what to do with them, you can score a real bargain. My whole house is filled with these treasures.

This time the project is for a client.  I've already finished the walls, columns and table for this dining room. Plus I helped select the paint and light fixture.

Faux Effects Quartzstone, Stuco Lustro, Old World Venetian Wax and Mica Powders

Close-up of high polish plaster in Charcoal with Bronze and Copper Mica Powders.

Copper Crystal and Rubbed Bronze light fixture

The dining table in Faux Effects Copper Faux Metal and Custom tinted glazes.

A big trend for 2018 interiors is mixed metals. Obviously our main metal is Copper with a mix of a golden Bronze.  So I was excited to find this sofa table at a Kansas City consignment store. The marble is in perfect shape and the colors are spot on.

But the wood base was drab and dark.  No worries. Time for a Metallic Makeover!

The first step in a furniture makeover is the clean the surface, a light sand, and a final wipe down with denatured alcohol.  My base paint is Faux Effects Designer Metallic in Charred Gold.  I wanted the base to be a warm brown based gold therefore I did not add the silver concentrate that came with the Designer Metallic. The easiest way to apply with out spraying is to brush on the paint and pounce it with a Leon Neon.

Well I've been reversing the first and last name for years! Leon Neon.

I let my base paint dry over night.  The next step is unexpected but I use this mix and technique a lot on furniture, cabinets and front doors.  Mix 1 quart of  Aquawax + 2 Cups of Metal Glow + 1/4 Cup So-Slow Super Extender.  The wet mix will look cloudy-that's the wax. But it will dry to the metallic color.  My mix will fill in flaws, protect the surface and create a strong slick surface for further glazing.

The Metal Glow for this project is Ginger Brown.  There is not much wood on this side table so I cut my recipe in half.

I brush the mix over the surface and pounce with the Leon Neon (see you will use this brush a lot).

Even though there is So-Slow Extender added this layer usually is dry within a few hours. Always check each layer for bonding before proceeding as dry times vary due to climate and thickness of application.  Next I mix a pint of glaze medium: Faux Crème Clear, Aquacreme or FX Thinner (all will work with Metal Glow) + 1/2 Cup Sunburst Metal Glow + 1/4 Cup Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal.

Brush on the mix and pounce with cheesecloth. I wipe back the high areas more with the cheesecloth.

I use a flat small squared brush to tip and shape the architecture of the piece.  Van Dyke Brown Stain & Seal thinned with FX Thinner will work for this step.  The glaze and detail layers should dry overnight.


To seal the piece, I mixed a pint of  un-tinted Aquawax  with 2 TBSP So-Slow Extender. This is thinly brushed over the surface and wiped back with the cheesecloth. Avoid letting it collect in the deeper areas or corners to avoid a frosty look.  I used the Aquawax because I had it in an earlier layer but you can top coat this finish with Varnish Plus or C500 if desired.

Here is a version of the same finish with  Faux Effects Fauxstone Pull-Off added under the base coat.

Don't forget this is the last week for the December Metal Glow Sale if you want to try this finish yourself.

Rebecca 

Fall in Love with Faux Effects' Stain & Seal

It's in the air: cooler weather, the leaves are changing and the holiday season is just around the corner. Fall is my favorite time of the year so it's perfect that the October Product of the Month is also a personal favorite: Stain & Seal!

Faux Effects Pickling White Stain & Seal. You need this for rustic modern cabinets!

Anyone that has ever seen my hands in public (even at some formal events) knows that I use Stain & Seal a lot. It also shows how well it grips! Stain & Seal is not only my go-to for cabinets and furniture but it's my preferred colorant for glazing walls, even big ones. But more on that later.

Is Stain & Seal a Gel Stain?  That is probably the number one question I get about it.  When you think about gel stain it's in the name-the material is full-bodied like a gelatin.  Imagine spreading cream cheese on a bagel-it covers the bagel well (and cleanly) but doesn't sink in.  Traditional oil stains are more like heated butter. They soak into the bagel and spread out but you will see the doughy surface.  Does that make sense? I hope so because now I'm hungry....

Stain & Seal is thick bodied like the gel stain but has stronger bonding properties and it seals-remember it's in the name. This means you can layer more color on top of it without lifting the under-stain. This comes in handy when you 're creating a finish with depth and need to get the project done. You still need to topcoat (the 2nd most asked question) to hold up to cleaning and to enhance the color work.

Here I'm using Faux Effects Stain & Seal to refresh antique Pecan wood for a table top. I removed water rings and the Stain & Seal blended in the sanded areas and worn finish beautifully!

Stain & Seal contains high quality well-grounded pigments in a unique water-based formula.  It is non-hazardous, non-flammable, and soap & water clean up.  It is rated for interior use only because the highly reflective color has limited UV resistance in direct sunlight. For exterior use  Faux Effects has Transoxide colors and Faux Crème Color Concentrates for outside surface projects.

It comes in gallons & quarts.  The most popular colors are American Walnut, Van Dyke Brown and Rich Brown but there is a shade for every project. Just look at these colors:

See, this is why I wear it like nail polish!

Let's take a closer look at the colors.  These are the blacks to the rich browns....

moving into the pines and red based tones....

and a golden yellow brown followed by the most versatile colors you didn't know you needed. Trust me on this! But if you don't, check my next blog post because I'm going to show how much you will use Colonial Green, Williamsburg Blue and Pickling White.

And something unique in the market, a range of metallic stains....

You know when a client says at the end of a glazed cream cabinet job, "I think the glaze looks a little dark?" Guess what? You can thin Pearl Stain & Seal, brush it over your FE topcoat and wipe it off. The bit of metallic works like a highlighter-imagine putting Vaseline on a lens to make you look younger (don't ask how I know about that one). The finish looks brighter which makes it look lighter. This trick works like a charm.

Cream Cabinet with Faux Effects Pearl Stain & Seal

And there is a Tint Base so you can get all creative and make your own stain colors using Faux Effects Faux Crème Colors or Faux Color.

And guess what? You can make that thick cream cheese into a thinner butter because Stain & Seal mixes with a several glaze mediums.  My preference is FX Thinner which is a water based resin medium for staining.  FX Thinner is used to thin the color concentration of Stain & Seal and it dries to a very hard low sheen finish.  It's the "dries hard" part that I really like because I want to get my layers on as quickly and safely as possibly. I don't want to lift previous layers.

FX Thinner will also prepare raw wood and then you may mix it with Stain & Seal for color (I like a 3 parts FX Thinner to 1 part Stain & Seal mix).

Custom stained island in warm browns by Surfaces Fine Paint using Faux Effects Stain & Seal

Want to freshen up faded stains or cabinets that have turned orange? You may mix FX Thinner and Stain & Sealer for color correction.

Iced Latte finish by Surfaces Fine Paint over old oak using Faux Effects Stain & Seal

When I want to wood grain, I like something a little thicker to hold the shapes created by the specialty brushes and tools. But I  also need to have open time to work large wood doors or panels. This is when I use Aquacreme with my Stain & Seal! I start with the same 3:1 ratio.

Faux Zebra Wood using Faux Effects Aquacreme and Faux Effects Stain & Seal

Faux Burl Wood using Faux Effects Aquacreme and Faux Effects Stain & Seal

And just when you thought you were really getting your money's worth, you may use Stain & Seal to tint Duraseal which is the Faux Effects Sanding Sealer. I use this mix when I need to create a more opaque base on old stained wood or raw wood that needs to be conditioned and color corrected. And I still want to see some grain.

Look at this poor sweet dresser.....

 And after with Duraseal mixed with American Walnut and Pickling White (see, I told you that you need it)

Pale grey pickled dresser with Faux Effects Duraseal and Faux Effects Stain & Seal

Pale grey pickled dresser with Faux Effects Duraseal and Faux Effects Stain & Seal

Have you been getting lots of requests for Restoration type finishes? Me too! These finishes highlight the grain and are most often found on White Oak.  If you've seen the pieces in person, you will notice that the surface feels waxy.  The best way I've found to re-create these looks is with Faux Effects Finishing Paste 

Car siding used for a ceiling colored with Faux Effects Finishing Paste and Faux Effects Stain & Seal. Project done by Surfaces Fine Paint.

White Oak custom finished by Surfaces Fine Paint with Faux Effects Finishing Paint and Faux Effects Stain & Seal

And don't forget-IT'S WATER-BASED! Water is your friend.  You can wet the surface first to create a slick area for movement. Or you may spritz with water to remove stain. I always keep a damp cloth handy to wipe off stain on purpose or to remove boo-boos.  Big walls? No problem.  I just spray the surface with water and brush in my FX Thinner and Stain & Seal Mix. Then I remove with a damp cloth.

Faux Effects Stain & Seal over plaster. Brushed on and removed with a damp cloth.

Why Stain & Seal for walls?  The colors are rich-it would take me 3 colorants to get the tone of American Walnut Stain & Seal if I needed to make it from scratch.  The bite and thickness allows it to settle in textured finishes. Don't worry about it moving...just use water.

Faux Effects Palette Deco Pearl, Faux Effects RS Sandstone, Faux Effects Sandstone with flake glazed with Faux Effects American Walnut Stain & Seal.  Modern light plaster finish with sparkle! 

Stain & Seal has always been an good deal. Non metallic colors are $18.93 quart and $60.77 a gallon. Metallic stains are $28.63 a quart and $79.54 a gallon. It goes a loooong way.

Want to try some colors or create samples? You can purchase Stain & Seal in sample sizes of 2oz or 16oz pots!  This size is great for Crafters or Canvas Artists. 

Want to try them all? You can get a Stain & Seal kit with all the colors and metallics for $134.

Now that your mind is spinning about all the uses for Stain & Seal (and I haven't even shared recipes, yet) October is your lucky month:

That's right! 20% off the month of October. For more information you may visit your favorite local Faux Effects Distributor! And check back here for a weekly post on more ways you may use Stain & Seal. With so many uses there is a lot to share....and ways to Fall in Love.

Rebecca