Gold Leafing and Antiquing a Fireplace Mantle

When I finally convinced my husband that we needed a kitchen renovation, I figured that if I got him that far...let me see if I can also get another room added on - a great room, off the kitchen.  Amazingly he said "yes!"  This was a few years ago - and I have been working on this great room since then.  It's been a work in progress.

Since my laptop is in the repair shop (my hard drive was damaged...so I won't have access to a lot of my pictures til next week or so), I'd like to share the pictures I do have to show you the work I did on the room.

First Incarnation...

I was happy to finally have a fireplace and mantle in my home - yippee, something else to decorate! (And that tree was supposed to be on our deck then - sorry about that one). But having the mantle so stark white really wasn't doing it for me.  I had done a nice sueded plaster on the walls in a cinnamon hue - very Ralph Lauren-ish kind of look and feel (without it being Ralph Lauren material!)...and I loved the warmth of it. 

So - what's a girl to do to make it all come together?  Add some decorative onlays, gold leaf them and then antique the entire mantle.

 Mantle...After

The gold leafing (or gilding) of the onlay gave the mantle more distinction and character, I think.  And the antiquing gave the onlay a nice patina - and now the tone of the painted wood blends so much better with the finish on the wall. Before the white just shouted at me - I am so much happier with this look.

Closeup of gilded and antiqued onlay

GILDING TIP: I first painted the onlay with a yellow gold paint - this will help you out later...because not every piece of leaf will stick! I used Gold Leaf sheets from Michael's - nothing fancy. But after you put on the size (the glue that makes the leaf stick to what you are gilding) - let it come to a tack. Don't put the gold leaf on when the size is still wet. Never place your finger on the size to check if it's ready - use your index finger knuckle to check it. Once it's ready, place the sheets on your object and tamp them down softly with a soft artist's brush. Once everything is on your onlay (or whatever you are gilding), take some cheesecloth and start to take away the gold leafing that didn't stick.  You can use an artist's brush to get into any crevices etc.

Once that's done, use your cheesecloth to burnish the gold leaf - you'll begin to see that it starts to get shinier.  Now - the leaf sold at Michael's and elsewhere is not real gold leaf...so the leaf will look a bit too brassy.  But after you antique it (as I did - with the rest of the mantle), it will lessen the shininess.  In addition, I took an artist's brush and took some dark brown tint and brushed it on to age and darken it.  You can also use a dark wax (Annie Sloan's or Liberon etc) to do this as well - and that will protect and seal your work!

So - hope you enjoyed this.  If you'd like to see a few more pics of this up close...click the links below to my website. 

Happy painting!!!

Closeup of the Mantle Finish 

Closeup of the Gilded Onlay 

Linking this project up to...
Elizabeth & Co

Miss Mustardseed
Redoux Interiors
Shabby Nesr
Romantic Home
Serenity Now
French Country Cottage
At the Picket Fence
Funky Junk Interiors
Home Stories A to Z
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Savvy Southern Style
Embracing Change

And some of these great parties as well