Glazed Burlap Inserts in Faux Woodgrained Wainscoting

Just a quick post today.  I did a really beautiful project awhile back that helped amp up the beauty of this home. The homeowner wanted something different yet rich and more classicially traditional.  Her entryway, especially her stairway to the second floor, was quite tall - and there was very little architecture.  To help ameliorate (sorry for the high-end vacab...I was an English major!!) this "tallness," I suggested that she add some wainscoting with panels and some crown molding.  Once that was done, we went to work doing a faux mahogany finish (with a dollop of eggplant in the glaze mix).

Once white and plain...

The Recipe...

The base color was a brownish red (Leather Red from Aqua Finishing Solutions).  Then I floated Dutch Metal Gold - also from Aqua Finishing Solutions - on the edges for a little sophistication.  It's not quite visible in the photo...but that's because it's suffused under a glaze of Antique Mahogany plus some Eggplant Stain and Seal and a dash of Ebony (also from Aqua Finishing Solutions).

The finishing touch came by adding the burlap to the inserts.  I purchased the burlap online - but you can buy it anywhere as long as it's a burlap that has more of an open weave.  If it's tight, it won't work - well, maybe it will but I don't recommend it.  I put it on with carpenters glue (Elmer's).  You need to try to get the edges as clean as possible.  Mine were not perfect - so I added the cording to neaten it up.  After the glue was dry, I gave the burlap a clear topcoat. The client wanted to retain the light color of the burlap but I darkened it a bit with some dark brown glaze.

I've done this finish on furniture as well.  You can put it on just about anything that has an insert (it would look beautiful as an insert in a ceiling panel!) Come to think of it, I have an end table with a raised molding around the top (sort of like a tray table top) that could use this finish!

Above is a sample I did for a client where I painted and glazed the burlap in the same color. I just added some black accents to the sides of the insert.  Here you can see the burlap weave better - it's more open.  And you can see the edges. If you don't get it down close to the edge - it will look unfinished.  In the darker sample you don't see the edges quite so much...but on the lighter wainscoting inserts that I did for my client - the edges were more noticeable.  But, no big deal - that's what they make cording for!

It's a beautiful finish.  So - give this burlap finish a try in your own home!!

Linking this project up with Between Naps on the Porch

and some of my blog friends HERE

A Revamped Bookcase with Faux Aged Leather Inserts

I love to refinish furniture - taking something less than OK and making it into something special.  About 6 or 7 years ago, my husband and I bought a bookcase/entertainment unit at JC Penney that, at the time, was fine for just holding a TV and some books and photos. It was dark and not the greatest finish - but at the time I was just going for storage and I figured that at some point I would re-do the whole unit to blend better with the colors of our home.

Well, I was invited to take part in a Designer Showhouse - so I needed some extra furniture for the room that I was doing.  The two ends of the bookcase/entertainment unit would fit perfectly in one corner of the room.

The finished room - The Architect's Study - at the Caumsett Designer Showhouse 2010

Here are some pictures, taken in my office, as we started to revamp the piece...

Oops a little blurry...as it was being primed

With 2 coats of an off white latex on it. You can see more of the original color,

if you look at the inside where the TV is

I wanted to give the piece a little bit more distinction because it was a little plain, architecturally speaking.  So, for the recesses of the cabinet fronts, I crumpled up some gift wrapping tissue into a ball and then uncrumpled it and smoothed it a bit.  I put another layer of the basepaint in the recesses of the cabinet fronts, placed the wrinkled tissue on - and then put another layer of the basepaint on.

A close up of the finish.  It has a slight worn leather look to it.

Some closeups in my office along with some other cabinet samples

Then I glazed the entire piece with a brown, dark brown and gold glaze - let it dry and then I sanded it down on the edges to have the original dark color come through here and there. I then topcoated it with some polyurethane for protection.

In case you were wondering about the walls in my office - they are authentic Venetian Plaster...the real deal from Europe.  It's a very labor intensive process - several layers of the Plaster that's custom tinted and troweled by hand, then your burnish with the trowel to start the shine and to close the pores - then you wax it and buff it.  I did a great post awhile back on everything you'd want to know about Venetian Plaster here

Hope you enjoyed this.  If you have any questions about doing the tissue finish, let me know.  I may be doing a more thorough tutorial about it - as well as some of my other finishes very soon. Let me know if you have ever tried this technique.  It's great on furniture - especially nondescript types of pieces. You can even sand down the wrinkled part after you've painted and glazed for a rice paper look, which is really beautiful. I've done this on entire walls - especially when the walls are not in great shape!  Try it - it's something a little different for your revamped furniture pieces.

If you would like to have one of your furniture pieces redone, just give me a call at 631 793-1315.  I'd be glad to help you.

I am linking this project to:


House of Hepworth's
Domestically Speaking
Somewhat Simple
The Shady Porch
The Shabby Nest
Miss Mustardseed
Redoux
Stringtown Home
Savvy Southern Style
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Between Naps on the Porch
Be Colorful
Sumo Sweet Stuff
Embellishing Life Every Day
The Trendy Treehouse
Creating Really Awesome Free Things

Today I am Loving...

I have had a long week of work (and a pretty dull, non-inspiring type of project) - so for today's blogpost I needed some beautiful inspiration shots.  I hope you love these as much as I do...

Whistle While You Work:  These two office pictures make me smile. 

Who wouldn't be inspired in this space? Designed by Erinn Valencich

If winter comes, can spring be far behind?: An outdoor room styled by Lucinda Moodie.  With the cold weather upon us, we need these warm reminders.

What do you look at first?  The black enameled, art deco door, the silver-leafed ceiling,
the dining room furniture, the beautiful round table and light blue and white chairs...the chandelier?  By architect Peter Pennoyer

The Hidden Door:  So beautiful and practical - why waste precious wall space!  Add a bookcase to your door.  Peter Pennoyer

Geometric Love at First Sight: This is definitely a "where do you look first" image.  Notice the circles, ovals and rectangles in repetition.  This room really has a rhythm going. I couldn't live with this on a daily basis - but I love that ceiling and the mirror treatments on the walls.  From a past Pasadena Designer Showhouse by Linda Allen Designs

Total Serenity: You could easily wind down from a hectic day in this space.  Just add some chamomile tea. From Kips Bay Showhouse 2011, Elizabeth Pyne, McMillen Plus

Big Blue:  Who wouldn't have fun sitting at this desk.  UK Designer Abigail Ahearn's

turquoise desk makes a big splash in this room.  Her office is a constant reminder

to have fun and be creative.  Via The Selby

More Mora for Me: Look at the fabulous patina on this Swedish Mora clock. And the finish on the chair is fabulous too.  I'll be doing a tutorial soon on how to achieve this look. 

Love Mora Clocks. The antique turquoise finish on the clock is very unusual - just love it.  Wallpaper and fabric from Thibault