Get An Amazing Old World Look With Layered Paint

Posted in Furniture Makeover
Get An Amazing Old World Look With Layered Paint

I’ve always loved the old-world layered paint finishes, and recently my curiosity got the best of me. I just had to try. My challenge to myself was to incorporate a color that I’m not particularly fond of. PINK! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a pretty color, but I’m just not a pink kind of girl. The results shocked me, and I might be a convert.

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Old World Look With Layered Paint

I never thought I would love pink until I layered paint with Sea Spray texture additive. It created a beautiful Old World Finish on this dresser.

Layered Paint

To get the layered paint effect, I was wanting, I started with a base coat of Hurricane Gray. The coverage was great, and it only took one coat.

The second color I used was Coffee Bean. I applied it in random areas around the drawers using the dry brush method. This is where you have very little paint on your brush, and you brush lightly without full coverage. You will see the gray through the black.

Painting the base coat with Hurricane Gray with the first step in the layered paint process to get the old world finish.
The second step was adding Coffee Bean chalk mineral paint using the dry brush method to get the layered paint finish.

Texture Additive | Layered Paint Finish

This is where it got fun! I added the Sea Spray to the Buttercream chalk mineral paint and made a consistency like peanut butter. I hate to admit I didn’t measure, but I really don’t think you could mess this up. Using my chip brush, I stippled the paint in random areas. Again, not full coverage. Just enough to add texture. Oh, by the way, I won’t be using that brush again, so don’t use your good one. An inexpensive chip brush will do. I trashed it!

After the texture had dried, I went back with the Tea Rose chalk mineral paint and stippled that over the whole piece, and allowed it to dry. Stippling is a method of applying paint. Rather than brushing it on, you dabbed it on with the end of the bristles of the paintbrush. Using this method created even more texture and layering. I used 220 grit sandpaper to gently smooth any of the rough raised areas once it had dried. The finish will be rough/textured, and that’s just what I wanted. I was careful not to over-sand because I wanted the rough texture. Just enough to knock off the sharp peaks.

Sea Spray texture additive was added to the Buttercream chalk mineral paint to create a layered paint finish.

Adding the Black Wax | Layered Paint Finish

The next step in the process was adding the black wax and blended it with a chip brush. I like the look it gave rather than using my large wax brush. This gave me more control as I added more in the corners of the trim around the drawers. I really loved the way the black wax would get caught in the rough texture. It’s was a beautifully layered paint finish.

Because more is always better in my book, I added a pink/red (Anastasia) and gold (Warm Gold) gilding wax on the hardware and around the edges of the drawers. Just enough color to bring out the pink. This was the easiest part of the whole project. I rubbed it on the hardware with my fingers, and on the flat surfaces, I used a soft bristle brush and blended it in.

I added black wax with a chip brush to bring out the details in the layered paint finish.
The final step in the Old World Finish was to apply gilding wax to the hardware and over the layered paint around the edges of the drawers and in the corners.

The pink is still dancing around in my head. I like the look of the old-world finish. What do you think about this finish?

Thanks again for joining me, and as always, I welcome comments and your feedback. I’d love to hear from you.

Until the next project… xo, Do

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12 Comments

  1. Going to paint my baby grand, I want to do it in black or i could use navy blue. I think I need some help with the steps of color and supplies. Thank you

    1. Hi Nelda! I’m so glad you’re here. I would love to help you get started! You can learn all my tips and tricks here in my video library. I teach you everything from prep to finish with the supply lists. Click here to learn more. https://bit.ly/2PC82xK

      Hope to see you soon. Do

  2. This turned out beautiful! I’m wondering though, did you prime or do anything to your piece before you painted other than clean it?

    1. Thanks, Renea! No, I just cleaned it well first. However… I do believe that most pieces need a primer/stain blocker to prevent bleed-through of possible stains and wood tannins. It really depends on the piece. The varnish was in good shape so I opted to skip that step. 🙂 Hope this helps answer your question. Do

  3. I have an Old World antique door that is outside. It has lots of layered paint and is now chipping/fading away. Could you possibly recommend which technique to use?

  4. I am sooo in love with this look! My husband would probably have a fit over it but oh well! I was wondering…how do you think it would look if I did the buffet to look like the wall and the wall to look like the buffet? I love the incorporated pink! I’m not 100% sold on the design on the buffet. I’m thinking I’d have to go with more of a swirled look or ?? I don’t know exactly. But the mixture of the colors…oh yes I love it! I actually love the whole design with the frame and bowl, the wall, the books, etc. the whole look! Back to the pink…I think I’d go for a deeper pink. Something with just a bit more pink to it. I’m not a pink girl either but I think that would look nice. Great job as usual Do! I’ll follow you to the moon…lol!

    1. I say go for it, Shirley. It sounds gorgeous to me. If worst comes to worst, it’s not permanent. I’m so glad you enjoyed this tutorial. The deeper pink sounds like a lovely idea. 🙂 xo

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