I’m a painting fool and this white wash painting technique is one of my favorite things to use on furniture!
I have grown unbearably weary with the dark wood in my house and have set out to change it and do it on a budget.
Which means paint!
I have an old trunk in my library room…one morning I taped it up (it has metal strips) and got out my trusty Behr Paint with Primer …
I painted and then distressed….oh, I decided to paint the metal strips. Just cause.
But this particular color, Antique White, stood out like you wouldn’t even believe.
I knew it was too much of a good thing so I decided to use an easy white wash painting technique!
Remember all the delicious colors I used in my dinning room? (posted HERE)
Since this technique calls for 3 colors…I decided to stick with those 3 colors. My true-love colors…Behr Antique White and 2 custom colors I had mixed using the Behr Paint with Primer. (Beachy Blue and Sandy Sage)
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Here’s the Low-Down
*Use 2 colors you love and 1 neutral white or cream
*First paint your furniture. Let it dry completely. It’s suggested you use one of the 2 “colors” for this step, (As opposed to the white or cream) but remember my trunk was already painted in Antique White. So, as usual…I didn’t follow the rules.
*Next mix 1 of your 2 colors: 30% paint to 70% water and paint over the first coat. This mixture is soooo thin that I just couldn’t believe it would work. So in my normal worrisome way I painted a second coat …I don’t think I needed to do that. Everybody say “Overkill”… Anyhoo, let the ‘paint-water’ coat dry completely. (I used the scrumptious beachy-blue for my 1st coat.)
*Now, mix the cream or white paint: 30% paint to 70% water. (Remember I wasn’t following the rules so I used my Sandy Sage color for this step!)
When it is completely dry sand away until you have the look you want!
The different colors peek through and I have some of the original wood showing since I had distressed my piece before white washing…
I love it!
I feel better now…sigh.
And I’m about to redo the curtains…look at this delicious fabric I found!
Sending love my sweet friends
xo
Oh, it’s very lovely! You did a fantastic job!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
.-= Shelia´s last blog ..Behind Closed Doors =-.
This looks fantastic! Great work!! It really is a lovely improvement.
Victoria
.-= Victoria @ DesignTies´s last blog ..Ikea Hacking at its Finest- =-.
I love this technique. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have an old trunk that I would love to try this out on. (Sometime) There are just not enough hours in the day, are there? Your trunk is beautiful. Love & blessings from NC!
.-= Melinda´s last blog ..My new old French chest- =-.
Wow thats nice! Very Vintage CHIC if you ask me..
.-= Jeannie´s last blog ..I Did It =-.
This came out so great! I love the slight shading of colors. My favorite shades too. I will have to remember this for a future project. Really pretty!
.-= Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal´s last blog ..Getting Primed =-.
Oh Robin, it looks GREAT!!!! You are just making everything so bright and beautiful! JUST LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have missed you, just got back from vacation! I am SO out of the loop, didn’t use a computer all week! AMAZING for me:):) XO, Pinky
Wow, What a transformation…looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing this technique.
xo, Sherry
.-= Sherry @ No Minimalist Here´s last blog ..Please Vote For My Family Room =-.
Hi Robin. I don’t know if you have been on Cindy Santiagos blog, My Romantic Home, but your new’ look’ of lightening up your home is similar to her house. I love that look also, but my hubby won’t let me paint our hand me down furniture : ( Have fun transforming your lovely home!
I’ve always wondered how to create this look… so good to tuck away for the future… still love my wood tones, but I am also a girl who likes change and this is an affordable way to change.
.-= Vicky´s last blog .. =-.
Now this is a gorgeous trunk ! You are amazingly talented!
.-= Laura Ingalls Gunn´s last blog ..Opening the Door to Possible Fear and Failure =-.
I have been going so stinking stir crazy lately and want to change EVERYTHING. I think I need you to come help me 😉
.-= gitz´s last blog ..YOU-create an introduction =-.
love it!!!
I love this! I’ve been looking for something, “anything” to do with the brick on my fireplace. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to use the same technique used on furniture, but still…it’s given me an idea! 🙂
.-= Sheree´s last blog ..Another Saturday Night…What’s for Dinner =-.
It turned out beautifully! thanks for the great step by step techniques…I’ve been searching and your directions with the photos are very clear.
Have a beachy day…
Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea
http://nauticalcottageblog.com
Love it ! I so need to take the paint plunge…..there are just a few family pieces that I will not paint, but let me a the rest.
oh how i love your white washed trunk… and i so know what you mean about the dark wood. i just need to get john on board.
i really wanna paint our kitchen cabinets…but he so far….will have NOTHING to do with it.
our 100 year old woodwork…i’d love to paint it white too… but NOPE…
and john rarely says no….but he’s not budging… 🙁 i love white and truly would love a white and more white ….beachy house…. it’s funny how we change. 🙂
xxo, kim
.-= kim klassen´s last blog ..the perfect day with kelly – the blue muse =-.
This looks amazing! I’ve read about watering down paint for whitewashing, but never with this layered color effect. I love it – way to go. Now I’m off to find something to paint 🙂
P.S. Fun to discover another Robin in blogland!
.-= Robin R @ Chris and Robin’s Nest´s last blog ..Office Makeover =-.
It sure turned out homey & lovely.
I so like the white/distressed/Victorian look of your dining room. It is just so calm & peaceful & inviting.
It wouldn’t work for our house, but i so love looking at pics of people who use it. Have to admit, however, i struggle with painting wood. I do it sometimes, but usually i shy away from it.
Beautiful creation. 🙂
http://kateekat.blogspot.com/
It look very fresh! I have an old chest that I was going to spray white…since I’m always looking for the easy way out! But, I think I’ll do what you did…breaking the rules and all! Thanks for sharing!
That turned out fantastic! I too am tired of the dark woods I seem to have filled my house with…I’m starting to hit each piece one by one! Great job!
Cool! I love your final product!!
.-= Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect´s last blog ..More Than Defined- The Patriotic Version =-.
Oh that came out amazing! I want to buy it or make one or something too! Just beautiful! 🙂
Beautiful job! love it
I just bought an old wooden trunk this weekend and was searching on how to white wash and you had it exactly how I want to do it. Cant wait to start. Thanks
Good luck Jackie! Let me know how it works! The great think about painting is that if you don’t like it you can just repaint!!! xo
R u kidding me. This is exactly what I want to do to mine. Thanks for how. this is the first place I looked.
I want gray wash my kitchen cabinets. I want the wood Gran to show through. How do I do thisl? Thanks.
Mary, that sounds lovely but I’m really not certain how you’d go about it. Maybe google painting techniques and see if you could find some instructions ~ Good luck!
love the distressed look. I have been meaning to do this with a few pieces of furniture. Thanks for the inspiration.
I was so excited when I found this page. This trunk is exactly what I’m trying to do to a trunk of mine. The colors you mentioned (beachy blue and sandy sage) do not exist with Behr. Are you sure that’s what you used or could they have just been discontinued. Love you site. Thank you!!
Nancy, Those colors I used were ones I had custom matched at the HOme Depot…I just made up the names…
A great blue/gray that I’ve found since then (and used in my new house) is Rhino (a Behr color) and a gorgeous soft blue that ‘s not bright just dreamy is Pensive Sky (also a Behr Paint color) I didn’t use any greens in the new house but I’m sure you can find one using these blues just grab a few paint chips and look for the softest one. One that isn’t minty colored…be sure and get a 3.00 sample to try it first though 🙂
xoxo
good
Thank you so much for the info!!!