Hand Painted Limestone Vanity Top

Wow, this was fun! And I promise it literally only took 30/45 minutes to complete...no joke!!


Ta da!!!














The look of real stone without the price!
Okay, so the trick to creating a faux stone finish is layering, layering, layering. Layering paints of various colors in order to achieve that random beauty that is only found in nature.
I started out gathering my supplies. Acrylic paints in Ecru, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, and Iridescent Gold. I also added in some of the base color that I used in the cabinet project. My brush...I use a regular old angled paint brush. I like the large pattern and rich textured finish it creates. I am not a huge fan of using a sponge. You can use one if you make sure that it does not look like a sponge treatment. *Tip* The smaller the brush the smaller the pattern and vice versa.

I also had a stone tile on hand that I used as a reference when doing my project.

Start off by applying the Ecru Acrylic paint in a random pattern covering the surface completely. I call the technique that I use the "pounce and twist." Start off by pressing down with your brush like this...








Then twist and lift...


End in this position...








I repeated this process with the base cabinet color, burnt umber and iridescent gold in a very sporadic and sparse manner. I then topped everything with Titanium white. At this point, you begin to see the stone take shape...

I topped everything with another sporadic layer of the ecru acrylic paint and the finish it off with 4 coats of Polyurethane(yes 4). *Tip* Make sure the Poly dries completely between coats:)








Voila!

Distressed Cabinet

Drum roll please.......
So here it is...the big reveal! The bathroom cabinet turned out great!





I did a similar project in a clients home a few months ago. We found a telephone table at Calico Corners with this same finish.

So then the wheels started turning. Why couldn't we paint her kitchen cabinets in this same finish??? Thankfully she was game, so I called in the painter and we were on a roll. The finished product was beyond amazing! It needs to be in a magazine...nuff said:)

Now for the steps...

1. I started out prepping the cabinet by washing it and lightly sanding the finish with a very smooth sandpaper. Don't go crazy here... I literally did a quick once over with the sandpaper.

2. Next, I primed with a tinted primer, then painted the whole cabinet in a very light shade of blue-gray. Okay, I can't give you details on the base color because I bought the paint at Lowes in their (what I like to call) reject section. They mark down all of the paints that are mixed incorrectly and sell them on a cart in the paint dept. I paid 2.50 for a quart of paint! I had no idea if the paint would work but I was willing to take the risk. Lucky for me, it worked.

3. Then I bought a Benjamin Moore paint sample in the color Hemlock. I dipped my brush in water and then put a dab of the Hemlock on the brush. I brushed lightly over the whole cabinet in a random pattern--no need for perfection here.

4. After the paint had completely dried, I started with the glaze. And let me just say here, I love glaze. It creates such depth and beauty in so many forms. Anyway, on to the glaze. Lightly brush the glaze onto the cabinet working in small sections. Immediately rag off the glaze. TIP** Rag off the glaze with a damp cloth. The glaze dries quickly so the damp cloth will give you a little more room to play with the glaze.

5. Add the detail. This is what gives real depth to your project. Dip your brush in the glaze and paint around all of the raised panels then take your damp cloth and run your finger along the edge of the panel so all that is left is a thin line of glaze along the raised panel.

6. Let it dry completely and top it off with 2 coats of Poly acrylic. Done!

Now, I need your help. No cabinet is finished without the jewelry. Hardware...so many choices! These are the two that I am debating between... this






and this...





I would love your feedback!!


Now for our next project. We are going to be staying in the bath for a few days...I am going to change this boring white counter top...















Into this beautiful limestone top...


How?? With paint!!!!

See you tomorrow,