Distressing a piece of furniture (shabby chic I think it's called)

[barb1314]

I have an old pine cabinet which is looking a bit past it so I would like to paint and distress it.Can anyone give me a quick description of how to do it? Without sounding totally dumb which order do I paint and wax etc?Thanks in advance.Barb.

[Jules001]

I did this to an old sideboard I had rescued. I wanted it to be like a limed oak effect I believe the 'correct' way to do involves, liming paste and wire wool etc which sounded a bit complicated and so I sanded the sideboard down, painted it with a paint I bought especially for the job (sorry can't remember what it was) and then applied a clear wax and buffed up, I still think it looks good, however a friend was visiting when I was in the last stages of buffing the wax and I asked her what she thought of it - her reply ' It will look good when it's finished!'

[barb1314]

Thanks Jules,that's what I thought but just wanted to check.I thought to make it a bit 'shabby looking' I could maybe use a bit of wire wool whilst the paint is wet?Anyway,will give it a whirl and see.It might be a whole new hobby! Thanks

[sense4all]

If you like the french type of look a darker paint exposed under the lighter colour, draw a piccy of your piece of furniture ... mark with a rough measurement where you have put the darker shade on top of your primer, lightly rub over with a candle (or your wax equivalent )
this makes the paint not stick in those places you put your top coat on then rub away to the other paint colour hidden beneath. Seen it done with a really dark turqoise and deep deep red with a cream top coat rubbed back to expose the edges where wear would have occured and it was gorge!!

[barb1314]

That sounds great too.Thanks very much sense4all.