Fusion Products Easily Create European Age, Elegance And Charm

by Fusion Mineral Paint

Years ago I rescued this substantial plant stand with visions of stenciling it like glam fabric to coordinate with our old and crusty column collection. You can see that it got a quick distressed finish and nothing else. So much potential was waiting to happen, right?

fusion products easily create european age elegance and charm, home decor, living room ideas, painted furniture

I needed some inspiration to get started. Colors and patterns especially. I was remembering a fabulous painting trip to Florence and and craving some warm, old world personality. Shouldn’t every home have something old, worn, weathered and gold?

My goal was to get rid of this plain finish.

And make it look like this! A bit like treasured old damask fabric found in an attic trunk.

Here's what I used to create this easy furniture finish*

FUSION SUPPLIES: Algonquin & Sterling Mineral Paint colors, Pale Gold & Silver Tinting Kits, Bronze Gilding Paste, Beeswax Finish, stencils and paintbrush.

Also, paper towels, lint-free rags, tin foil or a palette, wide inexpensive flat brushes and a tiny stiff brush.

* Fusion products can be found at http://fusionmineralpaint.com/products/ or at local retailers

PAINT A BASECOAT & DRY BRUSH

Paint one or two coats of Algonquin and let dry. (I often paint my pieces white first to get the vision creatively, so you can ignore this step.)

Dry brush some Sterling over select areas. Let dry. If you have never dry-brushed before, just off-load most of the paint on your brush onto paper towels before starting. This will allow you to get an aged look without sanding.

STENCIL USING METALLICS

The Fusion Tinting Kit metallics are highly pigmented water-based paints. So a little really does go a long way. Pour a few drops on tin foil or a palette, dip the tips of a stencil brush into the paint and off load excess paint onto paper towels. Use a swirling motion to stencil the pattern.

Use silver and gold and be creative with placement of your Fusion stencils.

Dry brush some gold.

Now we have a pretty, but very new-looking finish. Let’s add some aging, without having to break out the sandpaper.

ADD LIGHT TEXTURE AND DARK GILDING PASTE TO AGE

Use an old brush to stipple areas of Fusion Sandstone, avoiding a pattern. Let dry.

This is the last step, and Gilding Paste is a wax product, so you will not be able to paint over it. Use a throwaway brush to add Bronze Gilding Paste in crevasses to enhance the distressed patina. This step does need some practice. Use a stir stick to put some paste on a palette. I used a wide, stiff brush to dip into the paste, then rubbed a lot off on paper towels.

LESS IS GOOD to begin with. You can always build up more color. So go easy until you get the feel of the look you want.

I like to brush the paste on in small areas, then use a lint-free towel to rub it around or off in areas. Very quickly the Gilding Paste is making the fresh coats of paint and stencil designs to a lovely, aged patina. So exciting. So easy.

Now, add a pretty planter filled with your favorite floral. My planter fit almost exactly by total coincidence. I used bright green pothos since it likes low light and tolerates lack of water when I forget.

What do you think?

Find a Fusion Mineral Paint retailer near you at

http://fusionmineralpaint.com/where-to-buy/

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2 of 8 comments

Cindy on Apr 30, 2015
What a wonderful job! I like how it turned out :)

2 Reply
Cindy on May 01, 2015
This is the best project I have seen on DIY! Excellent explanation--gorgeous outcome! Thanks for sharing!!

1 Reply