Hello, Graphics Fairy Friends – Heather from Thicketworks here with a simple technique to create this Classic Black Beauty Paint Finish!
The amazing creative team at Heirloom Traditions Paint provided the products for this project, and has
sponsored this post.
If you would like to recreate this finish, here’s what you’ll need:
- One forgotten chair, full of potential
- Heirloom Traditions Chalk Type Paint: Black Bean
- Heirloom Traditions Soft Wax: Jet Black
- Heirloom Traditions Metallic Masters Gilding Patina: Copper Penny
- Medium Oval Paint & Wax Brush (Best Chalk Brush)
- A thin, flat paint brush for detailing
- 400 grit sandpaper
- Clean rags (I prefer micro-fleece, but old t-shirts make great rags, too)
- Optional: TSP (trisodium phosphate) solution to clean the wood prior to painting
This little chair had gorgeous lines, but was in dire need of some love.
Jackie isn’t sure that this one can be saved! She’s a very dubious dog…
How to:
- If your rescued piece has any upholstery you’d like to replace, remove the existing fabric carefully, using a screwdriver and pliers.
This chair pad had six layers of fabric!
(The existing pad was in good shape. It got recovered with black velvet.)
Note: There’s no need to sand, prior to painting with HTP Chalk Type Paints – making a project like this one a BREEZE!
2. Apply two coats of Black Bean Chalk Type Paint. I allowed two hours drying time between each one.
Note: For this finish, allow the final coat of paint to cure overnight, prior to distressing or waxing.
3. When the paint has cured, apply a coat of Jet Black Soft Wax with your Best Chalk Brush, making sure to get in all the nooks and crannies.
4. Buff the wax with a clean rag until it feels silky, and has a soft gleam. I like to work in sections:
5. Add some gentle distressing on the carved details, with 400 grit sandpaper:
6. Using a flat artists brush, add a bit of Copper Penny Gilding Patina in the recesses:
Note: This preliminary layer of wax will make it easy to wipe back any metallic finish that touches areas you don’t wish to tint. Uncoated Chalk Type Paint will be harder to ‘clean’.
7. Wipe away any excess Gilding Patina – a damp rag is perfect for this clean-up step.
8. Add metallic detailing wherever you want to see a little glimmer.
I love the Gilding Patinas, they’re so versatile.
In this detail shot you can see where I got Copper Penny on the face of the chair – wiping it off with a damp rag leaves a perfect line of copper in the groove!
9. Add a final touch of Jet Black Soft Wax on the areas exposed by distressing, and buff.
Here’s the simple process:
A. Paint with two coats of Black Bean Chalk Type Paint.
B. Apply a layer of Jet Black Soft Wax, buff, and distress lightly with 400 grit sandpaper.
C. Apply a final layer of Jet Black Soft Wax over the distressed areas and buff: this deepens the finish and the wood tones become richer.
That’s all there is to it! So simple, but so effective…
I love the final result…it reminds me of antique furniture I’ve coveted (but couldn’t afford) over the years.
This piece was forlorn and neglected, but HTP products made it so simple to transform it into treasure with this Classic Black Beauty Paint Finish. I can’t stop touching the finish – it’s so silky…
HTP Chalk Type Paints are so easy to work with…whatever your style, they make it easy to get the look you want.
You can distress a little, a lot, or not at all.
For more information on Heirloom Traditions Products, please visit www.heirloomtraditionspaint.com
* Full Disclosure: Heirloom Traditions supplied their products to be used in this project, and they sponsored this post – however, I supplied the elbow grease, rescued furniture, design concept, and opinions! All of which reflect my own point of view, regardless of affiliation…
Now this lovely chair has a new lease on life – and you’ve learned a simple new paint technique!
Thank you for taking the time to visit The Graphics Fairy – I hope you enjoy this Classic Black Beauty Paint Finish on one of your projects!
If you’d like to explore more ways to transform forlorn objects into precious treasures, stop by Thicketworks, and poke around – you’re sure to find something odd interesting!
Take Care,
Heather
Anne says
Curious why you used black wax instead of clear. Thanks.
Heather Tracy says
Hi Anne! Excellent question – I chose the Jet Black Wax to intensify the darkness of the finish. Clear would have worked well, but I really craved an even more deeply black finish, rather than dark charcoal. The Jet Black Wax also helps to mellow the wood tones that show up in the areas that have been distressed, and I REALLY wanted to tone down that orange! Hope this helps! xox
Rupa says
What a classy chair!! I have Deco Art chalk finish paint. Would it work? There are so many types of chalk paints anymore and I don’t want to buy one of each type 🙂
Heather Tracy says
Oh my goodness! Darling Rupa – I didn’t intentionally ignore your sweet comment. Didn’t see it until just now. I’m sure you’ve got your own answers after all this time, but of COURSE you can use any Chalk Type Paint to create this finish! No need to buy more if you already have some in inventory. xox
bj says
Wow! Love it. Are the paints available on line or in stores?
Heather says
Hey bj – the paints are available at http://heirloomtraditionspaint.mybigcommerce.com/ there, you can order them online or search for a retailer in your local area. You can also check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heirloomtraditonspaint/?fref=ts and Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/heirloompaint
Cath says
Gorgeous. You have an eye for a good chair–I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at this one. But the way you refinished it makes a stunning statement. All the little details give it character. Is Jackie still allowed to sit on it?
Heather says
Hi Cath – this chair just spoke to me! Yeah, I’m the weird woman in the back of the thrift shop, muttering and calculating as I sift through the treasures…
Jackie is allowed to sit on ANYTHING she wants, but she prefers Papa’s lap to any piece of furniture, no matter how alluring!
Thanks for your kind words – they mean more than I can say.
Julie foster says
Very pretty! I looks so nice with the black velvet seat cover.
Heather says
Hi Julie! I played with a lot of different fabric options, but in the end, velvet was the ONLY choice! Sometimes you just have to keep it simple. (Not my strong suit!)
Thanks for leaving such a sweet comment!
Paula says
Loved meeting Jackie. She is definitely a cutie. The chair looked beautiful and I bet Jackie knew it would turn out perfect. I’d like to use the black bean on my bathroom cabinets but would wax be enough protection? Thanks for another informative tutorial and please keep them coming!!
Heather says
Hi Paula, Jackie is pleased to meet you, too! Black Bean on cabinets would be spectacular!
You can wax in order to do any antiquing/distressing techniques, but then I would finish with Aqua Clear Coat, which will seal and protect the Chalk Type Paint/Waxed surfaces for a ‘high-traffic’ area like bathroom cabinets.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and comment – have a lovely day!
Wendy says
Absolutely beautiful finish on this chair – what a difference! Thanks for showing us your technique.
Heather says
Thanks, Wendy! This technique is so easy, but boy, does it come out beautifully.
Darlene Hurtado says
I love this transformation! I also need to replace to foam. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
Heather says
Hi Darlene, thanks so much for your sweet comment. When I need to replace the foam, I stop by Joanne Fabrics and purchase just the amount of foam I need. You can add a layer of batting (the stuff used to make quilts fluffy) over the foam to make it even softer. Hope this helps!
Marilyn says
Exquisite!
Heather says
Aww…Thanks Marilyn! Such a simple process, but the results are truly exceptional.