Below is the original tutorial for the Faux Zinc
painting technique that I used to create my
Restoration Hardware inspired nightstand.
For those of you that haven’t seen this post,
check it out first because there a many more photos
to illustrate the faux zinc finish.
This technique easy and beginner friendly.
It’s also very inexpensive.
Update:
When I first started blogging, I apparently felt the need to make a very simple process
look intimidating by creating a 14 step video tutorial!
Honestly. It isn’t hard at all.
(I was just crazy detailed.)
It is simply a matter of mixing
3 shades of metallic paint
and and just layering it on.
Optional:
You can hit the nooks & crannies with a fine tip brush dipped in white
for a more authentic faux zinc look.
Easy.
You can do this!
Supplies List:
Cotton rag (an old t-shirt works great)
nails
hammer
2 oz. DecoArt Americana acrylic paint in Ebony Black
2 oz. DecoArt American acrylic paint in Titanium White
8 oz. DecoArt Americana Glazing Medium
Before I continue,
let me say that the paint you use is essential to a realistic faux zinc finish.
I am grateful that Mallie at DecoArt found my blog, offered to help with this project,
and sent me some metallic and acrylic paints to try.
And. oh. my. gosh.
I’ve used several metallic paints before and the Elegant Finish Metallic paint is my absolute favorite
(and I’m not just saying that because of Mallie’s kindness).
Many metallic paints are thin and sheer, requiring several coats.
This paint covered in one coat, has a beautiful, realistic sheen,
and the consistency was a dream to work with.
The Elegant Finish Metallic paint is specifically for home decorating -
furniture, walls, wallpaper, etc.
Update:
It’s been almost 2 years since I’ve painted the nightstand and it looks good as new.
I use it in my kitchen as a coffee station, which gets plenty of regular use.
Not a scratch or ding yet.
DecoArt also makes an Elegant Finish Metallic glaze.
You can find all of the paints that I used at any Micheal’s or Hobby Lobby.
Step 1
Step 2
in CAPITAL LETTERS and bold font.
Step 3
Hammer in tiny nails.
Step 4
Mix three shades of metallic paint.
Light. Medium. Dark.
Use a combination of:
Shimmering Silver
Titanium White
Ebony Black
Step 5
Using a rag to apply and blend the different shades.
You don’t need to be too particular about it either.
Imperfect works here.
Just use long strokes and work in sections because the paint dries pretty quickly.
Here is my nightstand after the base coat of metallic paint.
You can stop here and have a beautiful piece of furniture.
If you want a more worn patina, continue…
Step 6
Mix a light glaze for the lighter patina.
Use a 1:1 ratio of water and glazing medium.
Add Titanium White and Shimmering Silver.
(Again, the Shimmering Silver is also available in a glaze so you could
use the pre-made glaze and simply add white.)
Step 7
Rub on the white patina.
I applied the patina a bit heavier on the sides like this
Restoration Hardware photo
See…
Step 8
Mix a dark glaze for burnishing.
Use a 1:1 ratio of water and glazing medium.
Add Ebony Black and Shimmering Silver.
Step 12
Step 13
(Final) Step 14
I hope you like the tutorial and find it helpful.
And just in case you’re wondering why I’m not talking in the videos,
the original PLAN was to splice them together into one video
with french music playing in the background.
However, my video software wasn’t cooperating.
A few anticipated answers:
The chair in the background can be found here.
The tutorial for the rosette on the chair can be found here.
The song playing in two of the videos is “La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf.
The linens on the bed are Pottery Barn’s “Hemstitch” collection and are about 6 years old.
Yes, I needed a manicure afterward.
And,
Jami
Wow! You did a wonderful job with this tutorial – I didn’t realize there was so much involved with this process! I LOVE how your dresser turned out and I’m still excited to try it. I’m going to GW tomorrow to find the perfect piece to try it on – I’ll send you a pic…if it turns out half as good as yours. :)
wow jami! you out did yourself! with the videos and the finished nightstand! how did you know to do all those different steps! you are good girl!
Jami – This is simply gorgeous! Great tutorial. You did an amazing job – I really like it. ~ Stephanie Lynn
Thanks for that, Jami, I think you have inspired me to try one for myself!
xx Karen
Jami, thank you for posting such a thorough tutorial! You spent a lot of time doing this. I am so excited to give this a try. Your piece is so pretty!
Thanks for posting that. I just love your french song you cutie!!
I thought you were super clever yesterday, but I didn’t realise your talents extended to AMAZINGLY DETAILED AND ACTUALLY FOLLOWABLE tutorials too. Fab job. Thanks for sharing.
Looks too painstaking for me, but it is a beautiful result! Great tutorial!
Now I know why my DIY project always look like crap, I have no patience. What a lot of love went into this little nightstand. The videos are great so maybe I might try this one. Thanks for the hard work and inspiration.
Amazing task, amazing detailed tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing it!
Graciela Sosa
This tickles me pink! I love the look of this and the tutorial is great! You need to link this up to the DIY Club in August (starts 8/6).
Fabulous! I’m with Holly…I hope you link up the DIY Club August event!!
Thank you for such clear instructions and beautiful work. You are a master artist
Such an incredible tutorial. Thank you so much for taking the time. That piece is *inspired*!!! Way to go!
I love it! I read the post previous to this one, too, and am so, SO impressed! I am now adding this to my list of must-do projects! Thanks for the tutorial and advice! :)
I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
You are good! Love this!
I am your newest follower. Come follow back and happy blog hop!
Going to look around! You are very talented!
XO
Frenchy
Okay, standing ovation!!! it breathtaking!! great job.
Hi, hope it’s OK to contact you here. We would love to include your blog on our giveaway search engine: Giveaway Scout (http://www.giveawayscout.com). Have a look and if interested, use our online form to add your blog (http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog/ ). thanks, Josh
Hi! I’m your newest follower from the Friday Follows! Cool blog! I hope to see you at Dropped Stitches.
xo Erin
droppedstitches72.blogspot.com
Once again you have created a beautiful piece of furniture. But boy are you patient! I think I would try this but I would probably skip a few steps…just to get it done! How long did this take you to do all the steps? The nails make a big difference in the industrial look don’t they? I think it came out fab!
Oh wow! You did a fantastic job! I love how your furniture turned out – absolutely beautiful!
The piece is gorgeous, I really want to try this on a dresser I have. All the tutorial photos are showing up as black squares however. Not sure why. I will try refresh to see if it fixes the problem!
Saw this on DIY showoff. It is beautiful! I am in the process of staining some nightstands, wish I had seen this a few days ago, but I’ve got some ideas. Thanks for the step by step!
That is so outstanding! You did a great job, and I’m happy I found your blog!
Hi Jami! Fantastic tutorial and gorgeous dresser! Wanted to let you know I’ll be featuring this today. Stop by and grab a featured button if you like. Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase – I greatly appreciate it. Hope you have a fabulous week! ~ Stephanie Lynn
So Cool! I have to try that sometime! Thanks for the great tutorial!
Jami – what a wonderfully instructional tutorial! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put in to attempting to teach us rookies out here. lol! You do such beautiful work. Do you know if it would work on a piece of icky laminate countertop?
xoxo laurie@heavens-walk
OK – I bought a power sander today (my favorite purchase of the year) and have almost finished sanding the first of two matching nightstands. I am 100% committed to making my faux zinc night stands happen and I don’t want to cut any corners. I didn’t use any type of varnish or lacquer remover to get down to bare wood and I’m wondering if I should – especially for the crevices my sander isn’t reaching. The stuff I bought off Craig’s List is 10 yr old Crate and Barrel pieces made of real wood – it is taking a long time to get off the finish. Is a liquid chemical remover the way to go? I’ve searched the web for an answer but found no clear guidance. Any help would be appreciated.
OOPS I spoke too soon. This will qualify that you entered perfectly and you will receive a coupon from the Canvas People soon.
Cheri
I LOVE IT but can’t believe you did not get a speck of paint on your white linens. The whole time I watch the clips I was asking “how you did it? ” I am the messiest painter, no matter how hard I try I still get covered in paint every time I do a project.
Wow! Totally amazing. Thank you for sharing.
This is a truly great way to recycle (or upcycle as I like to call it.) I love it and would love to see you post this at my linky party Upcycled Awesome!
http://tinyurl.com/Upcycled9 and come back to my blog for Stashbusting-September. I promise it will be worth your while!
LOVE this idea! I just did a post on my “wish list” from Restoration Hardware and that dresser was on it!! :)
I think I will share this tutorial with my readers! Thanks so much!! :)
Ruth
What a great tutorial. I just love how it turned out. I’m looking at pieces on Craig’s List so I can try it.
Thanks for linking up to the “Cheap Thrills Thursday” party at Black Kats Design. I hope you had fun and will join in again next Thursday!
Kat
http://www.BlackKatsDesign.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for the visual tutorial and the project…I followed your steps to make a “zinc” framed chalkboard out of a $1.00 garage sale 8×10 frame. I LOVE IT!
Great tutorial and inspiration! I use a different process & products, but it’s really all about the end result, isn’t it?! Here’s a link to a photo, of a small table I used my zinc treatment on: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs105.ash2/38583_418376792014_71007972014_5238288_6161290_n.jpg
Deb @ Retreat
Thank you so much for the tutorial…you made it so easy to do. I haven’t tried this on furniture yet but I did make a killer menu board out of a $1 yard sale picure frame. Here is the link http://mudpiesandmarigolds.blogspot.com/2010/08/making-most-of-naptime.html
so amazing! just found this and had to share with friends on twitter. what a great job. it looks so high-end!
I followed your tutorial and just completed my nightstand. I LOVE it! Thank you so much for posting this!!!!
You’re welcome! I’m happy that your nightstand turned out great. Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)
Hugs,
Jami
Thanks so much for posting this! I’ve bookmarked your page. I’m a kitchen designer (designing her own kitchen), looking for a less expensive range hood that looks great, so I thought I could make my own. I’ve found this one to copy: http://www.handcraftedmetal.com/gallery/hoodsZinc/SingleRoll/pages/SH173b.html
and I’ll be building it myself out of plywood, wood straps and nailheads. I’m so excited to get started!
This is unbelievable! Thank you for the extremely thorough tutorial.
I am so inspired!
Especially love the nail details.
i am so excited and nervous to try this!!! i cant imagine it coming out as good as yours…where did you get those nightstands?
wow. you have a fantastic talent. i will try. tyvm hun.
You love Edith Piaff! o.k. now I’m certain we were cut from the same cloth! Linen? or dropcloths?
I love your faux zinc and was thinking of trying it on the outer edge of the beveled mirror in one of my bathrooms do you think this technique will work on a mirrored surface? any tips would be great!
hi! I’m so excited that I found this tutorial, because I’ve been wondering if this type of finish could be done on wood! I’m thinking of doing this to dining room chairs to match a more modern glass table I’m getting! I’m thinking it’ll prove to be a tad bit more difficult to maneuver around a chair, but I’m willing to try!
It turned out beautiful! I would love to do a tall dresser that have in this finish. Do you think I should double my supplies? I would assume you used all of your paint on this night stand and that I may need double to finish a dresser.
Oh and I am a new follower! :)
I love it!!! The French music goes perfect with the zinc!! :)
I have a table that needs something but no colors were “it” but I hadn’t thought of metallic at all. But now that I see this, I think this is “IT!!”
Thank you so much for sharing and especially for the videos!! :)
Thank you for this great tutorial! I followed it step-by-step, and turned a little piecrust table my friend gave me into a beauty that’s in my living room. My husband said, It looks so French!
Hi!
Just found your blog and want to let you know that I’m enjoying it. So I’m tooling around and exploring it, and want to see the tutorial on faux zinc painting…..well….most of your pictures are missing!!! Wassup wid dat???
Beautiful! I pinned your post months ago and then I waited for the prefect peace of furniture then I had to wait for a nicer weather (I live in TX) and yesterday I did it! It was super easy and so beautiful and with no waiting, just perfect. Tonight I started on a mirror. Looking forward to finish it tomorrow. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
Love the tutorial (I’ll have to try that one sometime soon) but… I am searching for the exact version of Non Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf you used for the background music. It sounds like the recording was done off of a gramophone and I love the nostalgia of the song. Thanks for your help!!
Jami, I am prepping to do this on a nightstand/small chest. My only questions (since I have all materials on hand) can I use a basic white spray primer? Or is it best to get the grey SW primer? LOVE your tutorial and your talent!
I did this a few months ago. I started with an IKEA tarva dresser and used your instructions (although I supplemented the Deco Art paints with some Martha Stewart glazes). Over the weekend I actually went to Restoration Hardware and got a look at the zinc dresser in person. I like mine much better, so thank you again!
Is there a place to see this as one video? I’m wanting to do this to a dresser top & my computer is too slow to keep up w/this & it’s taking forever to watch. Also, is this the same process used for the zinc counter tops you were referring to trying in the near future?
Just wanted to tell you that your tutorial is AMAZING. I transformed a very boring piece using your instructions. Just finished a post about it. Thanks to you!! http://paintedtherapy.blogspot.com/2013/05/from-plain-to-zinc.html
Debbie Christianson recently posted..From plain to Zinc!
Are you letting each coat dry completely befre moving on? How long did this take you? Thanks! Beautifully done!
Thank you, Erin! Yes. Each coat was dry before moving on. By the time you finish one section, the other is dry. It was nothing I did intentionally…the paint just dries pretty fast. It’s been so long since I’ve painted it, but I don’t think it took me more than a couple of hours tops (and at the time, that was taking breaks for my infant twins). You can just keep working until the piece is completely finished. No need to let coats dry over night or anything like that. Hope that helps! xo