Thanks for any direction,
pupwhipped

It's just much easier for you to read the directions than for me to attempt to tell you. Something could get misinterpreted, but it's really hard to mess up doing something shabby. As the word implies, it's not perfection. ;o)

So much depends on the current finish and the type of shabby chic finish you want as to what you need to do. Not all shabby chic finishes are equal and one can be as useful as the other but you'll have a different look with extremely shabby beaten with chains and sanded than you will with only gently distressed using glazes.

Here are some links I've bookmarked on the subject altho I can't guarantee the instructions as I've never followed them:

http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/a_cottage_industry/2007/02/furniture_redo_.html

http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2010/01/painting-furniture-101.html

Some pretty pics to look at for inspiration: http://www.cranberryjunction.ca/

Check out the blog link below for inspiration and a few instructions in the FAQ section.

This bed is from the 30's.

This high boy was in the "servant's quarters" and is approx 100 year old

Notes from a Cottage Industry (Tracy) does ALOT of painting and she has some great instructions. So does Cindy at My Romantic Home blog. I don't have it bookmarked on this computer, just do a google search.

tina

Here's their paint recipe:

When we paint our white cupboards, we use Tru-Value brand semi-gloss Country White and Antique White paint.
We paint the cupboards with Country White and then we dry brush Antique White over it to give it a two toned look.
Or you can paint it Antique White and dry brush Country White over it.
When you dry brush, you just dip your brush in the paint and scrape it off.
Then just lightly brush over the cupboard so it's not solid.
Our black items are painted with Black latex semi-gloss from Tru-Value.
After painting, we apply Deft over it.
Sometimes we rub off the paint on the high spots.

Thank you everyone for your time,
pup

Just thought I would share.
pup

From looking at pictures, i'm thinking you want white painted furniture w/no distressing~am I right? The shabby we have at the antique mall is more of an ivory and distressed, which is the 'original' shabby chic. Check this out.....

Clear as mud? Ha!

Thanks,
pup

pup

Newdawn - I really need to save those instructions I wrote for you to age.

Thoroughly enjoyed the examp;e of paint that someone listed above. I will be trying that on something soon too!

Perhaps there is a whole bunch of new distressed furniture out there that doesn't have that pattern to the distressing?

For the rubbed back look some things that you can do are the following:

After you have a base coat on and prior to putting a top coat on - choose which areas that you want to have that 'rubbed back' look. They will be areas that are naturally handled, touched and bumped over time.

Don't think too hard about where these areas are (too many people over think this and end up w/ pieces that are over done) - just simply pretend that you are walking by or putting something in a drawer - where did you just naturally touch or handle the piece?

Now grab a candle and simply rub wax on that area.

Use whatever topcoat you are using and paint over top. When it's dry buff back where you waxed over the base coat w/ a soft cloth or brown paper bag. I've always found that it is much easier to control how much top coat I take off by using a paper bag. It will also buff up to a nice subtle sheen and knock done any raised brush strokes. DH uses brown paper bags at work too when he's working on a piece.

Glazes are nice over top to age a piece. If you are not using a top coat (for instance you just want your white or cream basecoat to look aged) after you paint your base lightly sand back to the raw wood in the areas that you want to rubbed back and use a glaze, stain, shoe polish (whatever you are using) and paint all over the top. The raw areas will hold the topcoat more than the painted areas and give a nice aged look.

The shinier the base caot finish that you choose the more stain/ glaze top coat will come off and you can build up your 'aged look' to how dark you'd like it to be.

Matte paint sucks up the glazes a bit more right away.

If you use crackle medium there's a bunch of tips that I can give for that too if you'd like. The worst think in the world is when I see an entire pice w/ crackled paint on it. No piece EVER ages like that. EVER! But that's a whole 'nother pet peeve of mine.

Use a phillips head screw driver to replicate a small patch of worm holes.

Sometimes I'd go into my dad's shop when he was aging a piece and he'd use a heavy chain to make dings here and there. They would also use a handful of keys wrapped in an old t-shirt to make smaller dings.

Making dings follows the same principal as rubbing back: Think carefully about where the piece would get naturally knicked over time. Don't ding it all over. I hate when I see that too.

Sometimes I'll take a hammer to a piece (w/ a lighthanded approach of course - not everywhere!) and ding the edge here and there.

My dad has a friend who makes beautiful reproduction furniture - some of it aged - some not (he will never divulge all of his secrets to me but I've gotten some out of him since I've known him since I was a child and he worked for my dad) and he used to tell me how they would tie brand new chairs together part way through painting, and throw them in the running creek behind the shop and just let them bob around and bang into rocks and smooth down from the running water. Then they'd haul them out and finish them up.

He is so good at aging furniture that he has a reputation for fooling antiques dealers and has been named to the Fine Woodwoking magazines top 200 list for the past 10 years.

Use as many or as few of some of these ideas as you'd like to get the look you want.

It's so much fun!

I still like using paper bags though to sand.

I can see trying vaseline. May try that on my next bureau.

Ttodd, thank you very much for that wonderful information. I've read it once but will have to read a few times to get it. HA! I am grateful for you detailed post. I'm going to find some little small piece and "practice" my new found craft.

One last thing, has anyone spray painted wicker furniture or have any interesting ideas for wicker?

Thanks,
pupwhipped