AHAH Contributor, Heidi, is showing you how to achieve a beautiful, chippy, old world finish today. She calls this piece, Celine. Shop this blog post by clicking on the bolded products!

Step 1 - Clean:

Clean with Clean Slate and sand out any imperfections where stain will be applied.

Step 2 - Stain:

Apply English Walnut Gel Stain with a natural bristle brush to top.

Step 3 – Add Texture:

Apply two coats of Cracked Gesso with a natural bristle chip brush. Be sure to allow each coat to dry before applying the next. Lightly sand with 400 grit sandpaper so it's smooth and not jagged or rough to the touch.

Step 4 - Paint:

Layer one coat of milk paint in the following order – Marche Grey, then Noir.

Step 5 – Antique:

Remove some layers of milk paint by using a sea wool sponge and Zinc Antiquing Solution. Dab and pull the sponge to get a varied look. I also use a metal straight edge like a flat head screwdriver or scraper to scrape off random parts of the paint and gesso where its think to achieve a chippy look. Lightly sand with 400 grit sandpaper to make the entire piece smooth to the touch.

Step 6 – Gild:

I used a very fine artist brush to randomly apply Gilding Size to the edges and highpoints on the carving. After coming to tact (about 15 min), I applied Gold Leaf and buffed it with steel wool to dull the shine after brushing off the excess with a stiff bristle brush. Don’t overdo it, just here and there will make it look authentic.

Step 7 – Add Dimension:

I added a touch of Atelier One Step Paint to some Antiquing Glaze and applied it to the top over the stain. This gave it a subtle striated look.

Step 8 - Wax:

I used Dark Wax on the corners and edged to give it a little age. Let dry 30 minutes. Apply Light Wax or Mind Your Own Beeswax.

Final Step - ENJOY THE BRAGGING RIGHTS!