The Madeline Finish

A timeless 1800s French Bedroom Look

The Madeline Finish evokes the romance of a well-loved French armoire or cabinet, worn gracefully by centuries of use. This layered, authentically aged finish combines soft tones, cracks, gilded highlights, and a rich patina for a truly heirloom look.

Products You’ll Need (all by Amy Howard at Home)

• Clean Slate (surface prep)

• Milk Paints:

  • Summer Bonfire

  • Southern Gentleman

• Toscana Milk Paint Binder

• Cracked Gesso

• Size (for gold leaf)

• Gold Leaf

• Antiquing Glaze

• Cerusing Wax

• Dust of Ages

• Steel Wool (0000 grade)

• Chip Brushes (AHAH)

• Sea Wool Sponge

• Q-tips

Step-by-Step Process

1. Prep Your Piece

• Remove or tape off hardware.

• Clean thoroughly with Clean Slate to remove wax, dirt, or residue.

2. First Color Layer with Binder

• If painting over an existing finish, mix 1 part Summer Bonfire Milk Paint + 1 part Toscana Binder and brush on a bonding coat.

• ⚠️ Important: The binder is only used in this first coat to help the paint adhere. Do not add binder to the Southern Gentleman coat later—you want that one to release and antique back naturally.

• Let dry 1 hour.

3. Create the Foundation

• Mix Cracked Gesso with water (1:1) until it resembles pancake batter.

• Brush on liberally over the Summer Bonfire coat, covering completely.

• Let dry (a hair dryer may be used to speed up the process).

4. Second Color Layer (No Binder)

• Apply a full coat of Southern Gentleman Milk Paint directly over the dried gesso.

• Do not use binder here—this layer is meant to crack, lift, and antique beautifully.

• Let dry fully (use a hair dryer if needed).

5. Distress & Age

• Using a Sea Wool Sponge, dab on Antiquing Glaze over the Southern Gentleman layer.

• While wet, use the sponge or a rag to lift paint in areas so the warm undertones and cracking show through naturally.

• Allow to dry about 30 minutes.

6. Add Subtle Gilding

• Before waxing, use a Q-tip to apply Size in small, chosen areas (edges, corners, raised details).

• Let the size come to tack for about 10 minutes—check with your ring finger; it should pull slightly without smearing.

• Lay on Gold Leaf, burnish gently, and dust away excess.

• Use 0000 steel wool to soften and wear back the gilding so it blends into the layers naturally.

7. Seal & Patinate

• Apply Cerusing Wax with a chip brush, pressing it into crevices.

• After 10 minutes, dust generously with Dust of Ages.

• Buff into the wax with a rag until you achieve a soft, natural sheen that mimics centuries of use and care.

The Reveal

Your finish now carries the soul of a French antique—multi-layered, timeworn, and sophisticated. Every brushstroke tells a story, and no two Madeline finishes will ever be the same.