This outdated oak hutch from the 1990’s had the shape and structure of the sought after
primitive possum belly cabinets. What it lacked was the charming patina that is often found
on those older pieces, the ones pulled out of century old farmhouse kitchens. Recreating that
Here’s how…
Crackle Tex is a one step crackle process that not only creates a great crackle effect but can
also be lifted off or chipped away to offer a truly authentic looking aged finish.
Remember that when applied, it will crackle to show the finish underneath, so you have the
option of painting a base coat that will show through your cracks or apply it directly onto an
original wood finish as was done on this cabinet. After a simple cleaning with a damp, soapy
rag, a generous coat of Crackle Tex was applied all over the entire piece.
Once the Crackle Tex medium was dry to the touch, one coat of Duck Egg Blue was applied.
The paint reactivates the Crackle Tex quickly, so it is important to brush it on swiftly and not
overwork the surface.
If you need to go back and touch up an area, wait until your paint has
completely dried before doing so. If you want more crackle in an area, touch up that area with
a bit of Crackle Tex first, allow it to dry and then paint just that section, using a light hand so
that it blends in with the rest of the surface.
This finish is especially forgiving in that it is meant to look imperfect and rustic, but it’s also
nice to have some control over where and when the imperfections occur.
Brushing your paint on in a direction perpendicular to the direction you brushed your Crackle
Tex in will give you a more dramatic, all over crackle as opposed to the linear effect achieved
by brushing both paint and Crackle Tex on in the same direction.
While your paint is drying and you are watching cracks begin to appear, take a damp sea
sponge and pull the paint off in spots where you want to see heavier distressing. You can
also come back and distress with sandpaper later on, but the “pull off” Crackle Tex method
could essentially save you that step altogether!
New, heavy iron hardware was purchased for this cabinet and painted in Old White, lightly
distressed and then sealed with Clear Topcoat Sealer.
The glass panels were replaced with chicken wire to add to the primitive look of the piece and
the interior was painted in Old White.
Clear Topcoat Sealer by Artisan Enhancements is a non-yellowing, natural soya based sealer
that dries clear with a matte sheen. It will occasionally take on a yellow or brown hue when
applied over white paints. If this happens, it is not the sealer, but a pigment in the wood grain
or stain that lifts up through the paint and bleeds through. There was no issue with bleed
through or staining on this oak cabinet. The Clear Topcoat Sealer did not change the pigment
of the Old White paint here at all. If you are working on an older piece, especially if you plan
to paint it white and are concerned about bleed through, seal it with Clear Topcoat Sealer
before you begin. This will save you from having to deal with any staining or bleed through later on.
As soon as the paint had dried, the entire cabinet was sealed with 2 thin coats of Clear
Topcoat Sealer. Working in sections, at least 24 hours of dry time was allowed between
coats. The sealer provides a beautiful matte finish that will insure that the cabinet’s new
chippy, crackled look will be water resistant and durable for many years to come.
Creating a new finish for a piece as large as this cabinet might seem overwhelming but with
the right products, it isn't as time consuming and difficult as you might think. With just 1 coat
of Crackle Tex, 1 coat of paint and 2 coats of Clear Topcoat Sealer, this outdated oak cabinet
was given a charming, aged patina reminiscent of an old country farmhouse kitchen!
Thank you so much for your visit!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
Disclosure: This is an Artisan Enhancements sponsored post, however the opinions and ideas expressed here are mine and I will only ever promote products that I enjoy using and feel may benefit my readers.
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