Category Archives: Faux Finishes

Decorative Painting for Restaurants

Who said that using distressed finishes to transform restaurant walls was passé? Lately, to recreate a post-Russian revolution ambiance at the Mari Vanna restaurant in Washington DC and to implement a traditional Mexican décor in Taqueria Nacional, I executed unusual décors … Continue reading →

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How to Give a Built-in Bench a Swedish Flair

What do you do with a long built-in bench when you can no longer bear it’s sight?  You may wish to embark on a totally different look, unless you are restricted to a color theme that matches the wall or … Continue reading →

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How to Execute a Faux Tortoise Shell Finish

Tortoise shell finishes are one of the most difficult faux finishes to execute.  In this post, I will explain the process step by step, and hopefully provide enough guidance for you to get started on your own imitations. For centuries, … Continue reading →

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How to Imitate Wood: Pickled White Oak Grain

If you want to realistically imitate a wood essence, you need to have several samples of it at hand and to study them in depth. First, observe the different hues of the particular wood, then its pores, its veins, and its … Continue reading →

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Recycling a Wooden Cable Bobbin

Discarded furniture is often tempting to collect with a view to offer it a second life. However, one can quickly accumulate enough broken, comatose, moribund pieces to open a furniture hospital or grave yard. You should brake for these abandoned … Continue reading →

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