Estate Sale Table Makeover with Faux Stone Top

We’re all about reuse, recycle, and relove! Especially when it comes to home décor and furnishings.  A great place to find treasures and furniture is at an estate sale. One of the most thrilling aspects of estate sale hunting is finding a forgotten piece and giving it new purpose. Many of the pieces found at estate sales have good bones but need a bit of TLC and refinishing.

At a recent estate sale, Jim found a small side table that had been previously stored in a barn. Follow along as Jim transforms the little table into a more modern piece with white gloss paint and a faux stone top created with tinted VP Antico and Silver Metallic foil.

Supply List

STEP ONE

Surface Preparation

After being stored in a barn for some time, our table needed a good wipe down. The table also had some rough worn areas that needed to be sanded smooth before painting. Before applying paint and plasters, always make sure surfaces are free of cleaner residue, grease, dust, dirt, and debris.

STEP TWO

Stir

We recommend stirring all paint and products from the bottom up before every use. Stirring makes sure all of the paint’s or product’s components are fully incorporated for the best outcome. Do not shake. Shaking creates air bubbles in the product which can be transferred to the surface causing undesired results. If bubbles appear while stirring, allow the bubbles to completely settle before application.

STEP THREE

Apply White Gloss Paint

Paint the table base and legs with your preferred white gloss paint. Since our goal is a more modern finish and we’re using a gloss paint, we wanted our paint finish to be ultra-smooth. To achieve the smoothest possible finish, we recommend using one of our precision Flat, Micro or Oval Brushes.

Pro-Tip: When painting with white paint, depending on how dark the surface is before painting, a second or third coat may be required for full coverage. If multiple coats of paint are required, make sure the first coat of paint is completely dry before applying additional coats.

For optimal results, allow the paint to dry overnight before applying additional layers and proceeding to the next steps.

STEP FOUR

Tinting VP Antico

VP Antico (Venetian Plaster) can be tinted with a variety of pigment sources including universal tint systems, water-based paints, Nature’s Wood Stain, and mineral pigments. For the faux stone table top, Jim tinted our VP Antico with Nature’s Wood Stain in Ebony.

The standard ratio for tinting VP Antico is 3 parts VP Antico to 1 part pigment source.

For this project, Jim doesn’t necessarily follow the standard ratio. Rather than following a specific recipe, Jim was looking for a slightly looser consistency and a nice dark grey color. As a rough guide to get started, Jim used 2 heaping scoops of VP Antico and 3 spoonfuls of Ebony stain. Depending on the desired texture more VP Antico can be added for a thicker plaster which will create more texture when applied.

STEP FOUR

Apply First Layer of VP Antico to Top

Stipple the tinted VP Antico on to the table top using a brush. Jim is using the 37mm Flat Brush, but if a more textured stipple is desired or your tinted VP Antico mixture is thicker, a 25mm Round Brush is a good alternative to the Flat Brush for this technique.

Allow the VP Antico to completely dry before applying additional layers. For optimal results let the VP Antico dry overnight.

STEP FIVE

Apply Leaf & Foil Size and Metallic Silver Foil

Apply an even, thin coat of Leaf & Foil Size over the VP Antico layer. Avoid drips and pools. Leaf & Foil Size will go on “milky” white, but once fully dry should be clear and tacky to touch. Leaf & Foil Size is clear and full tack in approx. 45 minutes. Allow Size to dry before applying foil.

For this tutorial we’re using Artisan Enhancements™ Bright Silver foil. Our bright metallic foils are very shiny and glossy. Apply the foil to the dry, tacky, Leaf & Foil Size – SHINY SIDE UP. The foil should lay smooth and flat across the surface. Using a soft cloth, rub the foil surface to ensure contact with Size and remove air bubbles.

To learn more about applying foil visit our blog post How to use Leaf and Foil Size – Basic Application .

STEP SIX

Apply Additional Layers of VP Antico to Top

Using a putty knife or plaster spatula, apply the tinted VP Antico over the layer of foil in sweeping strokes to create a stone-like finish. If you want to reveal more hints of the metallic finish below the plaster, once the VP Antico is completely dry, lightly sand back to distress areas an expose the Silver foil.

For more depth and character, create an additional lighter grey mixture of tinted VP Antico. Apply the lighter grey mixture over the dark grey layer to achieve a variegated stone effect.

While the VP Antico is still wet, cover the plaster with an old paper bag or thick craft paper to develop more texture.

STEP SEVEN

Polish and Burnish VP Antico

Once the layers of VP Antico are completely dry, they can be polished and burnished to create a bit of sheen. Jim is using a specialized spatula that is thin and has a bit of flex. The spatula can be moved across the surface quickly and the edges are not too sharp. The lightweight and bluntness of the spatula reduces the risk of accidentally nicking the plaster finish.

If you do not have access to this type of spatula, polishing and burnishing can also be achieved with a buffing cloth.

STEP EIGHT

Seal

If desired, a coat of Clear Topcoat Sealer in Matte can be applied as an additional layer of protection on the plaster top. Allow the plaster to cure for 72 hours before sealing with Clear Topcoat Sealer.

(See Sealer Tip Sheet for proper sealer application).

Thanks for following along <3

To learn more about Artisan Enhancements™ visit your local Artisan Enhancements retailer, review tip sheets, and visit FAQ section.

Follow Us:

https://www.instagram.com/artisanenhancements 

https://www.tiktok.com/@artisanenhancements 

https://www.facebook.com/ArtisanEnhancements 

https://www.pinterest.com/artisanenhancements