Home Page   Map/directions to the Shop   Trucking and delivery info   Restoration and finishes E-mail us

The Country Gallery Antiques Restoration-FINISHES

Take me back to the Restoration page!

The Country Gallery Antiques
Janet Fram and Børge Hermansen, shop proprietors
P.O. Box 70 1566 Rte 315
Rupert, Vermont 05768
telephone 802 394-7753 e.st. fax 802 394-0076 e.s.t.
e-mail us at antiques@country-gallery.com

 

Borge in his workshop, polishing a plank table to which he has just added bread board ends and since this family has young children, polyurethane on the top.

 

Categories on this page...

Gustavian Gray/Grey Paint

White paint

Other Paint colors

Wax Finishes

Oiled Finish

Stained Finishes

Polyurethane

Murphy's Oil Soap

Buttermilk Paint finishes

Original Finishes

Painted Finishes by Local Artists

Other painted finishes

Bleaching of wood

Distressing

 

Gustavian Gray/Grey Paint... Can be painted or washed/pickled.

 

Grey One

 

From this to this

This Gustavian Grey has a ghostly silverly color with a greenish undertone.

and from this to this

... a closeup of the color

 

to this....

and a beautiful dresser...

 

painted in Gustavian Grey One

 

Grey Two

 

Here is a piece we just got in from Sweden with another beautiful shade of Gustavian Grey that I have duplicated....

It is on this piece.... and on this piece... This grey is darker with more brown, no green undertones.

From this to

and washed with this color

From to

 

 

 

Grey Three

 

 

and in a wash...

This is a medium gray with a bluish undertone.

 

 

Grey Four

 

 

And here is Grey Number Four! A soft gray with buff undertones. Shown here in oil paint, dry brushed on. It has a rustic aged look with some some soft gloss-typical of farmhouse Swedish finishes.

This piece looked like this before painting...

and here is an armoire painted and lightly distressed...

 

and in a latex wash.... with white #5 contrast....

 

and in a latex wash...

and

 

 

Gray #5

 

This color shifts from dove gray to beguiling blue according to the light.

 

What exactly is Gustavian Grey??

 

A little editorial from us....

Neither Borge nor I have ever in fact seen an original Swedish Gustavian era piece in an original grey painted finish, not even in a museum. Recently we have gotten a long of phone calls and emails about this color so I decided to get some information for everyone. In the past several years, a nice pale blue gray shade of paint got very popular in Sweden and many old pieces and new pieces of furniture have been painted this color. The color is called Gustavian Grey and of course some dealers have tried to pass this off as old paint. It is a lovely neutral color, sophisticated and yet very pleasant, a nice change from white or cream, so we do understand its popularity.

In Katrin Cargill's book 'Creating the Look Swedish Style', on page 25, she writes...

Oil paint was commonly used for furniture in the eighteenth century, though the specific pearl-grey finish associated with Gustavian furniture is now thought to be something of a myth. Restorers have stripped layers of oil paint off this furniture until they reached a grey paint presumed to be the original finished surface, but which in fact is the original lead white undercoat. This white undercoat might have had some black pigment added to compensate for the yellowing that occurs with lead white, and it would also have discoloured as succeeding layers of oil paint were added. The resulting grey may not have been the original surface, but is has now become very common to regard it as such. And why not? It may not be historically authentic, but is certainly most attractive and without doubt suits the lines of Gustavian furniture.

When you have made your decision, we have a paint sample on old wood that we can lend to you.

We strongly recommend adding this book to your reference library. It is from 1996 and if it is still available, you will enjoy it for years to come. One of my favorite references.

 

White Paint... Can be painted or washed/pickled.

 

White One

 

Very white paint....applied as a painted finish

This is a paint that has a very slight greenish-yellow undertone but that appears very white without being stark.

and a light paint finish... and

 

and pickled...


here is a table whitewashed in this color...

and a bed with a strong wash...

 

 

 

White Two

 

This is an eggshell color. I have painted and washed this color but have not taken photos. Here is a sample...

 

White Three

 

 

 

this is a crisp white in a chalky finish, shown painted. No greenish or yellow undertones.

More photos....

 

 

and pickled in this color...

 

 

White Four

 

 

This is a snow white shown in a chalky washed finish.

and painted...

From this to and a dresser to match

 

 

White Five

 

Soft White Paint....applied as a wash

is another wonderful choice. It is a soft white with an aged appearance.

From this to this

and applied here as a whitewash...

pickled white also also pickled

and a pickled trunk...

and an armoire...

 

Other Paint Colors washed or painted

Dream Blue in oil paint

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft Yellow in Oil paint

 

 

 

 

Charcoal in Oil Paint

 

 

 

   

Soft Green shown in a latex wash

 

 

 

Buttermilk washed or painted

Snow white buttermilk paint in a heavy wash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celestial Blue

 

 

 

 

2 coats

 

 

Here is a cupboard which is washed with a Whitened Tavern Green Buttermilk. (75/25)

and with two coats

 

This desk is washed in snow white and whitened tavern green.

 

 

 

Bayberry Green on a sideboard converted to a bathroom vanity.

 

 

Custom mixed buttermilk paint in a soft rose on an apothecary converted to a bathroom vanity.

 

Tavern Green at full strength.

 

 

 

Distressing...

 

 
   

 

Bleaching...

 

 

On occasion we either need to or are requested to lighten a piece. The table to the right had its original finish removed perhaps 20-30 years ago, remained unwaxed and this is the color that happened over time. The same thing occurred for the table to the left but the color was so unever that we decide to bleach and start again. So the table to the right would get the same color as the table to the left if we bleach.

 

 

Wax Finishes...

We prefer a wax finish for a number of reasons.

1. The finish is a soft gloss appropriate to antiques.

2. It can easily be waxed over with another color and made lighter or darker if your tastes or decor changes.

3. Wax is easy care and does not normally need to be reapplied for up to 7 years.

Of course on a dining table, you will need to rewax more often but it does acquire a beautiful surface from rubbing over time..

4. Wax allows age marks and patina to exist and shine through.

5. Wax is easily removed if the piece needs to be painted or another type of finish applied.

 

 

Clear wax puts a soft finish on the bleached wood color. The piece will look complete but ethereal. Photo to the left taken indoors, the two to the right taken outdoors.

 

 

 

 

Here is a sample board with clear wax on top of a table which has not been finished as yet...

 

Whitewash finish is a new and interesting wax which is very difficult to get even. We would suggest latex whitewashing as an alternative.

 


 

 

Honey Color or Light Brown Wax

Most pieces are waxed with light brown Briwax because it gives a warm neutral shade without red or yellow overtones.

 

Same wax, variation depending on wood color.

 

 

Neutral dark brown

To achieve this color we wax with Tudor Brown. This color fits in very well with 'brown' mahogany furniture from the 1940's.

 

 

 

Cherry (waxed with antique mahogany wax)

Antique Mahogany Briwax gives a light warm cherry color.

The oval table is waxed to a cherry tone. The armoire photos below show a cherry colored armoire to the right with an armoire waxed light brown to the left and behind. The reddish tone is evident by comparison.

 

 

 

Top is polyurethaned for use as a bathroom vanity.

 

 

Golden Oak wax gives a yellow overcast to the furniture which looks great with newly refinished oak floors.

 

 

 

Fully waxed and restored bed.

In this photo you can see unwaxed wood and waxed wood...

On the left is the Golden Oak, on the scalloped piece to the right is Light Brown. The Golden Oak is lighter and brighter. The Light Brown is a neutral light brown.

and more in Golden Oak...

 

 

 

 

Oiled Finishes...

 

 

This sample shows the same single piece of siderail Danish c.1880. The lightest spot is unrestored wood. The deepest color is linseed oil/light brown wax finish and the middle light brown is light brown wax.

I have placed this piece of wood against deeper backdrops to give you an idea of the difference between a light brown wax and a piece that would be oiled then waxed. The oiled piece will continue to darken somewhat more over time, the waxed section will remain pretty much the same.

 

 

Oiled then waxed with mahogany wax to give a deep cherry color.

 

 

Oiled and waxed light brown.

 

 

 

These two sideboards have been oiled then waxed. A rich patina!

 

Stained Finishes...

Staining...We often get a request to stain a piece of furniture. Staining is very difficult to get even on antique pine and very time consuming. It is possible to get good, even great results, however after many years of inhaling hydrocarbons, we have put our staining rag to rest. If you would like to stain a piece or have it stained, we can get things ready for you and explain the process. Here are some example....

 

 

 

On the left is Dark Walnut, on the right is Special Walnut.

Both samples have been waxed with Light Brown Wax to give an even gloss.

 

Here is a plank table done in Dark Walnut that we did for a local customer last year. Pretty nice huh? It was VERY difficult to get the color even but we are still married.

 

This Mora clock was stained with Dark Walnut and will be waxed. Gorgeous!

 

 

 

Polyurethane...

When we first started in business, we were reluctant to use this product. It does wear off and then must be sanded and redone. However, we now understand that it is necessary for vanities and some people do need this for their kitchen tables, so we are happy to do it for you. Usually we can include this in the price, please ask. Generally we will only polyurethane the top of the piece and prefer to wax the rest.

Same board taken in different light.

Top section is polyurethane satin type

From Left to Right....middle section is

mahogany over cherry/mahogany/mahogany/mahogany over cherry/light brown wax/untouched

Bottom section is on the left a mix of mahogany and cherry stain with polyurethane and on the right cherry stain with polyurethane

 

If your base is waxed with mahogany wax or a combination of light brown and mahogany AND you need to have the top polyurethaned there are several options.

1. plain satin polyurethane which will give your piece a two toned look

2. cherry stain one coat plus polyurethane

3. 2 coats of cherry stain plus polyurethane

4. cherry and mahogany stains plus polyurethane.

Top is polyurethaned, base is waxed light brown.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a sideboard that has been prepared to be made into a vanity. The original top which is oak has been bleached and is now polyurethaned, the base has been waxed light brown.

 

The piece shown below is pine. Base is waxed light brown and the top is polyurethane.

 

 

 

This table has been restored. The base is waxed light brown and the top is polyurethaned and waxed.

You can get an idea of how similar the color is from these photos.

 

 

Dark Walnut Stain with polyurethane and wax

This nice table was stained twice, top polyurethaned and whole table waxed for softness. In addition, my husband added breadboard ends.

 

 

 

 

Polyurethane on the top and light brown wax on the base. The light brown wax and the polyurethane are just about the same color.

Murphy's Oil Soap...

A brown soap finish was common on table tops and floors as well. It gives a beautiful scrubbed look and is pretty easy to keep. Just wet down a cloth with a little soap and wipe off the surface.

close up of table top

 

 

 

Here is a table with no finish shown with an oil soap sample...

and a comparison between oil soap and clear wax...oil soap is the top sample....

 

Original Finishes...

Here are some photos of different pieces in typical as found condition. Please refer to our history page for more information.

plain white paint on a cupboard c.1880

 

 

varnished--the varnish has turned dark over time on both of these pieces. Biedermeier desk c.1850 above and Danish dining table below c.1860.

 

Grain painting. Cabinet on left is from c.1880, cabinet to the right from c.1870.

 

Grain painting on an armoire from c.1880.

Grain painting on a little dresser from c.1900.

Grain painting on a large cabinet c.1880.

Local Artists...

 

 


Local Artists... Nick Loscalzo and Andrew Ciccarelli

Telephone 518 642-3577 in Granville, New York

Call them to discuss the finish you would like, you can tell them which page and which item number on this site to make things easier.

 

 

 

You can also contact Connie Hollinger at at At Home Interiors in Londonderry

1 888 924 6017

 

1 802 297 3911

Her information is on this web page...

her email athomeinteriorsvt@yahoo.com

 

www.athomeinteriorsonline.com

fax 802 297 3912

Flooring Mill in Bondville

next to Outback Restaurant

10086 Route 30

1950 North Main

Londonderry 05148

 

Other painted finishes ... For fancier finishes like these we recommend you hire a local decorative painter so you can supervise. We can not do these finishes for you.

 

 

Oil based cabinetmaker's blue custom adjusted to this color then antiqued.

I don't have a before photo of exactly this piece but it was very similar to this...

 

Top is grain painted, base is painted teal and antiqued

 

Again, didn't take a before photo but looked like this...

 

Painted a sea green and antiqued

grained faux finish

 

 

buttermilk washed small cabinet and plate rack

 

 

 

Here is a beautiful early Danish bed that I washed with a dark shade of green, then applied crackle medium to some areas, then rewashed with a cool pale green. The cat thinks she looks good on it!

 

 

painted several shades and layers of blues and grays and antiqued