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Silver Patina

GINA RATH

This particular dining room was originally painted a deep red; the homeowner (an interior designer) wanted silver walls that emulate the silver patina finish often seen on high-end furniture and mirrors. Many sample boards later this elegant finish was created and is stunning in this contemporary dining room setting. This unique finish would also be beautiful in a Hollywood style bedroom or would make a significant statement in a tiny powder room.

MATERIALS

Basecoat: “Krypton” satin latex (Sherwin-Williams) or an equivalent blue-gray color

Palette Deco: Metallic Silver and Metallic Pearl

Stain & Seal: Rich Brown and American Walnut

SoSlow Super Extender

FauxCrème Color: Black

Whizz Roller

Japan scrapers

Cotton rags

PRO TIPS

1. Start with Sample Boards
Before starting any large room project, always do a sample board first so you are comfortable with the products in each layer, then you can adjust any step to suit your taste.

2. Make Adjustments
If you like a more textured finish, simply adjust the thickness of the application of the Metallic Silver Palette Deco. Palette Deco can also be thinned with water if needed. Apply more stain if you want the walls darker. If they are too dark for your liking, don’t panic; simply spritz with water and rub with a rag to lighten.

3. New Life for Old Fixtures
Recycle and reclaim. Before tossing out your old brass light fixture, you might try updating it with this technique. Be sure to use a basecoat for metal, then simply follow the same steps. A gloved finger works to apply the Palette Deco to small and curved areas. Caution: the Palette Deco dries quickly and is difficult to remove from fingernails, clothing and carpet, so cover your clothing and floors appropriately. An apron, drop cloths and gloves are your friends!

STEP 1: Basecoat your wall surface with a blue-gray color. I used Sherwin-Williams satin latex “Krypton.” Let dry for at least 24 hours before going on. Using a Japan scraper, apply Metallic Silver in vertical strokes for a really thin coat. You want to see a little texture and the blue-gray wall color behind it—about 85 percent coverage. Let dry.

STEP 2: Apply a skim coat of the Metallic Silver over the first coat with 100 percent coverage. It should be thin enough that you can still see a bit of the blue-gray wall color behind it. Let dry.

STEP 3: Mix up a 3 to 1 ratio of Stain & Seal Rich Brown to American Walnut; add a little SoSlow extender, no more than 10 percent. Use a Whizz roller to apply lightly to the wall in small sections, about a 2-foot (61cm) square area. Do not let it dry before going on to the next step.

STEP 4: Using a clean cotton rag, blend and wipe the Stain & Seal to remove the excess. Let dry.

STEP 5: After the stain is blended and wiped off, step back and take a look. If you like the look of the finish at this point, you can stop here. If you prefer more of the Metallic Silver to show, continue rubbing off the stain until you like the effect.

STEP 6: Mix Metallic Pearl with a drop of Black FauxCrème Color. Apply to the wall surface using a Japan scraper to get 100 percent coverage. Let dry completely.

FINISH: The Metallic Pearl adds a little bit more reflectivity and an aged silver shine without it being too dark. Compare this finish with the one you see in Step 2. A soft patina finish adds warmth and depth while preserving the sheen of old silver.