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English Plaster Chest

ANN SNIPES

Through my interior design business I have been exposed to the most eloquently designed showrooms in the Southeast. These showrooms have incredibly elaborate faux-finished walls, wainscoting and trim. The showrooms themselves encompass a wow-factor that traditionally finished furniture cannot. My vision was to create the same ambience with unique finishes on furniture by using non-traditional tools such as trowels, rollers, stamps, and brushes.

MATERIALS

Primer: Satin latex paint in a brown-gold color

KSK Platinum Series Glazing Cream Colors: Raw Sienna, Van Dyke Brown, Natural Brown

Platinum Series Furniture and Cabinetry Glazing Cream

Platinum Series Zero VOC Basecoat color CB-150

Shizen-Kyoto Untinted Plaster

Modern Masters Decorative Painters Satin Varnish

Wood Icing: Fissure

Steel wool

Water bottle

Chip brush

4-inch Whizz Roller with ½-inch (13mm) nap polyamide fabric

Stainless steel trowel

Tack cloth

Cheesecloth

Sandpaper 220 grit

PRO TIPS

1. Preparing and Painting Your Chest of Drawers
Sand furniture inside and out with a low grit sandpaper. Use tack cloths to remove all dust particles left behind from sanding.

Using a 4-inch (10cm) Whizz roller, apply a layer of latex wood primer, 100 percent coverage, of a brown-gold satin latex paint on all surfaces that will be seen, including the insides of the drawers. Let dry completely and lightly sand, then use a tack cloth. The piece should feel smooth.

2. Using Glazing Products
When using Platinum Series Furniture and Cabinetry Glazing Cream, you must have the Platinum Series Zero VOC Basecoat underneath the glaze or it will flash. These products are made to be durable and with each layer you are building strength. Use the chip brush for applying the glaze. This will help the glaze move between the layers of the plaster.

3. Making the Crackle Finish
The Fissure determines the scale of the crackle. To make a large deep crack, put the Fissure on thick, and vice versa to make a thin crack. When the Fissure is dry to the touch, it’s ready for Platinum Series Zero VOC Basecoat CB-150.

STEP 1: Follow the instructions in Pro Tip #1 (see previous page) for preparing and painting your chest of drawers. Using a dry Whizz roller, apply a thick layer of Fissure size on all surfaces that will be seen. Do not put Fissure on the insides of the drawers. Let dry for an hour or two until it is dry to the touch. The drying time will depend on your climate and humidity.

STEP 2: Using a clean 4-inch (10cm) Whizz roller, apply a thick layer of Platinum Series Zero VOC Basecoat CB-150 all over the surface. Do not paint the insides of the drawers. Let dry overnight.

STEP 3: After the CB-150 has crackled, apply a clear coat, 100 percent coverage, of Decorative Painters Satin Varnish on all surfaces including the insides of the drawers.

STEP 4: To 4 ounces of the Furniture and Cabinetry Glazing Cream, add ½ oz. Glazing Color in Raw Sienna and ¼ oz. Glazing Color in Van Dyke Brown. Apply a thick coat with a 4-inch (10cm) chip brush over the crackled area. Soften by lightly patting in a circular motion with cheesecloth to remove brushstrokes. Let dry overnight. Using a Whizz roller, add another layer of Satin Varnish and let dry overnight.

STEP 5: Load Shizen-Kyoto Untinted Plaster about 3/8-inch (10mm) thick on a stainless steel trowel. Place the trowel vertically on the surface and pat in a random motion, picking up and putting the trowel down. Rake the trowel downward to remove high places in the plaster. Strategically place the plaster leaving open areas and covering about 45-60 percent of the piece. This is a decorative detail so plan your pattern. Let dry completely about two hours or so.

STEP 6: To 2 ounces of Furniture and Cabinetry Glazing Cream, add 1/4 oz. Glazing Color in Van Dyke Brown and 1/16 oz. Glazing Color in Natural Brown. Spritz area with water, and using a clean 4-inch (10cm) chip brush, apply the glaze mixture on the furniture starting on the plaster areas. Soften the brush lines with cheesecloth. Let the glaze dry overnight.

FINISH: Using a clean 4-inch (10cm) Whizz roller, apply a clear coat of satin varnish, 100 percent coverage, on all surfaces including the insides of the drawers. Let dry overnight and enjoy your piece of furniture art!