ANTIQUED MARBLE

1. Select and apply base coat color with a natural looking tone. Use a glossier base coat for best results.
2. After the base coat has dried, apply a contrasting color to create the marble effect. "Smoosh" on the contrasting paint with a rag or a sponge. This is best done in circular motion with "sharp pull offs" (pull off the medium in peaks with a sharp twist of the wrist).
3. After this coat dries, apply a first clear coat.
4. When the clear coat has set, you can start with the "veining" of the marble.
5. Veining can be done with a variety of mediums. Using a contrasting paint that complements the swirls already on the fixture drag, drag the point of a brush in consistent slanted angle. (Hint veins should flow in one direction even if they fork outward).
6. After you scratch the paint on, immediately take some of the smooshing paint and blend the veins into the finish.
7. Let the fixture dry for at least an hour.
8. Thin down black paint (acrylic craft paint is easiest to work with) to a runny consistency and sponge it generously all over the fixture. You can tap of smear it with the edge of a sponge.
9. Let dry for a couple of minutes. Then, begin loosely wiping the paint back off with a damp rag. For a cleaner look, wipe off more of the paint. Let the paint build up in the ridges of the fixture.
10. After wiping off the paint, let fixture dry for at least an hour.
11. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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COPPER PATINA

1. Apply a base coat of standard metallic spray paint. Choose a shade of copper or bronze that is shinier than the desired end result. Apply the base coat in two thin coats, instead of a heavy coat to prevent running.
2. Let base coat dry. Then, scuff it up with a piece of steel wool or fine sand paper. Scuff the surface more if you prefer a more distressed look.
3. Thin down green and blue paint (acrylic craft paint is easiest to work with) to a runny consistency and simultaneously sponge generously all over the fixture. You can tap of smear it with the edge of a sponge.
4. Let dry for a couple of minutes. Then, begin loosely wiping the paint back off with a damp rag. For a cleaner look, wipe off more of the paint. Let the paint build up in the ridges of the fixture.
5. After wiping off the paint, let fixture dry for at least an hour.
6. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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ANTIQUED PEWTER

1. Apply a base coat of ordinary metallic spray paint available in any home improvement store. Choose a shade of silver that is shinier than the desired end result. Apply the base coat in two thin coats, instead of a heavy coat to prevent running.
2. Let base coat dry. Then, scuff it up with a piece of steel wool or fine sand paper. Scuff the surface more if you prefer a more distressed look.
3. Thin down black paint (acrylic craft paint is easiest to work with) to a runny consistency and sponge it generously all over the fixture. You can tap of smear it with the edge of a sponge.
4. Let dry for a couple of minutes. Then, begin loosely wiping the paint back off with a damp rag. For a cleaner look, wipe off more of the paint. Let the paint build up in the ridges of the fixture.
5. After wiping off the paint, let fixture dry for at least an hour.
6. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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TEXTURED RUSTIC

1. Apply a reddish-brown base coat. For an even more distressed look, use a blacker base coat.
2. Allow the base coat to dry. Mix reddish brown tone paint with play sand. keep the mixture lumpy thick.
3. After the base coat has dried, smoosh on the mixture a sponge. This is best done in circular motion with "sharp pull offs" (pull off the medium in peaks with a sharp twist of the wrist). Be sure to save some of this paint for later.
4. As this coat sets up, use a slightly damp rag or sponge randomly dab some red and yellow paint all over the fixture. Try not to form a pattern.
5. Let these red and yellow spots set for only a few minutes. Use the paint sand mixture to smoosh/blend in the red and yellow spots.
6. Allow fixture to dry for at least an hour.
7. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer (preferably a matte or dull, clear coat). This clear coat provides a protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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ANTIQUED BRONZE

1. Apply a base coat of standard metallic spray paint. Choose a shade of bronze that is shinier than the desired end result. Apply the base coat in two thin coats, instead of a heavy coat to prevent running. Glossier base coats produce a smoother metal-like finish.
2. Thin down black paint (acrylic craft paint is easiest to work with) to a runny consistency and sponge it generously all over the fixture. You can tap of smear it with the edge of a sponge.
3. Let dry for a couple of minutes. Then, begin loosely wiping the paint back off with a damp rag. For a cleaner look, wipe off more of the paint. Let the paint build up in the ridges of the fixture.
4. After wiping off the paint, let fixture dry for at least an hour.
5. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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BEIGE CRACKLE FINISH

1. A crackle involves separating a top coat over a based coat. Use contrasting colors for best results. The crackle finish show in this picture uses a black base coat topped with a linen white top coat.
2. Use a glossy base coat to allow the top to slide and separate. Use a latex semi-gloss house pain or spray enamel for your base coat. Apply this base coat in two thin coats to prevent running. Let the base coat dry.
3. Brush on crackle medium (available in many paint, craft and hardware stores). You may also substitute brown glue) over the entire surface. Apply a heavier coat of crackle medium to produce a more pronounced and asymmetrical crackle pattern. Apply your top coat over the medium. The crackling pattern will develop as these coats dry.
4. Allow the top coat to dry for at least 3 hours.
5. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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GRAY MARBLE

1. Select and apply base coat color with a natural looking tone. Use a glossier base coat for best results.
2. After the base coat has dried, apply a contrasting color to create the marble effect. "Smoosh" on the contrasting paint with a rag or a sponge. This is best done in circular motion with "sharp pull offs" (pull off the medium in peaks with a sharp twist of the wrist).
3. After this coat dries, apply a first clear coat.
4. When the clear coat has set, you can add "veining" to the marble.
5. Veining can be done with a variety of mediums. Using a contrasting paint that complements the swirls already on the fixture drag, drag the point of a brush in consistent slanted angle. Hint (veins should flow in one direction even if they fork outward).
6. After you scratch the paint on, immediately take some of the smooshing paint and blend the veins into the finish.
7. Let the fixture dry for at least an hour.
8. Clear coat this fixture using two thin coats of sealer. Use spray laquer. This clear coat provides a shiny, protective finish. Use two thin coats of sealer for the best result.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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MISCELLANEOUS - Other options to combine and add to the fixtures:

1. GOLD LEAFING: Gold leafing can be added to the scroll work and defining grooves of the fixture. Apply Gold Leafing (available in craft and retail stores) with an artist's brush (#002). Be sure to remix the gold leafing intermittently as you work.
2. SOLID FINISHES: You can apply basic solid finishes (white, black, silver, chrome etc. using standard gloss spray can enamels. If you'd like to match this fixture to your appliances, use appliance enamel spray paint. Apply a primer, then appliance enamel spray paint, followed by a clear coat.
3. STENCILS: You can decorate the fixture for a child's room by using a stencil to apply a contrasting color over a base coat preferably a bright cheer color.

Courtesy of Bartholomew & Sons

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