Final week, I additionally ordered some precise gold leaf (properly, the imitation stuff) to make use of on the insides of the pendant lights that go over the countertop on the mural wall. I didn’t get these utterly completed, however right here’s a sneak peek of how these are trying with the gold leaf. I additionally added a band of gold across the backside outdoors edge, and it seems implausible!!
So there I used to be with all of this additional gold leaf, and an entire wall of cupboard doorways and drawers that I assumed wanted a bit extra shine. Naturally, I needed to strive it on one door to see the way it in comparison with the gold metallic marker. Properly, in the case of gold leaf, there isn’t any comparability.
There are such a lot of paints and pens that attempt to mimic the look of gold leaf, however in actuality, nothing comes shut. In order for you the look of actual gold leaf, you need to use actual gold leaf. Have a look at the one gold leafed door in comparison with the door and drawer fronts with marker accent. The distinction is fairly wonderful!
The marker, whereas it does have a metallic shine to it, seems total darker than the actual metallic leaf.
And the principle factor that offered me was that the actual gold leaf (once more, I don’t imply to insinuate that it’s actual gold, however solely that it’s actual metallic leaf in a gold shade) is seen from anyplace within the room, whereas the gold metallic marker accent disappears the additional away you get from the cupboards.
So, in fact, as soon as I noticed the distinction, I couldn’t return to the marker. I’m now within the technique of gold leafing all the doorways and drawer fronts. It’s a way more time consuming course of, however I believe the payoff is so price it! Right here’s the method I used so as to add the gold leaf accent to my cupboard doorways and drawer fronts. (It is a course of I’ve accomplished earlier than on a distinct fashion of cupboards. You can see how added gold leaf accent to recessed panel cabinet doors here.)
Since these painted cupboard doorways haven’t been completed very lengthy, I used painters tape for delicate surfaces. I wished the gold leaf accent to cowl the outer fringe of the trim, and about 1/4 inch of the highest of the trim. So I began by taping all the way in which round the trim that I added to my IKEA Veddinge doors.
Subsequent, I used some 1/4-inch painters tape to tape off the outer 1/4-inch of the trim. This tape was simply getting used as a spacer, and can be eliminated earlier than I added the gold leaf.
After which simply contained in the 1/4-inch tape spacer, I added extra of the painters tape for delicate surfaces.
To scrub up these inside corners, I used my utility knife and really fastidiously lower at a diagonal, ensuring I didn’t lower deep sufficient to attain the painted end.
After which I eliminated the additional items that I had lower off, and was left with mitered painters tape corners.
I put a scrap piece of painters tape over the nook to carry it collectively. Since this tape is for delicate surfaces, it’s not as sticky as common painters tape, so corners like which have extra of an inclination to maneuver or come up in the event that they’re not secured.
After that, I used to be in a position to take away the 1/4-inch painters tape that I had used as a spacer, which revealed the world that I wished to cowl with gold leaf. I used a small artist paint brush to use the Speedball Mona Lisa Extra Thick Adhesive Size (affiliate hyperlink).
The final time I gold leafed cupboards doorways, I used the common Speedball Mona Lisa Adhesive Measurement. That stuff may be very watery, and had an inclination to get beneath the painters tape. The tremendous thick adhesive continues to be skinny sufficient to brush on, but it surely’s thick sufficient that it received’t bleed beneath the painters tape.
I brushed on two coats of the tremendous thick adhesive, letting the primary coat dry utterly earlier than brushing on the second. The Speedball Adhesive Measurement goes on cloudy and dries clear and glossy. After making use of two coats, and letting the second coat dry totally, I utilized the gold leaf. This is the imitation gold leaf I bought (affiliate hyperlink). I’ve used this a number of occasions on varied tasks, and I’m at all times more than happy with the way it seems. It’s very messy, although! 😀
After I had all the space coated with the gold leaf, I used a 1-inch artist brush to brush the entire space considerably vigorously with the intention to be certain that all the gold leaf was safe and to take away any extra. The I used one other brush to brush on a coat of General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in a flat finish (affiliate hyperlink). I used the flat end as a result of that’s what I at all times have readily available, however I don’t discover that it makes any distinction in any respect within the sheen of the gold leaf. Even with the flat end clear coat, the metallic leaf continues to be has a really shiny metallic end.
After that high coat dried, I eliminated the painters tape.
I used a big dry paint brush to brush away all the extra gold leaf, after which added yet one more coat of the Normal Finishes Topcoat to seal the sides of the gold leaf.
As soon as that was dry, I reinstalled the door and gazed upon the great thing about that beautiful metallic shine. 😀
I imply, there’s simply merely no comparability. Making an attempt to mimic the look of metallic will at all times fall quick. Nothing shines like an actual metallic leaf.
Final week was form of a dud for me so far as getting work accomplished within the studio. I began off the week with a chilly and felt horrible for a number of days, after which I shared my chilly with Matt. I used to be so afraid that he would find yourself within the hospital once more, as has occurred the final thrice I’ve come down with one thing after which shared it with him. As a result of he has M.S., even one thing like a chilly could be so extreme for him as a result of it could possibly trigger excessive weak point to the purpose that he can’t even drink water or converse.
So the latter a part of final week, and over the weekend, my focus was on him and never my studio. Happily, his chilly by no means turned extreme, we prevented a hospital keep, and at present, we’re each feeling nice! So I can return to regular life this week, focus extra on the studio, and hopefully see some actual progress over the subsequent few days.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I rework and embellish the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do nearly all of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
