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An Addiction

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I have an addiction that I need to get off my chest.  It’s stronger than my addiction to Facebook.  Stronger than my addiction to Sons of Anarchy.  It’s even stronger than my addiction to coffee, which says more than you know.

My name is Lindsay, and I am addicted to decorative glaze.

It all started about this time last year.  I rehabbed an old dresser with a gorgeous yellow paint, but I thought it needed something more.  So, I followed Mandy‘s and Mandi‘s advice and got some Ralph Lauren glaze from my local dealer (heh, “dealer”).  He tinted it to Black Silk and the finished project brought me such a high.

As a gal recovering from DADD, I knew that I shouldn’t try it just for fun.  But, I did.  And then again (on a gray dresser).  And again (on a bed).  And again (on some frames).

At first, the rush I felt was at the newness of putting on the glaze.  I had to perfect my technique by removing the glaze with various combinations of wet and dry cloths.  I felt like an artist.  Then, I moved on from my gateway drug – wooden pieces – to a new world of glazing plastic and metal surfaces.

Now that my addiction has reached critical mass, I am simply unable to paint anything a single color without thinking that it’s dull and one-dimensional.  My fingers just itch to open that can of glaze (yes, I’ve only used about half the quart after all of those projects – it lasts forever).  I’m afraid I’m going to need to explore some sort of glaze related rehab.

Never glazed a piece before?  Here’s a quick run down on the steps involved.

How to Glaze Wooden Furniture and Frames

1.  Paint the piece your base color and allow it to fully dry.

2.  Load a cheap paint brush (like a chip brush) with glaze and dab it onto your piece.  I like to work in smallish sections of about 12 inches x 12 inches at a time.  Make sure you really work the glaze into any details or imperfections you wish to bring out.

3.  Lightly wipe the glaze with a wet (but not dripping) cloth.  You can use any sort of clean rag to do this.  I just buy the bags of wiping rags from Home Depot.

4.  With a dry cloth, firmly wipe away the glaze that is left standing on top of the piece (i.e. not in the details).

5.  Using a different wet cloth, wipe the surface again so that the glaze doesn’t look dingy.

6.  Move on to your next 12″x12″ section using the same steps.  However, when you are wiping, use clean areas of your various cloths.  I generally go through 3 sets of cloths for a piece the size of a tall dresser.

7.  Once you are finished and are happy with the results (keep adding glaze or keeping wiping off if you are not), let the piece dry.  I usually add a protective finish, such as a polyurethane, to my painted pieces.

8.  Marvel at your piece.  Wonder why you’ve never glazed anything before.  Become addicted.  Know that we are in this together.

Anyone else need a 12 step program?

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Comments

  2. Jen Potter says

    Love the look of the pieces you’ve been working on with the glaze! I’ve been using the Annie Sloan Chalk paints and waxes lately, with the dark wax so I can get the aged look. But I’ve used a tinted glaze before for a bathroom re-do project, and I loved how easy it was to manipulate. I look forward to trying the Ralph Lauren brand! Thanks for sharing. I also enjoyed your DADD post. I can SOOO relate! That is me 100%. You’re definitely not alone, girl! ;o)

    Reply

  3. Melanie says

    I need the 12 step program for glaze! I love spray paint, but when I see something that is just spray painted, I think how much better it would look glazed! Yes, It would! I have your frames pinned on pinterest – that is how much I love them!

    Reply

  8. Heather says

    Great tutorial…I too am addicted to painting anything and everything that is standing still and then some. I’m your newest follower and would love for you to follow back. Heather @ Larissa Hill Designs

    Reply

  10. rebecca says

    love glaze. but more importantly, sons of anarchy! i just discovered this show and am so hooked. people have told me to watch it before and i just did not pay attention. so hooked and am in love!

    Reply

  12. Ashley says

    I am trying to find the Ralph Lauren Glaze in Black Silk and am not having any luck. I found the Ralph Lauren Glaze online but it doesn’t say anything about Black Silk. I am a little confused. Are they separate? Any help would be great! Thanks and LOVE your blog!

    Reply

    • Lindsay says

      Hey Ashley! Yes, they are separate…kind of. When you go into the store, they tint the glaze in any of the Ralph Lauren paint colors of your choice. So, I picked Black Silk. Without a color added, I assume that the glaze is just clear.

      Reply

  13. Rachel says

    I love the yellow dresser!! I want to paint a laminate armoire yellow, and was wondering what brand paint & what color you used…’cause I really love it…a lot!! And do you know if glazing would work on the painted laminate?

    Reply

  15. Gosia says

    Hi.I love your work! love it!! I’m trying to paint my cabinets and was wondering what was the original color of your bed frame before you painted with the glaze? I want to paint in white and was wondering would the black silk glaze work with white for that rustic look? Thank you so much for your help. If you can be so kind and send me an email directly-that would be great! Again thank you!
    Gosia204@aol.com

    Reply

  16. Debra says

    I just read your GLAZING 101 and I want to thank you for sharing. I have one question on the glazing of furniture (lets take a table for instance) I know to glaze on the legs and perhaps around the edges but do you also glaze the whole top as well or just the legs and sides?
    You asked if anyone else needed a 12 step program. Well I DO on giving already stained furniture a darker look almost like a barn wood style. I have a coffee table that is I would say maybe a light colored oak and I want to refinish it with out having to strip it. I do not mind sanding it some to give it some teeth but not down to bare wood. the top already has the slats as if I had put individual strips of wood on it so I think I am half way there for the look that I want. But I don’t know how to go about getting that grayish brown wood colors. I hope I am explaining what I want to do enough for you to understand what I want to do to this coffee table. So PLEASE give me a 12 step program, step by step by step. : ) : ) Thank you for sharing with us that are just starting and are able to learn and grow from your blog and wonderful work that you do.
    Best regards
    Debbie

    Reply

    • Lindsay Ballard says

      Hey Debbie! So you are wanting to stain it a gray color, right? You’ll definitely have to sand it to get past any sealant coat that was put on the top at the factory. You’ll need to sand it enough so that the wood grain opens up to take the stain. Then, I think you can just put your new stain on top of that. Because you already have stain on the table, the color you use might change a bit due to the stain that’s already on the wood (like yellow + blue crayons = green). There are a lot of different gray stain options, so you’ll want to just look around and find one that you like. Good luck!

      Reply

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