A Faux Finisher's Dictionary
Home Decorating
 Antiquing:
Antiquing is a wash of soft-hued color, brushed over a
surface to give the appearance of age or add a shadow of color.
Usually a darker tone is applied over a lighter color, but
not always.
Color
Washing:
Color washing is a sheer layer of color applied to raw wood
or over a painted surface. If the surface has carvings or
crevices, the color wash collects in those areas, adding to
the dimensional look.
 Combing:
Combing involves applying a colored glaze over a base painted
surface and using a tool to remove some of the glaze and at
the same time, create patterns. Combing can be serious or
fun and carefree, depending on the technique used and the
color combinations.
 Crackled
Finish:
What normally takes years of wind and weather can be created
instantly with Crackle Medium. Crackled finishes can be achieved
with one paint color or two, or can be applied over raw wood
to expose the wood through the cracks.
 Distressing:
Distressed finishes look comfortably worn. You can create
this look of age and wear by applying wax to some areas of
a surface before painting or applying wax between layers of
paint. In areas where wax has been applied, the paint is easy
to remove.
 Woodgraining:
You can make any paintable surface look like wood with
the woodgraining technique. It can be done in any color, and
can also be used to create a faux moire fabric finish. Decorators
in the 18th and 19th centuries used this technique in homes
to give the illusion of rare costly woods on less expensive
wood pieces.
Find this faux finishing information and more in
The
Illustrated Guide to Faux Finishing by celebrated
home decorator Susan Goans Driggers.
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