Whitewashing With White Wax
Do you remember the whitewashed oak dresser I completed a few days ago?
I mentioned in my blog post about this piece that you can achieve this whitewashed look using a glazing product by General Finishes.
Now you can get a similar look using a white wax product. As a matter of fact, I just finished a tiny project that perked right up with a bit of Miss Mustard Seed's White Wax.
White Wax is essentially a clear wax that has been tinted white. It's a mixture of both beeswax and carnauba wax, giving it a super soft and creamy consistency. It's sooooooo easy to apply too! If you've ever struggled with wax in the past, then this product will totally change your mind. Plus, it doesn't have a harsh chemical smell at all. If anything, it smells like a lovely natural lotion!
White Wax is perfect for creating a faded, washed or limed look on a piece of furniture. You can apply it over top of paint or directly on raw wood. Once you apply it, you don't need an additional topcoat over the white wax. It's a topcoat in and of itself!
One day, I popped into a local antique shop to look around. I wasn't shopping for anything in particular, but I'm always open to finding beautiful pieces and good deals! While I was walking around, I took a peek in a booth that I usually don't frequent because it predominantly sells jewelry. As I perused, I spied this little jewelry box perched on a ledge.
Now tell me that isn't the cutest little jewelry box you've ever seen?! The texture of the wood totally won me over. At first, I thought it was a reproduction piece. I couldn't find a maker's mark or a sticker that said "Made in ____", so I looked for the second potential deal breaker - the price. Much to my delight, it was absolutely reasonable, so I quickly placed it behind the counter and wound up taking it home.
Once I got this little guy home, it was pretty much beautiful the way it was. The only thing I wanted to do was give it a subtle whitewashed look. Because the texture of the wood was so rustic, I knew that White Wax would settle into all of the recessed areas and grooves perfectly.
I grabbed my tin of White Wax and a fluffy wax brush and set to work gently smushing White Wax all over the outside and wiping it away until I liked the look.
The results are gorgeous.
See how the White Wax sits here and there, giving the piece a really subtle whitewash? That's exactly what I wanted!
Those little stubby legs are my favorite.
In the photo above, you can see how there are bits of purple, blue, and red on the piece now. That's very typical when you whitewash.
I didn't take the White Wax along the sides of the tiny drawers because I didn't want it to interfere with how they slid in and out. Instead, I was careful just to keep it on the front of every drawer.
This little jewelry chest actually sold a few hours after I posted it on my Instagram feed! But have no fear, I have plenty of pretty pieces left to sell at my Summer Sale this coming Saturday, June 23rd. It will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at my home studio. The address is 180 Netherwood Drive in Coatesville, PA 19320. I'll have finished pieces like this available along with project pieces I haven't had time to complete. I'll also be selling home decor items like lanterns, signs and candle holders. There will also be Christmas and Autumnal decor for sale as well if you'd like to get a jump on the holidays. Also, my booth at Morgantown Market is only 25 minutes away, so if you'd like to shop for more Eight Hundred Furniture goodies, you're in luck! AAAAAND, it's right near the PA Turnpike, so if you need to take that to go home, you're in luck!
Cash and credit card will be accepted and I will be offering delivery for a fee based upon distance.
I hope you can join me on Saturday!
