Faux Marble Chest of Drawers

Do you ever think to yourself that you would like to change a piece of furniture that you have had for quite some time and at that time you can't afford to spend a lot of money on replacing it - or you just don't want to spend that amount of money? Then, why not do it yourself? It is quite easy but you do need to practice quite a lot to get the effect - so try on a piece of board or something . I am going to give you a little advice to help you along the way.

I created this marble effect on a Chest of Drawers I have had for quite a few years and decided I would like a marble finish on the top instead of it just being plain grey. Although I have had this for a few years, this is the third change to that same piece of furniture. The first time I painted it in my French Antique Style, the second time was in Annie Sloans paint in Paris Grey. This time also was with Annie Sloans Paris Grey, but with a difference - I also added wax on the front of the drawers. See below for details.

Items you will need:-

Liberon Decorative Furniture Wax in Steel

Zinsser BIN or 123 Primer - white

Acrylic Eggshell - white

Clear Acrylic Glaze

Artists Acrylics

Glazes - I mixed three and used Artists Acrylics in White and Black. I mixed a dark grey and a light grey and also used the black and white on their own. You only need to mix a little of these colours as it goes a long way. Also add a little water to the mixes as you don't need your glaze too thick.

Badger Softener Brush

Feather

Sea Sponge - it is important you use a sea sponge as this gives the paint a more 'marbly' effect

Polyvine Acrylic Varnish

Sponge Roller and Tray

3 small mixing bowls

Water Spray

Medium and Fine Grit Sandpaper

1. Sand surface smooth with medium/fine grit sandpaper. Remove dust and grit with a tack cloth or damp rag. Use two coats of the Zinsser primer over the surface and let it dry overnight. Just let the primer dry after each coat. You can apply the 2 coats in one day.

2. Roll on one coat of white eggshell. Let it dry overnight. Apply 2 coats, making sure each coat is dry thoroughly before applying the next. Slightly sand down between coats, then you can proceed to the veining.

Use the sea sponge and dab in a diagonal direction just here and there, not all over. Use your softening brush by going over it very lightly, this will help send the paint into the background.

To help make veining easier you could buy a small marble tile. It will help you better visualize what the veins really look like. Veins in marble usually run on a diagonal.

3. The veining is created by using a feather. I usually buy my feathers at a craft store, but for this job - I have a friend who has a 'Macaw' (bird) and he lost some of his feathers, so she was good enough to ask me if I would like them and obviously I said yes. These are beautiful feathers and perfect for faux marbling.

4. You need to mix the colours - I mixed a dark and a light grey to use with the white and black. The texture needs to be like cream. Dip the feather into one of the glazes (just slightly along the edge) and then draw a diagonal line with the tip of the feather moving it on its side and back and forth as you draw the line. You don’t want it to be a solid line, the more variation you can give each vein in color and width – the more realistic it will look.

5. After you make a few veins – hold a spray or misting bottle of water about 12” away from the surface and very very lightly spray water on top of the veining. This will blur each line, spray a bit more on a few areas to achieve larger sections of the blurriness . If necessary, blot excess water with the sea sponge to fix mistakes or to spread out an area of veining. If you want to spread the glaze a bit to soften a vein, go over it with the Softener brush. Gently dab it up and down over any area that needs softening.

6. Use some of the darker color of paint to accent the veins you have already made. Using the mixes, vary the shades and width of each vein. Mist with water and let dry.

Remember to continue the veining down and around the sides of the piece you are working on so the top looks like a slab of marble. When you have all the veins and accent veins completed, let it dry.

7. If you look at marble carefully you will see it has some splotchy spots in some areas. To achieve this, dip a toothbrush into the mixes of glaze. Move your thumb over the loaded brush to create some paint splotches over some of the veins and white areas. Let it dry overnight.

8. Run very fine sandpaper over the top to ensure that the veins and splotches are not raised in any area. Remove sanding grit with a tack cloth.

9. Finally apply 3 or 4 coats of the polyvine varnish (I used 4 coats as it is a dresser and will get plenty of wear and tear. This will add a nice sheen and protect your lovely work. Let each coat dry well before adding the next and hey presto you have a beautiful Faux Marble Effect.