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My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

DIY Wood Bleached Look with Paint

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: bleached, bleached cabinet, bleached dresser, bleached wood, diy bleach, diy cabinet, how to bleach wood without bleach, light stained wood, old cabinet

Isn’t this cabinet amazing?! When a friend offered this to me for FREE, I couldn’t resist! My hubs was sweet to pick it up for me. I told him it was heavy so he took Kaden and the 2 guys at the house where it was helped as well…four guys later, and it was in the truck! Trav (my hubs) said it might be the heaviest thing he’s ever moved. I couldn’t do it without Trav, he’s one amazing hubs in so many ways!

I actually really did like the original color. I knew the color wasn’t really going to work in my space and thought it would be really pretty if it was a lighter wood color. As sanding an entire piece of furniture takes transporting in outside and then back in, I decided to just make the wood a lighter color by painting it and then antiquing it. There was a small “shell” imprint down the front sides and back sides of the cabinet. I didn’t really love the shell design so I filled it in with plastic wood filler and then sanded it flat with 100 grit sand paper, before painting it.

I started the technique by painting it with two coats of “Off White” Behr paint in matte finish.

I wasn’t sure if the technique that I wanted to use was going to work, so I tried it on one of the sides of the cabinet and it looked great! After painting, I sanded it lightly with a 220 grit sanding block and then added the antiquing glaze.

I use this glaze often, it’s one of my favorite products and lasts for a long time, through lots of projects! The left side, below, is after one coat of the glaze and the right side is after two. It’s even so pretty after just one coat!

I’m in love with the way that it turned out! I thought about adding knobs, but I love it so much without them! I know we will need some knobs, especially for the drawers, so off to look for the perfect hardware!

The finish is super smooth after the glaze is applied!

I initially wanted to take the top decorative piece off. I’m so glad that I kept it! I love it!

I also love how the wood texture shows through to make it look like lightly stained/bleached wood.

I would love to hear if you have ever done a technique similar to this! It’s so much easier than sanding and bleaching! I will be using it a lot more!

My attempt to sit on this cabinet and look cute with my legs crossed failed. This thing is a beast!

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Comments

  1. Lorri says

    October 20, 2020 at 5:13 am

    Oh so pretty.. you did a marvelous job..are you going to keep it and were are u going to put it?

  2. SUSAN says

    October 20, 2020 at 6:07 am

    Wow 😳 it didn’t look that tall till I saw you next to it. It’s really gorgeous!!

    • Andrea says

      October 20, 2020 at 8:07 am

      This piece is so gorgeous! I have never tried this technique, but saving it for the future!! Awesome job!

  3. Kim Shields says

    October 20, 2020 at 7:57 am

    Stunning!! I love that technique, I have used it on small projects in the past and so easy. Great job on the beast.

  4. Marianne in Mo. says

    October 20, 2020 at 8:59 am

    I love how this turned out. That thing looks like a beast, for sure! I tried to visualize it without the scroll thing on top, and I think it would look pretty good, especially since you eliminated the shells in the corners. I have done glazes before, but using a different product. I’ve just done a headboard that my husband made, using a dry brush technique since I didn’t have glaze. It was MDF board, and with the dry brush method, it looks like barnwood. A gift for his brother, he liked it very much!!!

  5. Stacia says

    October 20, 2020 at 9:25 am

    Goodness!! I envisioned it as a buffet height until I saw you next to it! What treasures will you store in it if you keep it?

    Can you share the brand of the antiquing glaze you use? I love this and would like to try my hand at a furniture makeover using this technique!

    • Susan Schainblatt says

      October 21, 2020 at 4:31 am

      This is beautiful! I want to try on a knotty pine pottery barn kitchen table we’ve had for years.What type brushes do you use with the glaze? TIA

    • Deborah says

      October 21, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      Oh I love this. What a terrific job. Can you please share your glaze? I would love to try a new technique.

  6. Wyatt & Coni Ross says

    October 20, 2020 at 9:33 am

    Boy Natalie, this is beautiful!!!
    Until you were next to it, I thought it was a regular height cabinet. I know you kept saying it was so huge ….my eyes have been opened. It is Huge and Beautiful…
    Chester is fine having his photo take. In the rental as well. Haha.
    God Bless 🙏❤️🐶

  7. Rachel Beal says

    October 20, 2020 at 9:54 am

    It turned out so beautiful! I have used that glaze before on some cabinets, love the results and easy to use.

  8. Aida Gentzler says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:00 am

    Beautiful! You did a fabulous job! I have a knotty pine armoire that I picked up on Marketplace for $40 that I’m going to try this technique on; hope it looks as good as yours! Thank you for the inspo!

  9. Jeanne says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:03 am

    This came out beautifully! Yes, I’ve used this technique before. My mom used it on her kitchen cabinets in the ‘70s 😊

  10. Robin drewes says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:05 am

    The cabinet turned out beautiful!!!!!

  11. Suzi Matteson says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:43 am

    Did you add anything to the paint for this project. Like you usually make chalk paint? Beautiful job!!!

  12. Crystal Chandler says

    October 20, 2020 at 12:00 pm

    I have often painted white and used a glaze. Another advantage is that water/spills wipe right up😁

  13. Camille Bonnell says

    October 20, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    Hi Girl.
    I saw th his post and was inspired to try it. My version was a little different. I began with milk paint.Miss Mustard Seed Ironstone.
    Let the first coat for 24hrs. Gave it a quick light sand tk remove the natural chipping…but kept the rough texture.. then applied the Rust-Oleum glaze Java that you recommended. Literally got giddy.Thanks Natalie. Would like to share a pick. Dont know how here…kindest regards, Camille

  14. Laurie says

    October 20, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    This is absolutely gorgeous! I have to try something!!

  15. lynda santillan says

    October 20, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    I to would like to know what glaze u used??? very nice effect…I’m so impressed on how it turned out…thank you lynda

    • Sherri says

      October 20, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      Lynda, if you click on the highlighted word ” antiquing glaze” or ” glaze” in Natalie’s story, it jumps you to the product description and where to buy it! Happy glazing!

  16. Debbie says

    October 20, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    I love the way it turned out! Now I just need to get busy doing this to my furniture.❤️

  17. Beccy says

    October 20, 2020 at 6:35 pm

    Amazing job!! You never cease to amaze😲😁 Looks terrific and I want to try this technique now…

  18. Brittney says

    October 20, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    How did you make it like the shells are completely gone on the edges? Looks amazing!! Keep up the fantastic jobs!

  19. Cheryl Atkinson says

    October 21, 2020 at 3:22 am

    Hi Natalie! Wow, what a beast indeed. Do you wipe your glaze off with a damp or dry rag? Live the look.

  20. Susan says

    October 21, 2020 at 4:34 am

    This is beautiful! I want to try on a knotty pine pottery barn kitchen table we’ve had for years.What type brushes do you use with the glaze? TIA

    Reply

  21. bobbi says

    October 21, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    It turned out beautifully! I chalk painted our guest bedroom furniture a light blue color with Valspar. Do you think I could paint over it with this color and technique or should I sand down the furniture first?

  22. Maureen Ellis says

    October 21, 2020 at 11:09 pm

    Absolutely stunning and I like the decorative piece on the top.

  23. Debra Chance says

    October 25, 2020 at 10:53 am

    Grandmother making my own space, finally…ok, lonely, but I get to choose everything.. Love your work, and you make directions seem easy to follow. I may send you a pic of my treasure sometime! Look closely to see beauty everywhere. Take care.

  24. Vicki Harland says

    October 25, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    Can you tell me what you put the glaze on with? I love this. My husband took a dresser that I saved from the trashman and painted it a dark gray and we figured out the top is Formica and I wanted it to look bleached wood. This is perfect 👍

  25. Nanette says

    November 6, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    Can you tell me where you got the horse in the beautiful frame behind your couch.
    It was the post about the terra cotta pots with the joint compound and paint.
    I really like it

  26. HVAC contractors says

    November 8, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    The wardrobe is wonderful! I didn’t know that such a finish could be done with ordinary white paint. I really like the texture, the light is unique. It fits perfectly into the overall color scheme of your interior. The closet was very ordinary and inconspicuous, but with just one can of paint and not a large sheet of sandpaper, you made a masterpiece. Thanks for sharing this idea! I will definitely use it. I just have a similar wardrobe and my wife asked me to restore it. I am sure she will love this idea very much!

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I’ve gone pot nuts! (Swipe over for close up and I’ve gone pot nuts! (Swipe over for close up and “before”...see below for colors used) This pretend pot slingin is some fun stuff!! And, this slingin it in this new craft space of mine is even more fun! I just finished this pot and I love it!! Just call me high on pot life...I’ve taken my old POTS health and changed it out for a new pots way! 🙌🏼 If you can’t find me, I’ll be over here just working with my pot! And, I’ll let you in, if you bring grain free brownies...or cupcakes...but I prefer the brownies🤔. And, I would share my grain free pretzels with you...After crying about Hallie forgetting my pretzels that one time, I now have about 10 bags fully stocked at all times. 😂 #morepots #thegoodkind #antiquepots 
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I used paint samples in matte finish and explained more of the process on my blog (link in profile) 
COLORS: 
1. Pot with handles: Behr paint “Studio Taupe”, “Deconstruction”, and “Cool Charcoal”
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2. Glass pots turned old: a mixture of Apple barrel craft paint “brown oxide”, “burnt umber, a dab of red, and a bit of black to make a terra cotta color, “Studio Taupe” Behr paint, and “Deconstruction”  Behr paint 
See blog post (in profile) for how I made my salt mixture for a more texturized paint
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3. Rounded pot: see blog post in profile for colors and technique used
Who else loves DIY projects as much as us? . #sp Who else loves DIY projects as much as us? 
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#sponsored With all of our projects going on and our upcoming house build, Trav and I are so excited that we can stream all of our go-to DIY and Home Renovation shows for all our stay-at-home date nights and get great ideas for our future house! @discoveryplus is a new streaming service that allows us to watch all of our favorite channels in one place, on ANY device...shows from my favorite networks like HGTV, the DIY network,and so many others! We can even stream it for date night out at the land, right on the site of our future home! See our little house pic right there? We are about to make that life size! Thank you for having all the shows we love in one place, discovery+!! 
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Mirror...done! 🙌🏼 . . I dream up plans and Mirror...done! 🙌🏼 
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I dream up plans and Trav helps me make them come true! We thought it would be fun to make a huge budget friendly mirror that is even better than a $3000 mirror and this one definitely fits the bill! We drew up our own plan, built it, added some trim, and voila!  I’m so in love and I just can’t stop staring at it!! Trav’s fingers might be a little sore from attaching all of that trim, but he says it was worth it! DIY tutorial coming soon, on the blog. #standingmirror #diymirror
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