Antiquing Stained Kitchen Cabinets

Antiquing is the process of making modern pieces of furniture look old and used through the application of a special finishing stain called glaze. The glaze is a gel material that you spread onto the surface of the cabinet or other furniture and then partly remove, leaving some of it behind to give the impression of antiquity. For a stained cabinet, the trick is to find glaze that is different enough in color from the existing stain to complete the look.

Masking tape
Newspapers
Sanding pad
Refinishing glaze (darker than the cabinet surface)
Paintbrush
Old rags
Spray-on polyurethane

Instructions

- 1
  Cover the hinges, knobs and any other non-wood parts of the cabinets, using masking tape. Spread newspapers around the floor.
- 2
  Dull the cabinet surface with a pad sander. Wipe up the dust.
- 3
  Brush on refinishing glaze, laying it thickly over each part of the cabinet. Let the glaze sit on the surface until it’s starting to dry, assessing the surface to see when it starts to lose its shine (about five minutes).
- 4
  Wipe off the glaze with old rags, using light strokes so the stain comes off the flat areas but is left in the corners and crevices of the piece. Work the surface until it looks the way you want it. Let the glaze set 12 hours.
- 5
  Spray on a light coat of polyurethane, covering all the glaze. Let it dry for two hours. Spray on a second layer. Let it dry. Repeat, adding four to six layers to the desired look.

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