Unconventional Furniture Finishes Beyond Paint or Stain

Recently, I embarked on a mission to brighten my primary bathroom. A key part of this transformation involved updating the dark, rustic frames of two mirrors I had purchased from Hobby Lobby, destined for above my vanities. While the mirrors themselves were lovely, their deeply hued, rough-hewn frames cast a shadow on my vision for a lighter, more serene space.

In this comprehensive guide, I’m thrilled to share how I dramatically lightened the wood on these mirror frames without resorting to a simple wash of white paint. What I discovered and used was a product that delivered a far superior and more authentic look: plaster! This technique offers a beautiful, nuanced finish that paint alone simply cannot replicate, creating a sense of history and understated elegance.

When I first got my hands on these mirrors, my immediate thought drifted towards using white paint. However, I hesitated. I didn’t want the frames to appear stark, overly modern, or lose their inherent rustic charm. I was aiming for a soft, aged, and subtly bleached appearance, something that would enhance the wood grain rather than obscure it. Then, a memory surfaced from the depths of my almost 65-year-old brain: I had an Amy Howard Home furniture finishing product called Vintage Plaster tucked away in my garage, completely unused.

I still wonder why I never ventured to try this incredible product before now. Looking back, I sincerely wish I had discovered its magic years ago, as it could have elevated countless projects. Its ease of use is remarkable, and it flawlessly created the exact aged, lightened look I envisioned for the mirror frames. It offers a soft, powdery finish that beautifully highlights the natural texture of the wood, a stark contrast to the flat appearance a traditional paint coat might provide.

After a bit of digging through my extensive paint stash, I finally unearthed the Vintage Plaster. A quick read of the directions confirmed my hopes – this was going to be simple. In less than 30 minutes, both mirrors were completely transformed, achieving a perfectly subtle whitewash effect that seamlessly blended with the desired aesthetic of my primary bathroom.

NOTE: I want to emphasize that this is not a sponsored post. My aim is simply to share my genuine experience with some of the exceptional Amy Howard Home paint and specialty finish products that have truly impressed me over the years.

I originally acquired the Vintage Plaster, which comes in charmingly creative packaging, at a DIY Blogger’s conference during the earlier days of my blogging career. At that memorable conference, Amy Howard herself, along with her husband Gene, hosted a vibrant booth dedicated to showcasing their innovative products to the attending DIY bloggers. Their enthusiasm and expertise were immediately captivating.

I eagerly signed up for a hands-on workshop they led one afternoon, and it proved to be an eye-opening experience. Amy and Gene were not only incredibly enthusiastic but also exceptional teachers, sharing their vast knowledge with palpable passion. We delved into their rich background in the furniture industry and gained a deep understanding of their extensive product line. During the workshop, I had the invaluable opportunity to experiment with their renowned One Step Paint and three of the many distinctive specialty finishes that the Amy Howard Home collection proudly offers.

Beyond the Vintage Plaster, I’ve had success with other Amy Howard products. For instance, I used her Better With Age brush-on solution to neutralize the often-undesirable orange tones in pine wood. This technique proved invaluable for all the wooden decor elements, table centerpieces, and signage I created for my daughter, Kelly’s rustic barn wedding. The result was a beautifully muted, naturally aged look that perfectly complemented the wedding’s aesthetic.

One of the first specialty finishes I got to experience at that transformative workshop was called Better With Age. This remarkable product genuinely lives up to its name, effortlessly transforming raw wood to give it a rich, time-worn appearance, as if it has been lovingly preserved for generations. To use it, Better With Age is simply brushed onto the entire wood surface. Once it has dried thoroughly, you then apply a companion product known as Cerusing Wax with a soft cloth, meticulously rubbing it in before gently buffing it off. The magic lies in the subtle interaction of these two products.

The final result is absolutely stunning: a delicate, almost ethereal cast of white settles over the wood, enhancing its existing stain while dramatically bringing out and emphasizing the natural grain. This technique adds depth and character, creating a sophisticated, heirloom-quality finish that looks far more complex than the actual application process suggests.

Another truly unique and fascinating specialty finish from Amy Howard Home is aptly named Dust of Ages. This product is designed to replicate the beautiful, aged patina found on authentic European antiques. Above, you can see the unadorned, raw wood on the back of a sample piece of crown molding I treated. This serves as a perfect canvas to appreciate the transformation that Dust of Ages can achieve.

And here, on the front side of that very same crown molding, is the incredible transformation after the Better With Age solution dried and I delicately sprinkled Dust of Ages over it. The change is immediate and profound; it conjures the sophisticated, time-worn elegance of an historic patina, settling beautifully into the decorative crevices and highlighting the intricate details of the molding. It’s like fast-forwarding centuries of aging into mere minutes, adding an authentic sense of heritage to any piece.

The third remarkable product I had the opportunity to try during the workshop was Venetian Plaster. While it shares some similarities with the Vintage Plaster I successfully used on my mirror frames, its application and ultimate effect are distinctly different. Unlike Vintage Plaster, which is partially scraped off to reveal the wood grain beneath, Venetian Plaster is designed to build up a luxurious, smooth, and often subtly textured surface.

To use it, you apply an even, relatively thin coat to the desired surface using a trowel, then allow it to dry completely. You can then recoat the surface until you achieve your desired thickness and depth of texture. Once fully dry, a truly elegant touch can be added by burnishing the surface, which gently buffs it to bring forth a beautiful, soft sheen, reminiscent of classic Old World plaster finishes. This product is perfect for creating sophisticated, architectural interest on furniture, walls, or decorative objects, adding a touch of timeless European charm.

My exploration of Amy Howard Home’s diverse product line doesn’t stop there. I’ve also had fantastic results with her enamel spray paint. You can spot its vibrant finish on the lively green stool situated by the bed in what I affectionately call the colorful guest room in my home. This particular paint consistently delivers the most incredibly shiny, high-gloss finish, providing a durable and radiant surface. What truly sets it apart are the colors themselves – they are wonderfully bold, deeply saturated, and truly pop, making any piece a focal point.

Collectively, all of Amy Howard’s products are genuinely remarkable. Their ability to instantly transform the appearance of a piece of furniture or decor is nothing short of amazing, often elevating an ordinary item into something extraordinary. What makes them even more appealing to DIYers like myself is the sheer ease with which they can be used. Each product seems designed with the user in mind, making sophisticated finishes accessible to everyone, regardless of their prior experience.

How I Lightened Rustic Wood Mirror Frames with Vintage Plaster

Let’s revisit the starting point of this project. Above, you can clearly see the original appearance of the wood frames on my Hobby Lobby mirrors. They possessed a deep, somewhat somber tone, characterized by their rustic, rough-hewn texture. While charming in their own right, they created a heavier aesthetic than I desired for my brightened primary bathroom. My goal was to soften this dark hue, bringing in a sense of airiness and a subtly aged, weathered look without completely masking the natural beauty of the wood grain.

One of the most appealing aspects of using Amy Howard Home’s Vintage Plaster for this project is the minimal supplies required. You truly only need a few basic items: the Vintage Plaster itself, clean water, a reliable paint brush, and a scraping tool (a putty knife or even an old credit card can work). The first crucial step is to prepare the plaster mixture. You’ll combine the plaster powder with water, stirring diligently until you achieve a thick, workable consistency. It’s important to avoid a thin or runny mixture; the plaster needs to be substantial enough to cling to the wood and allow for controlled scraping later.

Before beginning the application, I took a moment for an essential preparatory step: masking off the border of each mirror with painter’s tape. This simple act is crucial for protecting the mirror surface from any stray plaster, ensuring a clean and professional finish. It prevents tedious cleanup later and allows you to focus solely on perfecting the frame’s new look.

With my plaster mixed and the mirrors protected, I began the application process. I generously brushed a thick, even coat of the prepared plaster onto one section of a frame at a time. The key here is not to rush; working in smaller sections allows for better control. After applying the plaster, I waited patiently for approximately five minutes, allowing the plaster to partially dry and become noticeably tacky. This tackiness is essential for the next step, as it provides the perfect consistency for creating the desired effect.

Once the plaster had reached that perfect tacky stage, I took my scraping tool and carefully began to scrape it off. The technique is quite simple yet incredibly effective: by gently dragging the tool across the surface, I allowed just enough plaster to remain, subtly settling into the wood’s natural grain and texture. This action beautifully accentuated the wood grain pattern, imparting a soft, whitewashed, and authentically aged look. And that’s truly all there is to it – a surprisingly straightforward process with a remarkably sophisticated outcome!

The beauty of this finish is not only in its transformative power but also in its efficiency. The plaster dries remarkably fast, and as it cures, it subtly lightens, achieving that desirable whitewashed effect. The more it dries, the more pronounced and soft the white cast becomes, flawlessly highlighting the wood’s texture and creating a unique, weathered aesthetic that breathes new life into the frames.

I couldn’t be more thrilled with the final appearance of the mirror frames. The subtle, aged finish is precisely what I had envisioned, adding character and a bright, airy feel to the bathroom. I’m genuinely delighted that after all those years of being forgotten on a shelf in my garage, I finally remembered and utilized this incredible product. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the best solutions are the ones you already possess.

Initially, I was so pleased with the results that I eagerly visited the Amy Howard Home website to find a direct link for this post, hoping to share my discovery with all of you. Sadly, it appears that Vintage Plaster is no longer a regularly stocked item. However, don’t despair! For those looking to achieve a similar result, I believe you could successfully use Plaster of Paris. While it might not come in the charming burlap packaging, the basic principle of application and scraping should yield a comparable, beautifully aged effect.

During my search, I did stumble upon exciting news: Amy Howard has recently launched a super shiny, brush-on enamel paint called LuxeLacquer. It promises a gloss finish like nothing I’ve ever seen in a brush-on enamel, and the color palette is simply stunning. I’m already planning a trip to the thrift store to find the perfect piece to transform with one of these high-gloss hues!

I’m continuously familiarizing myself with Amy Howard Home’s ever-evolving line of products. If you share my passion for transforming furniture or any surface in your home, I highly recommend exploring the Amy Howard website for an abundance of inspiration. Her site also features countless step-by-step tutorials, not only on her website but also frequently updated on her Facebook page. She truly is an exceptional teacher, making complex techniques feel achievable for everyone. You can also conveniently find a selection of Amy Howard products on Amazon and at Ace Hardware stores.

While some of her specialty products might seem a bit pricier than conventional paints, the unique finishes they create are often unparalleled. Moreover, simply watching Amy Howard demonstrate her techniques – how she mixes, layers, and masterfully whips up various paints, glazes, and more – can spark countless ideas. These demonstrations might inspire you to experiment with the paints and products you already have on hand. Who knows, with a little creativity and a willingness to try, you might just discover your own unique and stunning finish for something special in your home, proving that DIY possibilities are truly limitless.