Nothing Compares To Precise Metallic Leaf

Final week, I additionally ordered some precise gold leaf (properly, the imitation stuff) to make use of on the insides of the pendant lights that go over the countertop on the mural wall. I didn’t get these utterly completed, however right here’s a sneak peek of how these are trying with the gold leaf. I additionally added a band of gold across the backside exterior edge, and it seems improbable!!

So there I used to be with all of this further gold leaf, and an entire wall of cupboard doorways and drawers that I assumed wanted a bit extra shine. Naturally, I needed to attempt it on one door to see the way it in comparison with the gold metallic marker. Properly, in the case of gold leaf, there is no such thing as a comparability.

There are such a lot of paints and pens that attempt to mimic the look of gold leaf, however in actuality, nothing comes shut. If you would like the look of actual gold leaf, you must use actual gold leaf. Have a look at the one gold leafed door in comparison with the door and drawer fronts with marker accent. The distinction is fairly superb!

The marker, whereas it does have a metallic shine to it, seems total darker than the true steel leaf.

And the primary factor that offered me was that the true gold leaf (once more, I don’t imply to insinuate that it’s actual gold, however solely that it’s actual steel leaf in a gold shade) is seen from anyplace within the room, whereas the gold metallic marker accent disappears the additional away you get from the cupboards.

So, after all, as soon as I noticed the distinction, I couldn’t return to the marker. I’m now within the strategy of gold leafing the entire doorways and drawer fronts. It’s a way more time consuming course of, however I believe the payoff is so price it! Right here’s the method I used so as to add the gold leaf accent to my cupboard doorways and drawer fronts. (This can be a course of I’ve finished earlier than on a unique model of cupboards. You may see how added gold leaf accent to recessed panel cupboard doorways right here.)

Since these painted cupboard doorways haven’t been completed very lengthy, I used painters tape for delicate surfaces. I wished the gold leaf accent to cowl the outer fringe of the trim, and about 1/4 inch of the highest of the trim. So I began by taping all the best way across the trim that I added to my IKEA Veddinge doorways.

Subsequent, I used some 1/4-inch painters tape to tape off the outer 1/4-inch of the trim. This tape was simply getting used as a spacer, and could be eliminated earlier than I added the gold leaf.

After which simply contained in the 1/4-inch tape spacer, I added extra of the painters tape for delicate surfaces.

To wash up these inside corners, I used my utility knife and really rigorously lower at a diagonal, ensuring I didn’t lower deep sufficient to attain the painted end.

After which I eliminated the additional items that I had lower off, and was left with mitered painters tape corners.

I put a scrap piece of painters tape over the nook to carry it collectively. Since this tape is for delicate surfaces, it’s not as sticky as common painters tape, so corners like which have extra of a bent to maneuver or come up in the event that they’re not secured.

After that, I used to be in a position to take away the 1/4-inch painters tape that I had used as a spacer, which revealed the realm that I wished to cowl with gold leaf. I used a small artist paint brush to use the Speedball Mona Lisa Extra Thick Adhesive Size (affiliate hyperlink).

The final time I gold leafed cupboards doorways, I used the common Speedball Mona Lisa Adhesive Measurement. That stuff may be very watery, and had a bent to get beneath the painters tape. The tremendous thick adhesive continues to be skinny sufficient to brush on, but it surely’s thick sufficient that it received’t bleed beneath the painters tape.

I brushed on two coats of the tremendous thick adhesive, letting the primary coat dry utterly earlier than brushing on the second. The Speedball Adhesive Measurement goes on cloudy and dries clear and glossy. After making use of two coats, and letting the second coat dry completely, I utilized the gold leaf. This is the imitation gold leaf I bought (affiliate hyperlink). I’ve used this a number of instances on numerous tasks, and I’m at all times more than happy with the way it seems. It’s very messy, although! 😀

After I had the entire space lined with the gold leaf, I used a 1-inch artist brush to brush the entire space considerably vigorously in an effort to ensure that the entire gold leaf was safe and to take away any extra. The I used one other brush to brush on a coat of General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in a flat finish (affiliate hyperlink). I used the flat end as a result of that’s what I at all times have available, however I don’t discover that it makes any distinction in any respect within the sheen of the gold leaf. Even with the flat end clear coat, the steel leaf continues to be has a really shiny metallic end.

After that prime coat dried, I eliminated the painters tape.

I used a big dry paint brush to brush away the entire extra gold leaf, after which added another coat of the Common Finishes Topcoat to seal the perimeters of the gold leaf.

As soon as that was dry, I reinstalled the door and gazed upon the great thing about that beautiful metallic shine. 😀

I imply, there’s simply merely no comparability. Attempting to mimic the look of steel will at all times fall quick. Nothing shines like an actual steel leaf.

Final week was sort of a dud for me so far as getting work finished within the studio. I began off the week with a chilly and felt horrible for just a few days, after which I shared my chilly with Matt. I used to be so afraid that he would find yourself within the hospital once more, as has occurred the final thrice I’ve come down with one thing after which shared it with him. As a result of he has M.S., even one thing like a chilly will be so extreme for him as a result of it may well trigger excessive weak point to the purpose that he can’t even drink water or communicate.

So the latter a part of final week, and over the weekend, my focus was on him and never my studio. Happily, his chilly by no means turned extreme, we prevented a hospital keep, and immediately, we’re each feeling nice! So I can return to regular life this week, focus extra on the studio, and hopefully see some actual progress over the subsequent few days.