Time - Honored Distressing Techniques Give Custom Cabinets an Antiqued Look
Last week we discussed custom cabinets and touched on how a painted cabinet with the right finishing will change the mood of a kitchen. This week, we’re discussing how we achieve that old world look with physical distressing. (Stay tuned for next week when we’ll dive into paint distressing.)
What is physical distressing?
Physical distressing is old world artisanship employed to give a custom cabinet character – lending a worn, unique and loved look. There are several techniques, but essentially, physical distressing is the application of tools like sandpaper and metal scrapers to achieve a weathered look. The goal may be to make the cabinet look as though some of the paint has been worn or sun-faded away; or to appear as though the cabinet has aged. Why would anyone want their cabinets to look old? An aged cabinet implies history and longevity. Maple kitchen cabinets and cherry kitchen cabinets that have withstood the test of time and will be there for generations to come are timelessly appealing.
How is it done?
Physical distressing is achieved with painstaking techniques accomplished exclusively by hand, typically executed on maple and cherry woods, but feasible on any wood. Woodworking artists use specialized tools, hammers, sandpaper, and wax to give a painted or stained cabinet an aged appearance. The work is laborious and time-consuming, but the results experienced craftsman achieve are uniquely custom cabinets, different from each other and from those hanging in any other kitchen.
When Not to D-I-Y.
There’s plenty of information on the internet with do-it-yourself methods for physically distressing the paint or finish of your cabinets and furniture for a shabby chic style. If you’re not worried about the sustainability of the wood (i.e., your cabinets are already not in great shape), it’s worth experimenting if you’re a crafty sort. However, distressing a cabinet means you may be wearing away finishes of the cabinet that are preserving it. You must be sure to seal your distressed wood correctly; otherwise, the moisture and heat inherent in kitchen cooking may affect the integrity of your wood over time.
Likewise, the distressing needs to be well-executed. The paint should look as though it’s worn away – it should not actually be chipping or flaking! The holes made to mimic naturally occurring insect penetration and the carving meant to resemble joint separation should not actually affect the cabinet’s functionality. Physically distressed kitchen cabinets should appear aged but be clean, sanitary and durable.
Who does it best?
The techniques we use to finish quality cabinets are built into the costs of our cabinets and include the following:
- Sand Through - A sanding technique used to expose an undercoat or natural wood tone to create a worn or aged finish.
- Joint Crack - A technique where the joinery of a door panel is randomly enhanced with carving to mimic joint separation over time.
- Wood Splits - A carving technique applied parallel to the wood grain direction to mimic the natural splitting of the wood over time.
- Worm Holes - A physical technique of randomly placing small round divits in wood that mimics the look of insect penetration that occurs naturally in trees and harvested wood.
- Nicks - A physical technique of randomly striking the wood with a sharp tool mimicking the effect of wear over time.
- Corner and Edge Wear - A sanding technique used to randomly soften corners and edges to mimic the look of wear over time.
- Rock Indents - A physical technique of randomly striking the wood surface with a tool create indentations that mimic the look of aged wood.
- Rasping - - A physical technique using a metal scrapper called a rasp is run over the edges and raised details to mimic severe wear.
- Hand Rubbed / Waxing - The use of very fine steel wool and fine wax hand applied to create a smooth and luxurious fine furniture finish.
- Worn - A physical technique where some of the painted or stained finish is rubbed off to mimic the effect of wear over time.
Crossroads Custom Cabinetry redefines the U.S. cabinet industry by making premium quality, custom cabinets widely available at greatly reduced prices. Crossroads' team of professionals are dedicated to empowering the home improvement consumer community with superior products at factory direct prices. Webinetry.com is a completely new channel ushering in a new era for the way today's American consumer can research, preview, budget, and finalize their cabinet purchasing decisions online.