Lightening Up To Driftwood

One big furniture trend right now is weathered and bleached wood furniture, like driftwood. I like the look because it's light, but some of the pieces I've been eyeing are thousands of dollars.

I've been holding onto this knotty yellow pine armoire not because I liked it, but because it was the first piece of furniture I bought when I was on my own. The longer it hung around though, the more outdated it started to look especially in the airy sun room.  It was the perfect Guinea pig to try a do-it-yourself driftwood look.

I used Benjamin Moore paint in "Smoke Embers" in an eggshell finish and cut it with a little water to make a glaze.  Since the armoire was rustic and didn't have much of a finish on it at all, it took really well to the glaze.  I rubbed it on with a rag and then wiped it off with a clean rag forcing it into the grain.  Yup that's it! Even I expected to have to glaze over with a darker color and then a lighter color, then perhaps do some sanding. But the glaze was all it needed and the process went really quickly.  The whole project took no more then and hour and it's a big piece of furniture.  When I have a some extra time, I'll likely throw a coat of paste wax on it.  So, if you have any of this knotty pine circa 1995, grab the paint and water and glaze away!