Distressed Curio Cabinets
Curio cabinets come in a variety of styles and finishes. One of the most interesting is a distressed finished, as it gives the piece the feeling of a well-loved heirloom.
Most manufacturers of curio cabinets, such as Howard Miller and Pulaski, offer pieces with a distressed finish. However, it is both easy and fun to create a distressed finish yourself.
First, think about the effect you want to achieve. Are you wanting your piece to look gently time-worn, or are you after a more heavily distressed look? Will the piece be painted? The nature of the curios you are planning to display will influence these choices. Delicate pieces would best be displayed in an elegant, lightly-distressed cabinet, while a collection of antique beer steins would look at home in a heavily distressed case.
The first steps in both light and heavy distressing are the same: Remove all glass from the cabinet, and make sure that each piece you are working on is well-supported so that it does not break while been distressed.
Light distressing is achieved by scarring the wood with objects such as nails and rocks, and by sanding. If your finished piece is to be painted, scar the wood first, then paint. The next step is sanding. Consider where the piece would naturally show wear over time. For example, the areas around handles or knobs is one of the first places finishes rub off. Corners and edges that are prone to being bumped against are other spots to work on. Once you have identified these areas on your piece, sand them until signs of wear appear. Finally, apply a dark glaze if the piece is unpainted. This will settle into the imperfections and accentuate them. Finish off the piece with a clear paste wax.
If the piece is to be heavily distressed, you will want a few more tools. One of the best is simply a strong cloth bag of nuts and bolts, used to beat the wood. You might also try using an awl to create the look of worm-holes. Hitting the wood with a chain or a rock is another technique. Even burning around the edges of the wood can be effective on unpainted pieces.
Once you are satisfied that the curio cabinet looks sufficiently aged, it can be assembled. It will add warmth and character to whatever room it graces.
