Posted on by shizzle-design

How to Create Beautiful Old World Finishes on Brass Chandeliers

I love the lines of brass chandeliers but I have to admit, I’m not a fan of brass.   I do however LOVE the look of Venetian Bronze and old world finishes.   This was the very first chandelier I ever transformed.

Venetian Bronze Candelier 1 Shizzle Design American Paint Company Chalk Clay

The European paint finish we create on brass chandeliers look and feel better than Venetian bronze and has amazing texture and detail.  Can you see it?

Typically I start out with a brass chandelier similar to this.  Maybe you have one of these lying around your garage!  If you have no interest in doing this and are in the area, drop it off to us before you toss it in the trash.  We’d love to re-purpose it and save the landfill!
brass candelier before
To create a Venetian Bronze finish start with two dark colors such as American Paint Company’s Wild Horses and Lincoln’s Hat.  If you don’t have Lincoln’s Hat on Hand, you can also substitute Freedom Road.
Slap on one of the colors covering most of the brass.  Randomly leave parts of the brass exposed and then catch that when you go over it with the 2nd color.  It’s your choice which color you start out with ~ continue painting until everything is completely covered.
At this point, I like to wet distress the finish to bring out variations in color, exposing tiny bits of the brass.  Once dry, I seal everything with American Paint Company’s Dark Wax.  Copper and Pewter metallic mica powders also look fabulous when pounced into the wet wax which adds another cool layer of dimension.  Buff it immediately to achieve a beautiful finish using an old t-shirt.
We have a steel gazebo on our deck, not the portable easy-up type, but the stationary type you bolt down creating a permanent structure.  These gazebos usually have a metal piece hanging from the center that you can hang a light fixture from which is perfect for a candelier!
How gorgeous is this?  With our long harsh winters, Michiganders do everything in our power to spend as much of our time as possible outdoors during our beautiful summers. I really love the way these look outdoors ~ they really finish off the look and offer a lot of functionality to an outdoor space.
Oh yeah, did I mention I add candles to them?  I strip out all the wires and replace the light bulbs with candles.

This particular candelier sold within minutes of putting it on the market so I had to make another one just for us.

 Maybe it’s just me, but I think they’re so pretty!

The candelier can be used indoors or outdoors.  This also looks great finished in a vintage white patina.  Can you just imagine how beautiful these would look if you hung several of them under a large white tent for an outdoor garden wedding?

You don’t have to just stick to this particular color combination.  Use your imagination and personality to create anything your heart desires from bright, whimsical colors to rich neutrals like the one we did on our latest garden wedding candelier.

shizzle design candelier american paint company chalk clay paints

We have a gal who helps us out once a week and this was her first piece she tried.  The only thing I did was suggest the colors; she did the rest.  She layered American Paint Company’s Dollar Bill, Rushmore and Home Plate brushing them one at a time in a sloppy splish splash manner.

Isn’t it amazing!!!  Tanya ROCKS!!

shizzle design candelier american paint company chalk clay paints 2
shizzle design candelier american paint company chalk clay paints chalk clay paint lighting ideas 2
shizzle design candelier american paint company chalk clay paints chalk clay paint lighting ideas

This sold within minutes at the expo.  Somebody had asked me if you could paint on metal and I turned around to show this to them and it was already gone!

2014 West Michigan's Women's Expo Shizzle Design painted furniture American Paint company chalk clay mineral Paints 2018 Chicago Dr Jenison, MI 49428 DeVos kitchen island
If you’re in West Michigan, purchase American Paint Company’s Paints at our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428.  We also supply several other West Michigan locations here.

Did you know…

  • Shizzle Design is a small family-owned business in Jenison, Michigan.  My sister Cathy and I work, paint, ship and teach our chalk and clay paint workshops out of the same space where we paint all our furniture.  We are truly humbled to be known as a leader in the world of chalk and clay paints.
  • Instead of hoarding our knowledge, we empower DIY’ers by sharing our years of experience.  Stop in for paint and we’ll provide you with honest and knowledgeable answers for all your chalk and clay paint needs.
  • We are so blessed to have taught people from all over the United States and Canada.  Join us for one of our super fun hands-on chalk and clay paint workshops.  Learn in our casual & relaxed environment.  Click Paint Workshops to see a list of current classes offered.
  • Subscribe to Shizzle Design for tips, tutorials, ideas, pictures, videos for our furniture painted in all natural chalk and clay based mineral paints.
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  • We have a Shizzle Design Facebook Page.  We share all sorts tips, ideas, photos EVERY DAY and offer special deals (which you’ll only know about if you’ve Liked our Facebook Page).
  • Pin our posts on Pinterest ~ Find all sorts of inspiration here.
  • We sell our painted furniture in our Shizzle Design Paint Studio at 2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI 49428 and at Not So Shabby Antiques and Fine Furniture at 2975 West Shore Drive in Holland, Michigan
  • Shizzle Design is an Authorized Retailer for American Paint Company Paints.  We offer a large inventory of chalk and clay paint and supplies at our Shizzle Design Paint Shop /Studio,  2018 Chicago Drive, Jenison, MI  49428.  We also stock several other shops in the greater Grand Rapid’s area, to find out where, click LOCATIONS.  Not from Michigan?  No worries, we ship paint and paint supplies worldwide through our Online Shizzle Shop.

Click here to see Shizzle Design Painted Furniture Makeovers

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Click here to see our Shizzle Tips, How To Tutorials & Video’s

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Click here to see Funky Finishes

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Linking up to these GREAT Parties!

Domestically Speaking – The Power of Paint Party
The Shabby Creek Cottage – Transformation Thursday
Miss Mustardseed – Furniture Feature Friday
Redoux – Friday Link Up Party
Homespun Happenings – Rustic Restorations Weekend
Funky Junk Interiors – Saturday Night Special
Silver Pennies – Silver Pennies Sundays
Knick of Time Interiors – Knick of Time Tuesday

a hui hou ~ Shelly

2 Replies to “How to Create Beautiful Old World Finishes on Brass Chandeliers”

  1. Hi- Can you give me more detail on how Tanya got the look on the chandelier using Dollar Bill, Rushmore and Home Plate? Did she wait for each layer to dry before applying the next color?
    Thanks-

    Reply
  2. Pingback: Pendant Blog

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