Custom Wood Finishes – Finding new ways to create a one-of-a-kind finish!
Custom Wood Finishes – Finding new ways to create a one-of-a-kind finish!
The crowd has spoken, and the winners have been selected. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who submitted their ideas!
Read MoreChallenge Brief
Inspire us with your custom wood finish make-overs! You may have a special formula that involves mixing different products together or a proven technique for preparing the surface or drying?
The Ask
We want you to share your secret recipe, so that others can be inspired to do the same.
Prizes
In addition to earning Creator Coins, we will be offering the winners Rust-Oleum products and cash gift cards to a home improvement center of their choice!
- 1st Place: $500 gift card, $250 worth of Varathane Premium Wood Finishing products, and a Master Creator badge in the Creator's Studio community.
- 2nd Place: $250 gift card.
- 3rd Place: $100 gift card.
The Criteria
- The finish can't be found in a 'ready-made' product today;
- You've used it before (so we know it works!); and,
- You have an after photo (optional: before photo)
Here's an example
We asked Katie Bower, a lifestyle blogger obsessed with DIY, to inspire us with a custom wood finish and here is her secret recipe!
Give your custom wood finish a title: A two-tone distressed finish.
Featured Image (After Photo):
Preparing the Surface: Sand the complete surface really well, ensuring it is completely dust free.
Preparing & Mixing the Products: Paint Products: 1 quart Weathered Gray stain, 1 quart Kona stain and 1 quart Polyurethane. Other supplies: lint free rags, fine 220 grid sand paper, 1 high bristle brush, stir stick, gloves and a drop cloth.
Application: With a lint free rag apply the Weathered Gray stain to the sanded areas. Let it soak in for a few minutes. Then wipe away the excess with a fresh rag. Allow the stain to dry for 1 hour. After your stain is dry, it's time to give this piece a little more personality. Apply 220 fine sand paper to all the curved areas, edges and corners - anywhere you want to add a distressed look. Next, remove any dust from sanding and apply your darker stain. Using a lint free rag apply a layer of Kona stain to small sections at a time, waiting 30 seconds then wipe off the excess (with another clean rag).
Finising the Product: Let your project dry for 1 hour. Then to protect the gorgeous finish apply 1 coat of Polyurethane. When you are done, no one is going to believe it is the same piece!
Images (Before Photo):
OPTIONAL VIDEO: Katie also created a short video of herself and her husband Jeremy going through each of these steps above to radically revitalize an old end table. Feel free to check it out
, or see Katie's other amazing projects on Pinterest here.
Eligibility
All members of the Creator's Studio are welcome to participate in this challenge by submitting ideas during the Idea Intake phase and voting on ideas in the Support phase. However, only US residents are eligible to win prizes in this community and therefore only ideas submitted by US residents will qualify to advance past the Review phase. For more information, check out the Terms of Use and Help pages.