Faking The Breakfast Counter Top

The original plan for redecorating the kitchen included new counter tops.  The ceramic tiled breakfast counter, that was in the pass through from the dining room to kitchen, had been removed.  With finances putting the more elaborate plans on hold, I was scrambling for a way replace that section of counter, without committing myself to a surface that would dictate what I could install, when I am able to order new counter tops.

I'm fond of the look of aged zinc and thought I'd have a go at creating that look with paint.  I had a big box
store cut a piece of poplar to length.  Poplar is a little pricey, over $5 a foot but I needed wood that didn't have knots showing.  I was kind of surprised when it rang through at $3.12.  As we left the store, my girlfriend starting saying, "Start the car!  Start the car!".  Why was she doing an Ikea ad?  O'mgosh.  I was only charged for 6" of board!  An ethical person would have marched back inside and corrected the error, but I was not waiting in that line up again.  I hope this isn't doing something terrible to my karma and I have to come back as something weird to atone for it!

This is the ill gotten board set in place. ~

My BIL came over to show me how to counter sink screws with a little auger tool that goes on the end of the drill.  ~

 The next step was to create the look of rivets by hammering upholstery tacks in along the sides. ~

I brushed flat black paint on in different directions, leaving bits of wood showing through. ~

Now the paint layering begins.  I used a craft paint in rust, daubing it on with an old paintbrush where the wood was showing.  Then, I added a pewter coloured craft paint. ~

I'm going back and forth between a bit of sea sponge dipped in the rust and pewter and the old paint brush that is used to smoosh the edges of the daubs into the next colour. ~

It's important to take a creepy picture of your hand looking like a wrinkly crypt keeper's appendage!

Next, I need to add some shine in spots to create the look of metal.  I used Modern Masters craft paint in champagne and aged bronze and did the same daubing, smooshing technique. ~

At this point, I'm using my fingers along with the sponge and brush and smooshing my little heart out.

It all needs to be toned down a bit and I dipped my old brush in the black paint and used a newspaper to wipe most of the paint off the brush.  You want to go very lightly with this step, barely brushing across the whole board. ~

You could use this technique to create the look of marble, slate, granite;  anything you can dream up. They sell kits for around $100 that are really just the same thing with a sealer included.  I'm guessing the sealer is just some kind of epoxy.  I'll use a flat finish on this to keep it looking like aged zinc.  If I was going for granite, I'd use a shiny sealer.

This turned out really well and I seriously doubt anyone would realize it's not metal until they touched it.

Since I had all the paints in my craft stash, someone gave me the upholstery tacks and I ripped off a big box store for $15 on the poplar, the total cost for this part of the kitchen redo is $3.12. ~

Well, that and a very guilty conscience!

I'm sharing this with:  Alpabe-Thursday, Open House Party, Link It Up Thursday, Share You Cup Thursday, Home And Garden Thursday, Knick Of Time Tuesday, Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop, Creative Things Thursday, Share You Creations Party, Inspiration Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Fantabulous Friday, Flaunt It Friday, Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop, Sunny Simple Sundays, The Power Of Paint Party, Saturday Nite Special