Copper side table
Bring a junk shop table bang up to date with some creative copper gilding
Upcycle a tired table with a lick of paint and a few sheets of copper leaf
Sanding block Athenian Black chalk paint, £21.95 per L, Annie Sloan Paintbrush Gold size, £5.95, Annie Sloan Stippling brush Copper loose metal leaf booklet, £5.95, Annie Sloan 1 x 120ml clear chalk paint wax, £5.95 for 120ml, Annie Sloan 1 x large chalk paint wax brush, £32.95, Annie Sloan Soft cloth
1 Begin by sanding the table all over, this will smooth the surface, remove any loose pieces of varnish and create a ‘tooth’ for the paint to cling to. Wipe away any dust with a damp cloth and allow to dry.
2 Apply two coats of chalk paint, work quickly and spread the paint thinly and evenly. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before adding another layer.
3 Using a stippling brush and a dabbing motion, apply a thin layer of gold size to the area of the table you want to gild. The gold size looks white at first , then turns purple as it dries and finally transparent. Once the size is transparent, it’s still slightly tacky and ready for metal leaf to be applied.
4 Lay the leaf carefully onto the sized area, gently smoothing and removing excess leaf with a soft dry cloth. A clean, dry brush is useful for helping to lift and the lay the leaf into position as it’s very delicate.
5 To seal the surface, use a large wax brush to work clear chalk paint wax all over the table, including the gilded areas. Wipe away any excess with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth. The wax will be touch dry in a few hours and cured completely in 5-21 days.