A little artistic flair goes a long way with marbleizing techniques.
White marbleizing (or marbling) techniques help bring the elegance of white marble to furniture and walls without the equivalent cost. The artistic treatments used to create stunning likenesses of marble stone are commonly applied to furniture such as dressers and tabletops and painted onto walls. Closed-grain woods like birch, maple and pine hold up to marbleizing. Even though each faux finished project is unique, the timeless elegance depicted by the look of white marble is universally classic.
Soft White Marble Effect
Soft white marble effect using a tinted glaze.
This marbleizing technique is used to create a look of soft marble. Apply clear shellac or a tinted glaze base coat to a white surface and dab lightly with a sponge to give the surface a marble-like appearance. Before walls are marbleized, a minimum of two coats of primer is applied with a soft brush before painting on the glaze. This gives the walls a shiner, glassy look. Sometimes, a topcoat of varnish is put on for longer lasting results.
White Marble Veining Effect
Moderate to high drama is achieved using the white marble veining method.
To obtain a more dramatic effect, this marbleizing veining technique features black veins painted on. Oil colors are applied to the surface using either goose feathers or turkey feathers. Before the paint dries, the lines are dry-brushed to blend them in slightly. An alternate vein-making method is to make wrinkles and marble features by bunching up plastic wrap and pressing it onto the surface.
Combined Smooth Marble and Veining Effect
Softness and rich intensity of marble using a combination veining method.
Incorporating the look of both clean, smooth marble and black veins, a white stain or paint is used along with a black stain or paint. All paints, wood stains and topcoats are water-based. Two coats of stain or furniture paint is applied and allowed to dry between coats. The furniture is then lightly sanded with a very fine foam sanding pad or number 320 grade sanding pad to obtain a smoother surface.
A feather is used to slowly draw veins diagonally in a twisting motion. The end of one drawn vein begins the start of a new one. After about five minutes of drying time, a damp sponge is dipped into a mixture of white stain or paint and a topcoat. A paper towel absorbs the excess from the sponge and then it is blotted on the surface.
The surface is blotted with a clean cloth and the veins are drawn again using black paint. After drying for about two hours, a topcoat is applied and then allowed to dry. The surface is lightly sanded again before another one or two more topcoats are applied.
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