Expert: maura macaluso - 5/16/2008

Question
QUESTION: I would like to touch up some furniture in our baby nursery.  We purchased a white finished crib and dressers, but they have gone through two little boys and now we are planning a 3rd child.  I would like to give the crib and the smaller dresser some detailing work to cover the worn areas... but I do not know how to do this.
There are teeth marks and paint chipping off of the two pieces, so my thought was to give it a new look. I don't know what the effect is called or particularly how to do it, hope it is easy and not too intensive.
What I want to have done is to sand out around the edges of the worn areas and make it look "worn" intentionally... and also to to the edges and corners... but having it look newly finished in the process.  And then seal over all this.... to protect the bare exposed wood and to seal the sanded edges from further chipping.
It is a white paint finish on both pieces... over a light wood.. assuming oak or birch?   
Can this be an easy process? and how do I add a finish over the existing painted portions and the newly sanded areas?  I don't want any major stripping or sanding.. just detailing the existing painted white crib with some worn areas.
And don't forget ... all safe for baby! if the next decides to chew on the rails as well~!

ANSWER: Hi Leah,  The word you are looking for is distressed.  there are many easy ways to distress furniture.  first step would be to do some hand sanding(not power).  sand to make sure there are no loose chips or wood splinters. Then paint it. next sand it in the areas that you would normally expect wear, on the legs from being hit with the vacuum, on the handles, on the edges.  when you have finished the sanding then you may begin the distressing.  There are simple ways to do this.  Fill a sock with nuts and bolts and stones. you can also use a medium sized chain, a light hammer or other such type thing.  do at least 2 or 3 different ways of distressing.  Basically beat up the surfaces till you like it.  Keep it randomly spaced. Make sure you protect yourself so you are not injured while doing this. when the distressing is done, hand sand those areas just to make sure that there are no chips or splinters. When you are completely done, cover the furniture with a few coats of a clear coat.

As for child safe paints, you have a few options, one is to do a search for milk paints or for a product that is completely child safe.  Most water based latex and acrylic paints are non-toxic but you will need to read the product to make sure the manufacturer says it is.  The same will go for the clear coat.  Most modern day water based polys and varnishes will be non-toxic once cured but again, go by the manufacturers recommendations.

Good luck with your project and thanks for the question.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your speedy response!  Quick follow up question:  After the first step sanding to remove splinters smooth chips ect.  you put.. Then paint it.  With?  My desired base color..? over the top of the existing coat of paint and the sanded spots I'm assuming.  Just to clarify!  

Then after that drys, do the distressing and wear.. followed by the clear coat...  Sounds easy enough!

Answer
The purpose of the first sanding is just to get the wood ready for the paint, in your choice of color of course. You may also give a coat of primer first but shouldn't need to as it has already been painted.  if you have loose chips and splinters and don't sand first, the new paint will eventually flake off in those spots, so basically the first step has nothing to do with the distressing. Sanding should always be done before applying any paint. The other purpose of this sanding will be to rough up the old paint so the new paint can grab.  The distressing will come after it is fully painted and has dried. You will then sand(hand) it again, only this time you will have control of where you remove the paint, as I said before you should sand the paint off in the places that there normally would be wear. then on to the distressing.  Once you have finished this, examine and lightly sand the distressed areas in case the distressing has caused chips or splinters to stick up.  Then you will apply at least one coat, 2 is better of a clear coat.   It is basically easy to do, just requires a bit of work.