I remember my mom talking to me about gold leaf back when I was a teenager. The talk went something like this –
“BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, gold leaf, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, use red paint under the gold leaf, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.”
Okay, I wasn’t actually paying attention. Who knew 30 years or more later I would find the information useful?
I have a vanity in my downstairs bath that I had custom-made for our house. I painted it with some gold paint when the house was built. When I attended a painting workshop held by Amy Howard last year, she showed us how to use gold leaf. I was smitten this time. I decided to go for it in this bathroom. The gold leaf was provided by Amy Howard at Home. For my full disclosure, click HERE.
This is what the vanity looked like before You can see that I used gold paint here and there.
First, I taped off the area where I did not want the gold leaf. Next I applied the Amy Howard at Home Gilding Size. You can find it HERE. Traditionally gold leaf has been applied over red paint. It probably would look better if you did that, but you don’t have to.
I let the gilding size come to tack, meaning I let it dry a bit. It was still sticky, but thicker than when I applied it. I used the gilding size everywhere I wanted the gold leaf to stick.
I then took 2 sheets of gold leaf everywhere I wanted the gold leaf and applied it to the vanity. Be sure to not touch the gold sheets with your hands. If you do, it will disintegrate. Use the tissue paper to hold the gold sheets in place as you apply them. This is something that takes some practice. I am very much a novice, so I can’t say I have a great technique. I pressed the gold into the furniture using my fingers and the tissue paper.
As you do this pressing, some of the gold is going to flake away. That’s okay. Press it into the piece as much as you can.
When you remove the tape the piece is going to look like it has gold fuzz. I used a brush to gently knock off any loose gold leaf.
I added a light layer of Amy’s light antique wax to the gold leaf. I stopped there, but you could go one step further and add Amy’s Dust of Ages. As you can see from the photos below, the gold now looks metallic and not just like paint.
So I just noticed I did not do the back legs of the vanity. Well that will just have to wait for another day.
I’m quite pleased with the look. The gilding does not look perfect, but when you have antiques and you are going for an antique look, that works quite well. When people ask this is when I say that any imperfections were done on purpose. That’s when I get the head nod.
For those that want to know, the granite is white river, the mirror is antique, and the marble bowl is from stone outlet. The basket is an antique oyster basket. The faucet is from build.com.
I added a rug in here, and changed out the art too. The rug, basket and beam feel rustic, while many of the other touches are upscale. It all works together for a Farmhouse French feel.
This is part of my DIY TIPS AND TRICKS SERIES that I do once a month with my very talented friends.
Your bathroom is A-MAZING, Anita! I just love it! And the little touch of gold leafing is gorgeous on the legs of your table vanity! Beautifully done. I love Amy Howard’s gold leafing!
See I did pay attention in class at Amy Howard’s class!
Anita, your bathroom looks absolutely beautiful! I love the gold touches so much. It gives the perfect antique look!!!
Thank you Shannon!
I’ve always wanted to do gold leaf! Looks great… 🙂 Thanks so much for the tips. Love the whole bathroom, especially the wings!!
You should try it Lory. It would look perfect in your home.
Hi! My name is Judith Metheny. My daughter has a blog called Great Design Takes Time. Her name is Lisa Wills, and we are from Birmingham, AL. Both of us follow you on Facebook. We have hopes of setting up a booth where we have updated garage sale finds. We have begun collecting small pieces of furniture to paint. What paint do you recommend and do you have a post that tells the process you use for various techniques.
That sounds so exciting Judith. I think for furniture I would probably use a chalk based paint. I think this technique should work. https://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/10/painted-french-bench.html
Stunning bathroom & thanks for sharing this tip! I was wondering what paint color was on the wall, and what is that gorgeous blue on the bath tub?
Hi Becca, the wall color and many more of those questions are answered here.. https://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/07/what-color-is-that-wall-and-more-questions-answered.html
The tub is white. It just looks blue in the photo.
You have one of the prettiest bathrooms! It looks so elegant. Frankly, you are much braver than I am. I wouldn’t have the nerve to try gold leaf in a bathroom – but the results are stunning.
Best & Bisous,
Michelle from Simply Santa Barbara
Anita – I just love this! It gives it just the right touch. Thank you!
Your bathroom is super duper cute!! I love the tub, how you have the shower curtain, the pretty gold on your vanity, the vessel sink and wall mounted faucet!! J’adore!!!
This is the sort of special touch that takes a piece to the next level…and so easy. I love your bathroom…it perfectly fits your beautiful style. <3
What a gorgeous bath!! Love how you’ve done the shower curtain!
Thank you Kathy.
Anita, I love what you did with the bathroom. I m in the midst of trying to find a way to make my bathroom prettier!! Thanks for the ideas.
Deb
The vanity is really pretty and I love the rustic beam above the tub. WOW!
Anitta great job your bathroom looks beautiful. I personally love everything and anything with a gold touch ?
I love the whimsey-ness of your bathroom, but I have to ask: Is the cowhide on the floor just for the photo or is it actually okay for stepping on with wet feet?
Love the gold leaf post. Where did you get your bathroom rug that looks like a sheepskin rug?
well at least your mom got in paint it red first lol my mom was not a fan of gold
Anita, I bought a paint by Martha Stewart a couple years ago at Michael’s that has a very similar look to the gold leafing without the angst of the application of gold leafing! That being said, Girl, that vanity is everything!!!! I’m impressed as usual!
Anita, I just love the look of you bathroom. It reminds me of the bathroom in the home I grew up in New York. Your vanity is beautiful. Make me want to remodel my bathroom. Thank you for gold leaf idea.
It looks very upscale and classy…..
The gold leaf adds such a pretty accent to the table legs. Such a pretty bathroom! Stopping by from the #HomeMattersParty linky.
Hey Anita! I love this so much, I featured it today on my round-up of farmhouse style DIY projects at http://www.PopItUpGirl.com
Come take a look!
I just thought I had to tell you, that little bathroom is soooooo cute! I want to move in and have a soak in that sweet little tub!!!!
I call imperfections ‘design features’ and no one is the wiser! The bathroom is gorgeous!
Love your bath. At some point in history the French did put black on gold leaf because a king was killd exiled or something. I had a pine mirror- not an old frame painted it black. Still didn’t like it so I put gold leaf on it. Not very good at it. Somehow it just came out looking old and worn. People think it is old.
This is very elegant without being stuffy! I restore frames and use gold leaf quite a bit. When I was learning, my first husband joked that if he stood still long enough I’d leaf him! I’m sure you sealed it to prevent tarnish, unless you really were extravagant and bought real leaf!
This added just the right amount of glam to this room. That rough beam w the lace is great, as well.