New furniture - dining table, chairs, cabinet - looks brilliant, beautiful, interesting, in general - like new. Oddly enough, in many styles novelty is not considered an advantage. After all, furniture is interesting for its uniqueness, and the latter is often associated with the time of use, rather than production technology or the characteristics of the material.
As a result, a kitchen with patina and artificially aged facades seems much more attractive than a perfectly new one.
Patina Features
Patina appears on the surface of various products as a result of the natural process of oxidation. Over time, metal and wooden products can become covered with plaque and cracks, and sometimes a blackening effect appears. Such a set looks like an expensive antique, however, the natural oxidation process can last for decades. That is why people have come up with a lot of ways to artificially age furniture. One of them is covering wood with artificial patina of different colors. To do this, use a combination of various acids, paints and varnishes.
Creating a decorative coating
It takes a long time for furniture to become covered with a natural patina. In addition, not all materials are covered with this natural coating. Products made of copper are exposed to the best impact.
But what if we are talking about a kitchen made of wood? Modern techniques for artificially applying patina come to the rescue.
Using specially selected paints, enamels and acids, craftsmen manually increase the “life” of newly born furniture. The result does not need to be expected for decades. Everything happens in a matter of minutes.
Pros and cons of patina in the kitchen
The advantages of patination of furniture include the following:
- Durability. The set is less susceptible to wear and tear - varnish applied to the patina in several layers perfectly protects the wood from moisture and other influences.
- Practicality. Furniture with patina looks expensive, but does not require special care. In addition, the antique effect perfectly masks minor scuffs and cracks.
- Availability. Instead of buying a real antique, you can buy a set with a patina, which costs much less, but at the same time looks much like furniture that is decades old.
The disadvantages of applying a patina to the surface of a kitchen unit include the fact that this substance is highly flammable. It is better to equip such an interior with an electric stove rather than a gas one. In addition, it is better to remove decorative candles and candlesticks from the kitchen. The wiring is carefully insulated to prevent fire.
Advantages and disadvantages
If you are wondering whether to choose a set with a golden patina for your wonderful home, we will present to your attention its advantages:
- durability _ For many years, furniture facades will delight you with their impeccable appearance;
- wear resistance A very important factor for the kitchen, where the level of humidity and temperature changes. Thanks to layers of protective varnish, the appearance of the headset will not be damaged by external influences;
- originality; your home will be unique in design;
- low price . Real antiques are available to a small part of the population, but using this decorative option will make it possible to age any piece of furniture at a low cost.
In addition, such surfaces are quite easy to care for - regular wet cleaning is enough.
An undoubted advantage will also be that artificially aged furniture will be tolerant of small errors in appearance - unevenness, roughness, etc. Agree, it’s a pleasure to spend time cooking without worrying about the impeccable appearance of the kitchen set.
Speaking about the advantages, we will also touch on the disadvantage - its flammability. The main thing is the well-being of your household; please follow fire safety rules.
Types of patina
Despite the fact that patina is presented on the market in a wide variety, only a few types are the most popular. They are distinguished mainly by shades and decorative effect.
Golden and silver
Gold and silver on a kitchen set is a universal option that matches almost any color of furniture. However, this patina reveals its fullest potential on a white or black surface. The substance also looks impressive on light wood.
Important! Compositions of golden and silver shades are coated with matte varnish, and not glossy, as is customary with other colors.
Contrasting
Contrasting compositions are designed to most effectively highlight carvings and relief areas on furniture. For these purposes, it is recommended to use copper, bronze, gold and silver patina. When self-patination, the substance is first rubbed onto the joints of the frames and panels, after which they move on to the rest of the elements of the set. Then apply another thin layer on top of the main one.
Craquelure
A coating with a craquelure or crackle effect is best suited for kitchens in Provence, country or shabby chic styles. At the same time, the surface of the furniture is characterized by many small cracks - this effect is achieved due to the varnish coating, which cracks as it dries. As a result, the set looks as if it was covered with old paint.
A patina is applied over the cracked layer, which fills all the recesses and gives the kitchen furniture a special decorative effect.
Types of patina
To achieve the sought-after effect on furniture, designers came up with a special color scheme to match certain furniture. The color of the coating must be selected to match the product. Metal colors are used most often than others. They give the furniture the effect of former luxury and wealth. There are other options. If desired, the buyer can order furniture with almost any finish suitable for a specific model.
To achieve the sought-after effect on furniture, designers came up with a special color scheme to match certain furniture.
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Golden or silver
For centuries, gold and silver have been considered a sign of luxury and wealth. Furniture with a gold or silver tint looks noble and is very popular among consumers. This is due to its amazing effect.
For centuries, gold and silver have been considered a sign of luxury and wealth.
This treatment looks more impressive on “classic” surfaces: white, brown or black. It is desirable that the furniture is initially matte. The glossy surface reflects the full effect of patina, since the coating itself is matte, and in combination with gloss it is almost invisible.
This treatment looks more impressive on “classic” surfaces: white, brown or black.
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Contrasting
This well-known effect is used to highlight prominent parts in the interior. Golden, silver, bronze or copper tones are used. A special composition is applied to all protruding parts, after which the master covers the previous layer with a patina. Thanks to this finishing, patterned elements look original.
This well-known effect is used to highlight prominent parts in the interior.
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Craquelure (crackle)
This method appeared relatively recently. To “age” furniture in this way, manufacturers use a special varnish – craquelure. Its striking distinctive feature is that after drying, small mesh cracks appear on the surface.
To “age” furniture in this way, manufacturers use a special varnish – craquelure.
The next step is to very carefully, without damaging the previous layer, apply on top and fix the contrasting patina. After all manipulations, the product is coated with a special varnish that protects it from damage.
The next step is to very carefully, without damaging the previous layer, apply on top and fix the contrasting patina.
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Color palette for a kitchen with patina
The choice of a specific shade for furniture depends on the overall style of the interior. For a kitchen in a classic style, a white set is suitable. Wood and pistachio tones will fit perfectly into a Provence style interior.
White
In a kitchen with white furniture, green, blue and purple patina looks impressive. Gilding or silver composition can add special luxury to a white set. The panels add elegance to the furniture.
Be sure to use details in cream, beige and brown tones with gold. Panels will help make facades more elegant.
The interior of a light kitchen with a patina in a classic style is shown in the photo below.
Black
A black set is a very unusual and bold solution, however, it is not suitable for every interior. It is better not to furnish a small kitchen with such furniture - black color will weigh down the already small space and narrow it. If the kitchen is light and spacious, then you can safely order a black set with patina. For decoration, compositions that imitate silver and gold are best suited. White compositions for covering furniture are also suitable.
Beige
A beige set is usually covered with a patina of the following shades:
- gold;
- grey;
- pale blue;
- green;
- lilac.
This combination looks impressive in a Provence and shabby chic style interior. Golden compositions are suitable for classic kitchen design.
Gray
For a gray kitchen, the best patina is the following tones:
- black;
- blue;
- white;
- green.
Patina effectively enhances the discreet gray color of the furniture and gives it a luxurious look. With proper design, such a set can result in a very beautiful interior design in a classic style. Another advantage of a gray kitchen is the fact that this shade looks equally good in a room of any size.
Green
Green furniture with patina is characteristic of the light shabby chic style. Aged furniture in greenish shades will look no less impressive in country style, especially pistachio and olive colors.
Light tones of green add lightness and airiness to the room. They harmonize well with the patina of the following colors:
- beige;
- grey;
- blue;
- brown.
Advice! Indoor plants against a green background can be somewhat lost in the room.
Red
Red color for a kitchen with patina is a rather bold decision. Such a bright color should be handled extremely carefully so as not to overload the interior with unnecessary decor. Red furniture with an antique effect fits best into country style. In this case, it is advisable to choose not bright colors, but slightly muted ones. For example, a dark burgundy set with a muted bronze or gold patina looks very impressive.
In general, the red color of furniture goes well with the following shades of patina:
- white;
- black;
- grey;
- terracotta;
- beige;
- brown.
There should be a minimum of additional decor in such an interior.
Patination of furniture
Giving your dining table and chairs an antique feel isn't all that difficult. You can make a façade with a patina yourself, but the nature of the materials and the techniques used depend on the material of the furniture.
- Solid wood is the most expensive material and the most suitable for obtaining a patina. The big advantage here is the ability to use mechanical methods - for example, brushing. This very simple pre-treatment reveals the grain of the wood, making it more expressive. This can be done with a wire brush or even sandpaper. With further painting or varnishing, the first composition appears in deeper pores, revealing the texture, and the second enhances the contrast.
The color ratio depends on the interior style. For classics, similar tones are selected - walnut and red-brown patina, white and beige, white and vanilla. For a palace style, a combination of white and gold or dark and gold is preferable. Country or Provence allows you to enhance the contrast with a color that is not characteristic of wood, but inherent in the style - for example, ivory or lilac.
The photo shows a brushed facade.
- MDF panels (best of all are veneered, although they are also suitable with PVC film). Here, mechanical processing is excluded and patination is reduced to applying a special paint - acrylic patina - to protruding places or areas where the surface is usually worn off. MDF veneered facades can be decorated with carvings, which are also covered with patina. Ordinary smooth surfaces are painted thicker towards the edges and less towards the center, simulating the natural abrasion of the surface. Colors – both dark and light, are selected in accordance with the interior.
The photo shows a kitchen set made of ivory-colored MDF.
Panels with acrylic plates, enameled or plastic are not suitable for patination. The design of such products and the nature of the material exclude this decorative technique.
- Chipboard panels coated with PVC film are also suitable for painting with acrylic patina. The principle of aging is the same here: the paint is distributed in such a way as to reproduce natural abrasion. Mechanical methods are not acceptable.
The craquelure effect can be achieved on facades made of MDF and chipboard, but in the latter case the service life of the coating is short. In fact, it is determined by the durability of the PVC film, which, to put it mildly, is small.
Patination is an excellent design technique for adding uniqueness to your kitchen interior. Patina gives furniture a noble touch of antiquity and unsurpassed individuality.
Finishing the floor, walls and ceiling in the kitchen with patina
If the furniture is covered with patina, it is necessary to highlight it due to the surrounding environment. In particular, this effect can be achieved with the help of discreet colors of the walls, floor and ceiling.
A kitchen with a patina in the Provence style is usually covered with wallpaper with a rough texture. The interior, designed in a classic direction, involves a combination of basic colors of the environment with neutral tones.
The kitchen ceiling with a patinated set is usually white, which visually expands the space and does not overload it. In general, the ceiling covering should be a couple of shades lighter than the walls and floor.
The apron (the area that separates the wall cabinets from the work surface) is usually covered with washable wallpaper or covered with ceramic tiles. Alternatively, you can decorate this area with stone or its imitation.
Important! Under no circumstances should you make a plastic apron in the kitchen with a patina. Plastic deprives the classic style of elegance, and Provence - naturalness.
In a small kitchen
Ivory color, as well as many other light shades, makes the room visually more spacious and light. Therefore, it will become your indispensable assistant in decorating small spaces.
In this case, it is better to dilute the main color with not too dark shades. The emphasis can be placed on metal accessories, gold or silver dishes, vases, baskets and other decor.
It is better to choose varnished and smooth facades. They wonderfully reflect light, visually expanding the walls and raising the ceilings.
A faithful assistant when arranging a small-sized kitchen will be glossy tiles or laminate, with a texture reminiscent of natural wood. Choose a color that closely matches the ivory shade you already have.
In particularly limited spaces, place the kitchen unit along one wall. The opposite corner will be a wonderful place to arrange a dining area.
A stretch ceiling will also look very beautiful, stylish and modern. Using several small recessed lights will fill the room with light and space.
Remember: in small kitchens, ivory color should be a priority. A few bright decorative elements will help to dilute it.
Tables and chairs for the kitchen with patina
A kitchen set with a patina looks great together with chairs and tables, which also have an antique effect. Furniture with decorative carvings, the motifs of which echo the decor of the set itself, is also suitable.
Advice! For a kitchen in the Provence style, you can purchase wicker chairs, which will only enhance the notes of this trend.
Kitchen appliances
Furniture with patina does not fit well in appearance with modern household appliances, so all equipment is usually hidden behind facades.
The refrigerator and stove should match the tone with other interior elements. For example, you can install white appliances in an interior with light walls and furniture. In a kitchen with a lot of red, green or black, metallic will look better.
The use of patina in the design of a set
The effect of antiquity can be obtained not only from the use of antiques in the interior, but also using other methods.
Everyone associates a noble patina with old copper products, however, nowadays it is possible to age not only metal items, but also furniture.
How it's done? Modern decorators have invented many varnishes, paints and acids, the application of which to a material changes its appearance. There are many technologies, they are not difficult to implement, the result is stunning, is it any wonder that artificially aged furniture with gilded facades is in enormous demand?
Patination of kitchen cabinets in gold will add solemnity and sophistication to the interior design. Your guests will not want to leave such a kitchen, because the house looks simply royal.
Selection of decor and accessories
The selection of interior decorations largely depends on the style in which the kitchen is designed. The classic direction automatically excludes the abundance of additional decor - in such an interior, the patina itself, expressive lampshades and carvings on the kitchen set act as decoration. You can dilute pastel colors with the help of green accents - indoor plants. In addition, bright textiles look impressive in a bright kitchen with patina: curtains, upholstery, napkins, etc.
If the kitchen set has discreet shades, almost any upholstery color will suit it. In a kitchen where there is a lot of green or red, it is better to use curtains of the same shades; light colors are also suitable. The latter option goes well with almost any color of furniture.
Advice! The interior of a Provence style kitchen can be decorated with pastel-colored fabrics with simple patterns. Curtains whose color matches the color of the patina look impressive in such an interior.
Lighting rules
A kitchen with antique-style furniture does not tolerate poor lighting. The lack of light makes the interior faded and largely reduces the decorative effect of the patina to nothing. The room should have at least two light sources, while chandeliers and lamps of luxurious shapes will fit well. This design will perfectly complement the classic style, which is replete with white tones.
We age the façade ourselves in 7 steps
With certain skills and a great desire, you can apply patina to furniture with your own hands. And in this section you will learn how to do this.
Illustration | Instructions for action |
Step 1. Sanding . The first step is to sand the façade using a sanding machine and a 180-grit disc. | |
Step 2. Applying stain . Using a professional sprayer or atomizer, apply an even layer of wood stain to the surface of the façade. | |
Step 3. Applying varnish . For these purposes, it is necessary to use a self-priming varnish. The best varnish is FL25M306. After applying the product, wait an hour. | |
Step 4: Re-sanding . After the layers of stain and varnish have dried, sand the surface. | |
Step 5. Applying a patting composition . Using the same sprayer, apply the patina to the façade in a crisscross motion. | |
Step 6: Creating scuff marks . Carefully sand the surface of the façade with sandpaper. | |
Step 7. Consolidate the result . Once the scuffs are created, cover them with a final coat of varnish and let it dry. |
Interior styles for kitchens with patina
Patina gives furniture an antique look, the illusion that it is many years old. Consequently, arranging a kitchen in modern styles, for example, high-tech, automatically excludes patination of the set. This effect looks good in the interior of the following areas:
- Provence;
- retro;
- classic;
- shabby chic;
- country.
Depending on the interior in which patina is used, preference is given to different colors.
Classic
Classic-style kitchens are distinguished by an abundance of white and its variations: beige and cream shades. This interior design allows you to visually expand the space, which is especially important for decorating a small kitchen.
In addition, the classic style includes the following characteristics:
- interior design involves the use of natural materials;
- the color scheme is restrained, even accents should not be too bright and colorful;
- furniture can be either laconic and strict in form, or, conversely, have a rather elaborate decor;
- Kitchen wall cabinets should ideally reach the ceiling;
- glass cabinet doors should be frosted so that only the general outlines of the dishes can be seen;
- electrical appliances must be built into the furniture.
A classic-style kitchen is best combined with a patina in neutral tones - gray, greenish, bronze. Gold and silver patina is the most luxurious option, however, these colors should not be overused. Such furniture will look tasteless in a kitchen that is replete with additional decor: paintings in carved frames, candles, figurines, painted dishes, patterned wallpaper, etc.
Advice! Bronze fittings will fit perfectly into the interior of a classic kitchen with white furniture: faucet, appliances, chandelier, etc.
Provence
The Provence style kitchen is characterized by the following features:
- the furniture has soft, rounded lines;
- preferred furniture color – white, cream, creamy, sand, champagne, pistachio, light blue, light yellow;
- the classic version of the Provence style involves the use of oak furniture, however, now this direction is more democratic;
- The facade of furniture is often decorated with wickerwork and latticework.
The patina of yellow and brown shades goes best with a Provence style kitchen. Furniture covered with gold patina looks no less impressive in such an interior. Patination with a craquelure effect is very popular when decorating a kitchen in the Provence style. Many small cracks look very impressive in combination with soft tones and lines, creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. At the same time, craquelure gives the kitchen set sophistication and high cost.
Advice! Notes of Provence can be enhanced with painted ceramic handles on the kitchen set.
Harmonious interior
To make a set with a silver patina a highlight of the design of your favorite home, try using the following decor options in the interior.
You may want to use pictures in heavy silver frames or a beautiful mirror for decoration. A silver cream jug on an open shelf above the table will harmonize beautifully with the patina of the white set.
All kinds of metal utensils and household appliances will look good in such a house. Metal lamps, both general lighting and additional, can be chosen to be of extraordinary beauty, and the kitchen in the house will turn into the most stylish and elegant room, loved by all household members.
Kitchen white enamel with silver patina
How to make such a furniture set become the key center of the design solution? There are two key points here: the absence of an excessive amount of bright interior details and proper lighting of the space.
Variegation and dim lighting are not the best option for such a beautiful and unique furniture set. Make sure that your purchase does not get lost in an inappropriate environment, and also think through the lighting system in advance.
DIY patina in the kitchen interior
The safest thing to do would be to give the furniture for patination to a specialist or order a kitchen set already with patina, however, if you wish, you can apply it yourself - giving the kitchen an antique effect is not so difficult if you strictly follow all the instructions.
Patina is applied to the surface of the headset according to the following scheme:
- First, the solid wood façade is tinted or painted. Furniture made from MDF is pre-coated with enamel, veneer or PVC film.
- After this, a transparent primer is applied to the facade.
- As soon as the soil dries, it is sanded.
- After this, the kitchen set is covered directly with patina.
- The next stage is grouting. The facade must be wiped with a special scraper, a hard sponge or even a steel wool.
- The process is completed by applying varnish. It can be either matte or glossy. Typically, polyurethane varnish is chosen for patination - it effectively protects the wood in the kitchen from moisture. The varnish is applied in several layers, usually 2-3.
Important! The antique effect increases depending on how intense the sanding was.
The patination process is described in more detail in the video below:
Advantages of design
Why has patination earned such rapid popularity among furniture manufacturers and consumers? It's all about the list of advantages of such a solution, which we will tell you about in this section.
Application of a special composition makes the facade more resistant to moisture and high temperatures
- Practicality . Not only does applying a special composition to the surface in no way affect the functionality of the furniture, it also increases its practical properties. Heterogeneous colors allow you to hide minor mechanical damage and dirt on facades.
Small scratches and dirt are less visible on textured surfaces
- Additional protection . The composition increases the level of protection of the material against high humidity and high temperatures.
- Duration of effect . Both after a year and after 5 years, the appearance of patinated facades will look exactly the same as on the day of purchase.
Over the years, the patination effect does not disappear
- Reasonable price . Yes, there are many exclusive models whose cost can greatly impact your budget. But at the same time, it won’t be difficult to find more affordable and no less stylish options.
The price of such headsets can be very different, so there is a chance to choose an option for any budget
Kitchen design ideas with patina
Furniture covered with patina will fit perfectly into a room with a different design style. Below are examples of interior design that can serve as a great source of inspiration.