Faux painting information and resources.
Mahogany Graining
Suitable for all types of wood surfaces, the mahogany graining technique on this site employs water based glazes. These produce a crisper, more authentic looking finish than an oil based glaze, but dry much faster. This means that you must learn to work quickly to complete each stage completely before your glaze dries. For this reason, we recommend that you become comfortable with the finishing process using a suitable practice area before beginning to work on the final surface area.
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Mahogany Graining:
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After priming with 1-2 coats, and using whatever brush or roller you prefer, apply 2 coats of rusty brown eggshell base color. Allow a good 24 hours to dry completely. |
Wipe a thin coat of whiting over the surface with a clean damp rag. |
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Mix up your mid brown glaze and use a 2 inch brush to apply it to the trim and center panel. Then drag a small mottler through the glaze on the panel in slightly overlapping sweeps. |
To create the heart shaped grain patterns, drag the mottler through the wet glaze in a series of overlapping elongated arcs. Start at the bottom and work up. Each line should be created in one motion. |
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Soften the effect with a soft bristle brush. Start at the center and lightly work upwards with outward sweeps. Wipe any build up off the brush with a clean rag. |
Apply some additional tinted glaze with a 1 inch artist's brush, working in long sweeping motions from corner to corner. Work with only one section of the molding at a time. Start with the horizontal, then the vertical. |
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After applying more glaze to the top and bottom of the door, again use long sweeping motions, from one end to the other. After applying the glaze mixture with your mottler, soften it again with the soft bristle brush. |
Repeat the previous directions on the verticals, and while this glaze is wet, drag the mottler on angles to create the bands of graining. |
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Allow the glaze to dry for 4 hours, then apply one coat of clear gloss urethane. Let this top coat dry for 24 hours. |
After applying another coat of whiting, brush your darker glaze with your standard brush. Then, use the mottler vertically as you did in the first coat. |
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Using your soft and long bristle brush, and using an up and then down tapping wrist action, remove some of the glaze. Keep cleaning the bristles with a clean rag. Then repeat these steps on the vertical and horizontal sections, tapping in the same direction of the grain. |
Allow to dry for 4 hours and apply a coat of satin or gloss urethane and voila - you have gorgeous mahogany cabinetry. |
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To summarize: Faux mahogany graining is an excellent finish for cabinetry, MDF wall paneling and many pieces of furniture. Becoming comfortable with creating the graining can take some practice, but is well worth the effort. With this effect, you can have authentic looking mahogany woodwork throughout your home for a fraction of the cost of real mahogany. Practice on a suitable area with sample colors until you have the method and colors the way you want.
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