Replicating the "Restoration Hardware" look

Question
I would like to know how to replicate the look of the Saint James furniture and French Casement cabinets displayed on the Restoration Hardware web site. French Casement is described as "a soft weathered finish that has the look of driftwood". Saint James is described as “A weathered, distressed patina

Restoration Hardware’s Answer
The finish is the "look" and we go to great lengths to develop unique and hard to copy techniques to produce a "look" that can't be easily copied. It is accomplished with a multi step process that is very difficult to reproduce....that's by design.......often this type look is created by a blasting treatment using high pressure air with glass beads, walnut husks, garnet sand, etc...which creates the weathered look and feel of the wood, blasting away the softer grain and allowing the harder grain to appear raised. This creates a "weathered" look in a few minutes rather then several years...then a pigmented wash is used, often on top of a stain technique, then glazes and sealer coats are used to enhance the finish, protect it and add durability. These finishes can have upwards of 10+ individual steps, with proprietary products...{they want you to desire their finish enough to make you buy the pieces}....most finishers would have to study this finish in person, to even begin to deduce how it was done.... All this stuff is produced in Taiwan, China, Indonesia, etc.....

Lockhart Woodwork’s Answer
Lockhart Woodworks has unlocked some of these secrets and can produce a very similar look to Restoration Hardware’s “French Casement” and ‘Saint James” style pieces.
The French Casement look can be accomplished on new white Oak pieces or cabinets. The Saint James look can be accomplished on new Pecan or Hickory furniture or cabinets. The process is not easy and requires many more steps than standard finishing, however the results are very very similar to the Restoration Hardware pieces and at substantially less cost. So if you are in the market for a cabinet with either of these looks, consider having Lockhart woodworks build you your piece and apply this finish technique.

A sample of these finishes is available to see at Lockhart Woodworks.

Glazed cabinets- the newest way

Traditional methods of applying glazes involve dry brushing on glaze, and wiping it leaving a haze of glaze on the finished piece with heavier glaze in the recesses adding accenting- although still used, today's popular trend is pin-point glazing or the newest term called inking.

What is Inking ?
Glaze “inking" or pin-point glazing is a very clean glaze look applied to the recesses and profiles of doors, trim and moldings. Inking is different than traditional wipe on glazing because it leaves absolutely no trace of the glaze on the top flat surface. It results in a clean contrast between the cabinets and the glazed areas and is becoming a very popular look on cabinets and furniture. On white or cream cabinets, as in the photo, we use a Van Dyke (dark) brown glaze to create this clean line contrast.

pin-point glazing is difficult, labor intensive and time consuming to achieve, especially when a dark glaze is used on a on light color. Thus there is a cost increase on cabinets finished this way, but the results are well worth the extra cost. Not only is the process difficult but the glazing steps need to be performed after staining or painting and after the seal coat. Then an additional final clear seal coat is used to seal in the glaze, increasing the number of seal coat layers as well.

How to Get the Hollywood Glamour look

Update Your room With Touches of Vintage Luxury

Hollywood, in its heyday, from around the early 1930s to the mid-1950s, was renowned for its glamour and glitz. Men and women dressed to the nines in evening wear and beautiful, flowing gowns. Hollywood style interiors were dramatic, larger-than-life and daring. Yet it was also theatrically romantic. Above all it is daring and definitely makes a statement. Hollywood glamour décor is characterized by rich textures, mirrored tabletops and drawer fronts, impressive chandeliers and glitter. Old Hollywood style focus was on indulgence and luxury.

Hollywood glamour , as you would guess, is all about the glamour. this style has the minimalist details of modern design, infused with ornate and classical details. If you are drawn to the minimal, but love decorative scroll work and shine, then maybe you are Hollywood glamorous!

Incorporating the drama of Old Hollywood Glamour into your room is simple. All it takes is a little bit of sparkle to spice up a tired living space.

Hollywood drama in your room is all about the details. Glamorizing your room can be as simple as an embellished throw pillow or a gilded, Rococo-style mirror. Here is how to inject a few glamorous details into your room:

Colors – Choosing a color scheme is a personal preference, but any color that invokes a sense of glamour – jewel tones, whites, creams, beiges, rich browns, and black and white graphic prints. Try to stay away from earth tones and focus more on other natural resources like diamond, ruby, emerald, amethyst and quartz.
The black and white color palette is the perfect frame for a red chair or turquoise tufted sofa
Hollywood glamour is all about the contrast. The basic color palette is black and white, or cream and dark brown, or all white or cream, or all black. Then punches of color are infused with these backgrounds. Use red, pink, teal, yellow or any other color you choose.

Textures and Fixtures – The decadence of old Hollywood should be reflected in the décor. Textures such as lacquer, gold leaf, fur, and burnout fabric are reminiscent of silver screen drama. The popularity of mirrored furniture evokes the sense of vanity that was glorified in the films and lifestyles of stars and starlets of the 40s and 50s.

Select upholstered furniture with rich fabrics. At the heart of Hollywood Regency is shiny surfaces. This includes fabrics such as silk, satin and velvet that have a sheen to them and are rich and decadent. Upholstered furniture, like sofas and chairs, also need to have a lot of detail such as tufting, nail heads or piping. Piping, the edging around sofas and chairs is usually a contrast color, while tufting buttons are the same material as the sofa. Nail heads are metallic and carry the theme throughout the room.

Start With The Basics – Paint the room in the color of your choice. Choose a focal wall and give it a sheer, metallic color wash to draw attention to that area and add some iridescence for a glam look. For a “strawberries and champagne” look, paint walls a vintage blush pink and use a metallic gold color wash over one wall. Find textured wallpaper with something special: metallic print and raised patterns invite a sense of luxury.

Furniture Selection – Glamorous furniture is a must. Select furniture that is oversized and theatrical. The backs and arms of sofas, couches, occasional chairs and armchairs should be curved, with flowing lines and dramatic profiles. Decorative detail, while elaborate, should not be too busy, but instead restrained in luxuriantly stylized manner. This style is all about the details. Focus on one or two key items – a grand, tufted couch, a gold chaise lounge, an ornate chandelier – or update your existing furniture with touches of glam (crystal knobs, re-upholstery, mirrored panels, refinishing in a metallic or white). Make sure to include table lamps in highly polished silver or richly gilded bronze. Also, don’t overlook that outdated nightstand or bureau at the thrift store, flea market, or on craigslist

Use mirrors - on the walls and on the furniture. Mirrors are an essential part of Hollywood Glamour Design. The bigger and more opulent the frame, the better.
But mirrors not only hanging on walls, but also on furniture. Mirrored furniture is prominent in bedrooms, living rooms and dressing rooms. If this seems a little over the top for you, use one mirrored piece in your room as a feature or accent piece and have the rest in black, white or brown. Use shiny hardware on your other furniture to tie the mirrored piece to them. Hanging mirrors are framed either in wood or with mirror as part of the highly decorative nature of Hollywood Glamour.

Little Things – Little decorative touches really spice up a drab room and demonstrate your sense of style. Dress up surfaces with luxury candles, vintage perfume bottles, vanity sets, and heavy crystal accents. Find dramatic candelabras, votive holders, and decorative plates.

Where You Lay Your Head – If you think about glamour, think Silk, satin, damask, and any fabric with a sheen or dramatic accent. Pillows go a long way in a bedroom. Fringe, rhinestones, or bold prints will dress up any décor.

No matter what room in your home you choose to give a Hollywood glam look to begin with a color scheme that will create a sense of glamour such as luxuriant creams, chocolate shades, whites and jeweled hues including jade, ruby and turquoise. Furniture pieces should be beautiful to look at, with plenty of curves and embellishments. The room should be textured with gold leaf, lacquered surfaces or lacquered hardware, diamond or cut glass accents.

Hot New Color Trends

"Bringing updated color into your decor is all about adding that unexpected 'aha' with an accent wall or cushions, rugs or piece of furniture," says Leatrice Eiseman, director and color forecaster of the Pantone Color Institute, an industry leader in color trends. Inject new life into your living room — and your life.

The hot new style trend is 'Vintage Hollywood Glamour'. Hollywood in the 40's was decedent, with lots of gold, crystal and metallic lacquers. Now, we're adding more contemporary elements, a little glamour goes a long way: a crystal chandelier over the dining room table or an ornate gilded mirror over the fireplace mantel can transform a room. The colors are muted and more restrained; for example, baby blue is out and gray-blue is in. Gray is big, in its thousands of variations, from soft gray to charcoal, to hematite.

Neutrals are now being used for the big-ticket items, from rich gray to camel, We're using trendier colors, like acid green or amethyst, as accent pieces. As well as metallic and pearlescent accents.

Bold accent in black-and-white designs are also popular and being pared with hot accent colors like red and acid green. Look for pink in romantic bedrooms, the living room or even in the kitchen, from cabinetry to appliances.