Granite and Marble can be mimicked with three to six different tints of paint.
With the cost of real stone fixtures like countertops and interior walls skyrocketing, homeowners and artisans alike are looking toward low-cost, green alternatives to decorate. One option for interior stone work is faux finishing wood, laminate, or ceramic to resemble granite or marble using just paint and a few household materials. While textured stone spray paints are available, alongside the traditional sand or plaster added to a paint bucket for that tuscan stucco look, you can also use regular paint and some simple techniques cast the illusion of interior stonework.
Instructions
Granite Finish
1. Place a drop cloth under the object or wall to be painted and tape off any edges that you want to avoid painting. Wash the object and allow it to dry before priming it with white paint.
2. Mix one part satin sheen oil paint, one part oil glaze, and one part mineral spirits in a separate plastic container to create a glaze mixture for the black, gray, and beige paints you will be using.
3. Dip the sponge into the black glaze and dab it onto the surface of your object, working from one end of the object to the other to avoid seam lines or over-touched paint. Repeat this process with the gray glaze.
4. Take a clean rag and crumple it up in your fist. Dab the sponged wet paint lightly with the rag to create a feathery texture similar to granite. Do not go over the area more than once or you may overblend the colors.
5. Take a clean sponge and press it lightly into the beige paint. Dab the beige sparingly into places between the black and gray on the object. Soften the beige as you go with a clean, crumpled rag.
6. Sprinkle silver glitter sparingly to add a metallic or quartz-quality to the faux granite finish. Finish with a coat of shellac to seal it, and give the object that glossy sheen of processed granite.
Marble Finish
7. Place a drop cloth under the object or wall to be painted and tape off any edges that you want to avoid painting. Wash the object and allow it to dry before priming it with black paint. Mix one part semi-gloss paint, one part alkyd glaze, and one part mineral spirits in separate plastic containers to create glaze mixtures for the three shades of green paints and the white paint you will be using.
8. Dip a sea sponge into the darker green glaze mixture and dab it onto the surface of the object. Take a clean, dry cloth and crumple it in your hand. Dab the cloth over the green background sweeping gently and with short strokes to create drifts. Repeat with the medium-shade green, swooping the color through the center of the darker green drifts for effect. Create a few small cloudbursts of light green using a sea sponge.
9. Dip a badger brush into mineral spirits. Spray a mist of mineral spirits onto your marble background by running your fingers over the brush bristles. Allow the spirits to work for a few seconds, then blend with a clean rag. Use a rag to patina the the surface by pulling any excess paint or spirits from the cracks in the object you are working with.
10. Dip the tip of the goose feather into the white glaze. Holding the feather like a pencil with the feathery tip pointed down, streak the white paint in a vein-pattern. Soften veins with a dry cotton rag. Clear coat with a shellac wash to finish.
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