Jeanine Matlow: Smart Solutions

Kit makes glazing projects at home a breeze

We may be spending less these days, but we can always do more to improve our surroundings.

Patty Henning, artist and owner of Fabulous Finishes in Shelby Township, specializes in custom decorative painting techniques. While she continues to offer these services, the professional finisher is now reaching out to those who may not have the budget to hire a pro.

With furniture, Henning says people used to donate the old and buy something new. But, today's homeowners are focusing on fixing up what they already have. As the artist explains, there is a renewed interest in updating existing pieces, such as taking a blond wood finish to a rich mahogany.

Recently, Henning became the first person in Michigan to feature the Country Living Artisan Collection of Decorative Finishes by Caromal Colours. The collection, which can be applied to anything from walls to light fixtures, consists of products for distressing, gilding, plastering, glazing and more. "The glazes are very simple, soft and lovely," she says. "An average DIY'er could easily glaze a room."

The products are sold separately or in kits that include everything from gloves to a brush and roller. A glazing kit that would cover the walls of an average room costs $97.50.

The plasters are also easy to use, Henning says. And the gilding kits are ideal for sprucing up furniture and accessories. Henning says the distressing products are so user-friendly that her 12-year-old daughter was able to help redo her own bathroom cabinets. The cost for the product was only $30.

"The best part is that the products bond to anything," Henning says. "You don't need to sand or prime an old cabinet. You can go over raw wood, metal, plastic, old outdoor furniture, etc. You just have to make sure the surface is clean and dry."

And, she adds, all of the products are water-based.

Henning is now teaching two-hour workshops, such as one for distressing, which costs $65. The gilding workshop is $84 and includes a gilding kit that can transform accessories, fixtures, hardware, cabinets, walls and ceilings.

For more information, contact Patty Henning at (313) 318-6511 or go to www.fabfinisher.com.

Jeanine Matlow is a Metro Detroit interior decorator turned freelance writer specializing in stories about interior design. Her work has appeared in a number of regional publications. Have a décor question or a topic you would like her to cover? You can reach her at jeaninematlow@earthlink.net.