My Vintage Porch

Interior Design, DIY, and Refurbishing

DIY Gold Antiqued Frame

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I recently purchased this painting from an estate sale and wasn’t loving the frame that it was in. When I was at the same estate sale, I saw a large gold antique looking ornate frame. I thought that this painting would look so great in that frame, unfortunately, that frame had a different painting in it, and it was $250. *affiliate links used in this post

I remembered that I had this huge frame at home that I had found at a thrift store for $8!! I couldn’t even believe the price tag when I found it…I waited in a huge line and was late to my destination for this frame! Worth it?! I think so! When I found this frame, it was painted a glossy black. I initially painted it white, and now it’s on its third life, painted in gold.

I liked the frame painted white, I just wanted a little bit of a different look for this painting. I was thinking more along the lines of an antique looking frame.

I forgot to take a picture of the painting in the frame that it was originally in, before I took it out. I took a screenshot of a video that I had done, although a little blurry, it gives the idea of what the old frame looked like… not a horrible style but I liked this other one better, for this painting. I know that sometimes original paintings are worth more if they are in their original frame, but I didn’t care because I didn’t love the frame and I’m using this for my own home, not to resell.

I started off by spray painting the huge frame that I was going to put it in “vintage gold“ Rustoleum spray paint. I hated it! It was a bright, shrill shiny gold. My initial thought was that I would paint it with the spray paint and then go over it with an antiquing wax to make it look even more antique. I thought this spray paint would be a little darker than it was. I only used one coat of spray paint and then I went and bought a different color gold because I thought that I was going to spray it again to try to get it darker. Before I did that, I thought I might as well try to use the antiquing wax over the initial bright, shrill gold.

I used an old paintbrush and just brushed the antiquing wax on, kind of dabbing it here and there. I left it a little thicker in the design areas to bring out the design better. I couldn’t believe it! It was exactly what I was envisioning at the beginning! It took a while to get the wax in all of the deep grooves. I had to flip it different directions to make sure I was getting the underneath side as well.

We used a pin nailer to attach it to the backside of the open frame. We tried staples the first time around and it didn’t work, they were too skinny. The pin nails worked perfectly!

I love how it looks so much better in this frame! It looks old and antique now! I’ve seen frames like this go for hundreds of dollars online. Thank goodness for thrift stores! There are no filters or brightening on the photo below (just the daylight through the window) …so that you can see an accurate description of what it looks like.

I love how the frame makes the painting all the more majestic too! The artist is CSAPO…it’s a winter painting but I’m pretty sure it will be up all year round, when I find a place for it.

Source List:

Antiquing Wax

“Vintage Gold” spray paint

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Comments

  7. Beautiful! Did you have to adjust anything to fit the painting with the frame or were you just lucky?

  10. Love this. I have a frame I painted in antique gold and it turned out bright gold too. I’m going to try this wax! ????

  14. I love how your visions come to life. It is a great piece of art! The frame is magnificent!

  18. Amazing! The OPT should pay you to take their trash, fix it up and then they could sell it.
    @Shelaann24

  20. I bought a frame just like this for $10 and I painted it white, did not like it and painted it gray and used antiqueing wax also. I sold it for $125.00. with no painting inside. I loved that frame but I cannot keep everything.LOL

  22. Was worried when I say the shrill gold but I should know better! You always do amazing work! ????
    @amylepke

  23. Re: easy painted wood looking finish
    Sorry for commenting on a past project post here, but I’m hoping for a follow up from anyone who tried this project. I was overjoyed when I saw these chairs and the end result! I painted my 6 black x-back chairs and they turned out exactly like the “restoration hardware” finish. Beautiful! However, I cannot get the dark wax to stop rubbing off (and staining clothes)and cure. I’ve come to the conclusion that by painting them with the Behr Marquis “burnished clay” which is a primer/ top coat, is the problem. Unlike chalk paint, latex isn’t porous and the wax just sat on top and didn’t really absorb into the chair. Has anyone else had this problem? Natalie, are your chairs doing this? BTW, I used Annie Sloan dark wax and haven’t had a problem with other projects. I’m redoing these chairs with chalk paint and will replicate the finish. I’m really bummed that I have to redo these chairs as they look gorgeous. Any comments would be appreciated.

  24. It turned out so beautiful! Well done! I love how you breath new life ito found items!

  25. It came out so beautiful! I liked the white also but this technique just makes the picture pop! I love seeing what you can do with all the fun stuff you find at the OPT!

  26. What a statement piece that will be! I don’t have enough walls in my house to hang big pieces like that, but I know this will look great wherever you put it as it always does!

  27. I absolutely love how this turned out!! Gold paint is tricky…so many variations and tones. Good to know the antiquing wax can come to the rescue. ????

  29. Jennifer….did you happen to see my msg posted above about the “restoration hardware finish” chairs? I was wondering about your experience? I’m redoing mine with chalk paint. Any input would be appreciated . thanks

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