Since the Middle Ages man has been on a quest to turn baser metals into gold. Midus had the touch! And a silly goose was a million dollar layer!
I wish this post today was about gold ... but it is about OIL RUBBED BRONZE.
This is not a flashy post... but VERY practical! Sorry, no pretty pictures!
This is not a flashy post... but VERY practical! Sorry, no pretty pictures!
As styles change, so do our tastes. I have a house full of good quality brass switch and outlet plates. Some are staying brass because I like them with my decor, but other's look out of place... especially in my kitchen and family room!
Not wanting to invest in new plates, I repainted them... And they look great! They have a very authentic Oil Rubbed Bronze look.
It was so easy...
SUPPLIES
~Rust-Oleum Metalic in Oil Rubbed Bronze
The can on the right. The one on the left is for another post~ spray painting brass on a fireplace.
Look at the brass switch plates in the background!
The can on the right. The one on the left is for another post~ spray painting brass on a fireplace.
Look at the brass switch plates in the background!
~Brown Switch Plate Screws
SG TIP
When spray painting use a well ventilated area. I set up a table in my garage covered with newspaper. A large pizza box became my "spray box". I elevated each switch plate on 2 plastic cups to easily spray the sides.
See pictures below.
PROCEEDURE
1. Remove plates from wall.
2. Lightly Sand! Use a very fine grade sand paper. You want to rough the finish up just a tad to give it some "tooth". I sanded horizontally first, then vertically.
3. Set the switch plates on cups to make it easier to spray the sides.
3. Set the switch plates on cups to make it easier to spray the sides.
4. Spray according to the directions. I did not prime the plates, but you could.
I sprayed 1 very light coat and let it dry. Then...
A second heavier coat. This completely covered the brass.
5. Wait till TOTALLY dry! Don't hurry this step.
6. Use BROWN swicth plate screws to fix the plate to the wall.
TA-DA!
Brass to Oil Rubbed Bronze!!!!!
Now look at those old dimmers and white toggles!
My next project... replacing them!
I also have my eye on the brass doorknobs, hinges, light fixtures, fire place trim...
This is such a great and practical idea. You don't realize just how fast replacing hardware can add up! This is a great alternative. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI had those covers, Yvonne! We did wind up replacing them over time with wood and then some decorative ones for certain rooms, but this is a great idea to update what you've got.
ReplyDeleteYou asked for a miracle, I give you oil rubbed bronze!
ReplyDelete( reconfigured Die Hard movie line)
Good job! They look terrific! I ahve some I might paint too! See ya soon! XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteYvonne, they look terrific! That is an expensive and easy way to update the look of a room. We have some brass light fixtures that could benefit from that process. Thanks for showing the results. I think I feel better about tackling the fixtures after seeing how nicely your brass turned to oil rubbed bronze.-----Shannon
ReplyDeleteI need to spray paint my brass fire place doors too!! Can't wait for that post. But I think I'll tackle the wall candle sconces while I wait! Thanks Yvonne, you are the best at providing inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence! I just this week took mine down from two rooms to do the same thing. I have a lot of brass around here still too. Yours look great.
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
ReplyDeleteThose switch plates are gorgeous spray painted!!! I adore these creative inexpensive tips to freshen up one's home decor! Thank you for sharing this quick switch idea!
Fondly,
Pat
What you can't learn in blogland and especially at StoneGable! Thanks for a g r e a t idea and inspiration. Do you think it would work on the plastic covers?
ReplyDeleteI love that finish!!
ReplyDeleteI have oil rubbed bronze hardware being installed in my kitchen today...so needless to say I am a fan! You made it look mighty easy to convert shiny brass to oil rubbed bronze!! Clever and great to know.
ReplyDeleteBe very very careful! Before you know it, your all your brass will be painted. I started with my family room fan, next all the light fixtures, next all outlet/switch covers, next towel bars/toilet roll, you see how this is going. It looks so much better and I had a blast! Enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice and very pretty change. You are already thinking about my question: what about the hinges? It's difficult to even think about taking them all off and reinstalling. I'll wait until you decided what to do. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteYou did a beautiful job. I love the finish on your switch plates!! I just put your button on my blog sweet lady. I hope you have a great day.
XXOO Diane
A quick and easy fix that looks great Yvonne!! Martina
ReplyDeleteOil Rubbed Bronze is my all out favorite paint color. Lately I have painted anything in sight with this color!!
ReplyDeleteI just did this in my living and dining rooms. Mine turned out great too. I am replacing the door knobs and hinges though...I wasn't sure if the spray paint would hold up on something that was used so often. I'm anxious to see how yours turn out. I have a huge brass light fixture in my dining room I would love to paint ORB. I can't take it down though so I would have to brush it. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented and it looks wonderful. Thank you for showing us how to do this! My whole house is in oil rubbed bronze and I hope it doesn't go out of style for a loooong time! Love it!
ReplyDeleteOk, so I sprayed an old brass desk lamp ORB, and it looks black. I used the same brand. I would never paint my good solid brass, so I experimented on the lamp.
ReplyDeleteDh asked why if I painted it black for Halloween! :)
I have a brass fireplace surround that I've been thinking of painting. It's a sealed gas unit and I can't change the surround so painting it is my best option. I'll be interested to see what you came up with. I wonder if I'd need high temp paint for it? Your switch plates look great! I put the oil rubbed bronze knobs in my kitchen too! I saved all my brass ones just in case!
ReplyDeleteI've used this paint quite a bit...one thing I sprayed was a white curtain rod since they didn't make an oil rubbed bronze one in that size...you'd never know it was painted. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteOh well done Yvonne! This project turned out so well. The hardware stores are going to experience a surge in paint sales!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that stuff fantastic? Love it!
ReplyDeleteLisa
I love this! One of my friends even did her bathroom faucet and it looks beautiful and has held up so well.
ReplyDeleteLooks great Yvonne!
Nancy
p/s Congratulations on your 2 year blogiversary!
ReplyDeleteHello Yvonne,
ReplyDeletethe changing is perfect. Looks great. Thank you for sharing this idea and the tutorial.
Best greetings, Johanna
Wonderful idea. I recently changed some knobs on a buffet because they were too shiny... But I kept them, just in case an idea popped in my mind... And here it is: the idea popped in your mind!!! Those brass knobs are going bronze next thing they know!
ReplyDeleteI am SO going to do this!!!! Much less expensive than replacing everything! I wonder if I could do the same to all the doorknobs? Yikes....that's a lot of doorknobs! :-) This is a terrific idea, though, and I am going to pitch the idea to hubby. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love projects that reuse what we have! Looks great! Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeletei just finished doing this to all our bathroom hooks and light fixtures that were brass... it looks wonderful! However I did finish off the oil rubbed bronze with a clear finish spray just so they would hold up to "rubbing" more... hopefully ! :) I even reused my screws just by dipping the heads of them in a small puddle of spray paint! LOL
ReplyDeleteLove that! I painted my brass & glass living room tables a bronze color. They look so much better than shiny brass in the room.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome transformation. I bought some similar paint, but haven't used it yet.
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea and great tip! They look really good!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out great, Yvonne! Another wonderful DIY tutorial from you.
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne....love the oil rubbed bronze....I did all my hinges, locks on the doors themselves ...wow what a hard job...I ended up taping off the hinges with alot of newspaper and blue tape and lightly sprayed them...worked great...wow what a difference it is so updated like a model home...I however did have to purchasenew nobsforthe doors that were used the most...it all worked out great...loved the post and I love your recipes...phyllis
ReplyDeleteno that is truly amazing! I too have a lot of the brass around that was so popular, uh. 15 years ago! I've already changed out most of my kitchen knobs and handles...but boy is that expensive! I'm so happy to have read that you had success with this! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great new look. This is a great tutorial and you make it look so easy. Now just tell me please will this work for ceramic pulls? Fabulous job.......
ReplyDelete~Emily
The French Hutch
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ReplyDeleteSimple to watch it and difficult to create it...Antique Brass Picture Light.....
ReplyDelete