Don't know if it's stain, lacquer, shellac or polyurethane ... or steel wool can create a time-worn, distressed, or vintage finish. You can also achieve interesting looks by applying different ...

The specifics for poly: A clear, fast-drying finish that, unlike polyurethane and varnish, doesn't require sanding between coats. The additives in lacquer slightly dissolve the previous layer ...

Getting started. Begin by lightly sanding the object you want to distress. If the object already has a finish (previously painted or varnished), sand all surfaces well. After the sanding ...

Over the decades it has reemerged—in the ’20s and ’30s when it emerged as the finish du jour of the Art Deco period (think: early Eileen Gray, who studied lacquer before heading in a more ...

“Hand-scraped hardwoods are big right now,” said Debbie Wenke, manager and owner, describing the distressed finish that is so popular right now. “Families like it because it’s durable and ...