For the faint of heart, the lovers of standard lamp bases, and the devotees to dark bronze, avert your eyes, look away, look away !   Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now, for those like me who adore all things shiny, feast your eyes on my latest transformation, a lamp refinished in silver leaf. 

Before and After:

This project was incredibly simple, and took only a few hours to complete.  Here’s the play by play. 

But first, peeps, come a little closer, I’m about to say something that the silver leaf company doesn’t want to tell you.  There is no need to buy those expensive adhesives and coating sprays that are sitting there next to the metal leaf products.  Sssssh.   It wasn’t me who told you.  Pass it on.  This message is brought to you by a gal who has silver leafed only one thing in her entire life.

But seriously, other than the $10 dollar package of silver leaf available at a craft store, I used products I already had for this project including multi purpose spray adhesive and Minwax Polycrylic to seal.  I’m sure the other products designed for applying metal leaf are fine and dandy, I’m just a cheapo, and I wanted to save the $15 bucks. 

The instructions tell you to use wax paper to ‘iron on’ the leaf with your fingers to the wax paper before you apply it.  Hey, it worked !   This stuff is incredibly thin and prone to flaking so it helps to use the wax paper as a guide. 

And may I just say that my wrist looks particularly chubby today.  I’m gonna blame the lens and not my latest melted cheese binge. 

I applied my spray adhesive to the area of the lamp where I wanted to apply the leaf, and used the backs of my fingers to adhere it to the lamp. 

I cut smaller sections for the skinnier and curvier parts.

When I was done, I applied two coats of Minwax Polycrylic to the lamp to protect the finish.  That’s it ! 

Flirty gray lampshade from Tarjay.

Some of you spray paint devotees are thinking why not just use silver spray paint ?   You’re right, I thought of that.  After all, I am a self confessed spray paint junkie, and there are a ton of metallic spray paints available.  Valspar has an entire ‘metal’ series that is fab !  However, I’ve been wanting to experiment with silver leaf forevah, and I like the subtle textural difference between a smooth spray painted surface and an silver leaf crinkly surface.  Glamour injection ?  Check.  And my daughter loves it ! 

What about you ?  Have you ever danced with the silver leaf in the pale moonlight ?  Er, I mean, have you ever used this product, and what were your results ?

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Lately, I’m fixated on metallic finishes on furniture.   Whether it’s silver leaf, gold leaf, gilded, antiqued, painted or pearlescent, honey if it shimmers and shines and has great lines, I am drawn to it. 

German Silver Bowfront Chest , Wisteria

Silver Leaf chair transformation, Tara Dennis 

Silver painted chair, Lord & Lama

Antique Silver Paint & Mirrored Borghese Buffet, Z Gallerie

  Taupe and silver painted nightstand, local antique fair

Silver Leaf dresser, Decorpad

Silver spray painted side table, Craftynest

Painted silver nightstand, source unknown

  Lucy Willow Bombe Chest

Dorothy Draper lacquer and silver leaf cabinet, 1st Dibs

Ambella Silver Finish Chest, Horchow

Mirrored & silver finished dresser, Anthropologie

Aluminum Hourglass Side table, Horchow

Silver Chelsea Dresser Bratt Decor, Layla Grace

 Antique Finish Silver Cradle, Bratt Decor

Gold Gilt Library Chair, NotOnHighStreet

Gold Leaf Chairs, Neuvo Estilo

Trina Turk Boutique, design by Kelly Wearstler

Design by Kelly Wearstler

 Distressed Silver Finish Dresser, Fabulous Pieces on Etsy

Then there is this incredible pair of nightstands thanks to Jenny over at Little Green Notebook.  You MUST see this tutorial – it’s my absolute favorite transformation that I’ve seen in the past year.

Silver Leafed Nightstand, Little Green Notebook

What are your thoughts on metallic sheens in furniture and accessories ?  Gloriously glamorous, shamelessly shiny, or terribly tacky ? 

I happen to think in just the right space, one shimmery piece can be absolutely fabulous !  Do share your thoughts too.