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Adding a Pickling Wash
How to Transform Orange-y Oak to a Modern Whitewash
![](http://crystalsandcleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Pickling_Wash_DIY_After-300x225.jpg)
I found this cute little sign that is perfect for my command center – above the weekly calendar. I love this piece, and it’s placement, because we should all try to remember to enjoy every moment of everyday – not just the big moments or the big days!
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What I didn’t love was the orange-y color of the piece. To fit with my other items in the command center, I wanted to get rid of the orange and end up with a more modern farmhouse look of aged gray.
To achieve the look I wanted, I used a two-step process.
First I removed the metal hardware from the front of the piece and I added a whitewash. I used this Cottage White Pickling Wash
Be sure to shake your pickling wash before you begin. While the results of a pickling wash look like it would be a difficult process, it’s really quite simple. After shaking the jar of wash, use a brush to quickly apply a thin coat to the entire surface. Wait about 30 seconds. Then wipe the freshly painted surface with a soft cloth.
To achieve the results I desired, I waited overnight for the wash to dry then I used a second coat of pickling wash, this time in Driftwood.
Had I been trying to achieve a more uniform look, I would have lightly sanded the surface before I applied the first pickling wash. I was going for a weathered look, and I wanted the imperfections to show so I was able to skip the sanding.
I’m so happy with my final product and it now fits in perfectly with the other elements of my command center.
![](http://crystalsandcleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Pickling_Wash_DIY_After-300x225.jpg)
Let me know what you think!
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