How do you make dark wood furniture white, distressed and vintage looking?

Question

I'm hoping to paint some furniture white, and then distress them, i want my furniture to look vintage. But i'm not exactly sure how to do that. i was just going to take some sand paper to it, i want more than one effect to it.

Answer 1

There are various things you can do, but it rather depends on what the furniture is like. Flailing chains all over may be good for medieval pieces but maybe too much for more delicate styles. Is it real wood we are talking about here? You could add some patina - slight yellowing of age - by adding a waxed finish which will protect the pieces. It's a very fine line between a distressed piece and one that looks like c**p as it's been badly painted, so go gently and experiment.  

Answer 2

sand and strip it down...paint it white take a hammer wrapped in a cloth to hit it a lil and scuff up the edges a lil can use a file on the edges and then I would put a varnish on it...

They have paint that looks antique, it dries in such a way it leaves lines in it looking like the paint is cracking...pretty neat stuff.