The art of distressed wood finishing is a delicate one. It requires incredible skill, a delicate touch, and a bag of nuts and bolts to smack the wood with. No, I'm not kidding. Distressed wood finishing is all the rage, whether it's distressed hardwood flooring, distressed cabinets or distressed furniture, and the main goal is to produce that timeless, aged look by beating up new materials before artfully applying paint, glaze or stain.

Tools of the Trade
Folks that specialize in distressed finishing have a whole bag of tricks to produce the desired results, and whacking a piece of wood with a canvas bag full of nuts and bolts is at the top of the list. Other tried and true strategies include rough cutting hardwood flooring, creating indentations with ice picks and awls, using Dremmel tools to create simulated worm holes, and scuffing up surfaces with rough sandpaper. We've even heard of a craftsman who recommends driving over pieces of wood with a truck in order to get stunning results!

I Never Heard of Such A Thing!
Sure you have. Remember the acid washed jeans of the late eighties? How about the pre-frayed pants and flannel shirts of the 1990's? The truth is, people like to have that beat-up, worn down look, but still enjoy the reliability and quality craftsmanship of a brand new product. It's no different with distressed wood. In fact, it's a clever idea. It's like buying an antique that's never, ever been used, ensuring that your new distressed hardwood flooring, distressed cabinets, and distressed furniture will last a lifetime even though it looks like they've already seen several.

Transform Your Home
If you like that "Old World" look, think about decorating your home top to bottom in distressed wood. Distressed hardwood flooring creates a timeless feel that harkens back ancient castles and centuries old European cottages. Add a distressed wood beam and doors and you've pretty near sealed the deal. And with the addition of distressed cabinets and furniture, you'll have a home that looks like it's been around for hundreds of years.

That Choice Antique
Of course, a distressed wood home might be a little more than you were bargaining for. In that case, forego the distressed hardwood flooring and add cabinets or maybe just a piece of furniture as a conversation piece. Regardless of where you put them, distressed wood products have a beautiful look all their own.

If you're interested in distressed wood finishing, be it flooring, doors, beams, cabinets, or furniture, talk to a craftsman or retailer about what options are available to you. And don't forget to ask how many nuts and bolts were in the whacking bag before you purchase, just for kicks.