In the world of decoration, as in that of fashion, trends are cyclical. The resurgence of interest in ancient artisan trades and pieces of furniture with history, has led to techniques such as crackle that provide surfaces with a cracked appearance, take greater prominence indoors.
The craquelure it is a phenomenon linked to the passage of time. Reproducing it on walls, furniture and small decorative objects gives these an aged look that is highly appreciated in certain decorative styles, but that we could well incorporate to anyone now that the idea of mixing modern pieces with vintage pieces takes center stage.
What is craquelure?
Cracked "1. tr. Produce fine cracks on the surface of something, sometimes as a decorative procedure. "
Cracking is a phenomenon that occurs naturally in antique furniture or oil paintings. A sign of aging which consists of the cracking of the pictorial layers due to the difference in the drying times of the materials or to changes in atmospheric conditions. In the most serious cases, the paint layer cracked until it was fragmented and detached, helped by the dirt that was embedded in the cracks, accentuating the feeling of antiquity.
Crackle effect
This phenomenon usually recreate today using techniques that mimic the effects that the passing of years produces naturally. It is mainly used in enameled doors, cabinets, chairs, chandeliers and jugs in order to soften the contrast between these new objects and others with a long way.
To recreate these types of effects you can use varnish or paint. The varnish method consists of applying a layer of fast-drying water-based varnish over a layer of slow-drying oil-based varnish, so that the already dry upper layer is cracked by the movements produced by the lower layer when drying.
The paint crackle effect works in a similar way. In this case, a layer of emulsion of the base color is applied to the surface, followed by a layer of transparent gum arabic. This gum arabic prevents the layer from cracking. Once dry, a second coat is applied which, when cracked, reveals the color of the lower coat. This technique allows us to be conservative or play with contrasting colors to achieve a groundbreaking effect.
They can also be used mixed techniques to achieve this and products specifically designed to achieve this effect. You can see different tutorials in Passepartout, Fusion Mineral Paint y Love for decoration.
How to incorporate the crackle effect to the decoration
A subtle crackle effect makes a relatively new piece of furniture appear to have a longer run. A particularly appreciated feature for decorating Provencal style environments or generally speaking, rustic style. If you imagine your perfect home with high ceilings covered by wooden beams and decorated with natural materials and a very soft color palette, crackle is for you!
But craquelure can also be accommodated in modern spaces as you will have time to check. Mixing small old-looking pieces with modern ones is a trend. You will also discover that the crackle effect taken to its most artistic form can become a great alternative to decorate the walls of an avant-garde and contemporary home.
Furniture and small objects
Doors and dressers with crackle effect they are an essential piece in rustic style environments. In cream, blue or pastel green thrones, they have decorated these settings for centuries. But you can get a more modern look by substituting these colors for gray and betting on more modern handles.
If you feel that crackle furniture does not fit in your home, but you want to introduce small pieces that add character to it, candlesticks, vases, jugs or wooden boxes become a great option. And you can also use handles enameled with this effect to break with the clean look of modern furniture.
Wallpaper
Painting the walls with a crackle effect can be a challenge, as well as impractical when cleaning it. But we can achieve a similar effect by using one of the wallpapers that imitate it. It will not be difficult to find them in soft tones: gray, pink, green ...
Among these you will also find artistic versions, perfect for dressing modern spaces. Versions that do not pretend to emulate this effect but do use it as inspiration to create papers in contrasting colors with a strong visual impact. Do they convince you?
Cracking is a phenomenon that we can reproduce and emulate to achieve aged-looking surfaces that enrich the character of our homes. Emulating it, in addition, we can achieve more or less aggressive or subtle effects, so that the piece acquires a greater or lesser role in the decoration of the room.
Do you like craquelure? Do you have any crackle-effect furniture at home?