DIY Network

Shanghai Lounge: Wet Bar A wet bar from the '70s is lightened with paint and given the look of bamboo. From "Fresh Coat" episode DFCT-206

Say goodbye to wood paneling and hello to an exotic wet bar as lime paint and pigment powder are used to create the look of bamboo; the fireplace brick is also updated with this unique paint treatment.

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Bar: before

1. The old '70s-inspired wet bar is being updated with a lighter finish. The top is left as is, but the base of the bar will need to be sanded to remove the finish. Sanding for this piece is especially important: the paneling has a slick finish that needs to be completely removed to create tooth, or scratch--texture that is needed to ensure the paint adheres properly to the surface.

2. Maidenhair Fern, a tinted oil-based primer designed for slick finishes, is applied as a basecoat. The color is an effective base coat for lighter exotic woods like bamboo because the light undertone works in harmony with the pale colors that will be used for the top coat. Because oil-based primers can be toxic if absorbed into the skin, gloves are worn during application.

3. Lime paint and raw sienna natural powder pigments are combined for the top coat. During application, the ingredients in the pigment will break down and combine with the paint to produce a natural exotic texture and finish over the surface of the wood. The more pigment added to the paint, the more intense the color and textural variations; at completion, the primer can appear streaky on the wood surface.

4. When the finish dries, a varnish, also tinted with raw sienna, will protect the surface and bring out the "wood grain."