Adding Patina...

Black iron rods are transformed with a non-toxic rust patina. 

The design plan for this New England farmhouse called for drapery rods that had a bronze/rust patina.  Short leadtimes would have made custom rods very expensive.  Why not give some standard black rods a little aging and color with paint?  Turns out, it was quite simple:

I found cool black rods, brackets and rings at Restoration Hardware.  Then I called the nice folks at ECOS Organic paints, who speedy-shipped a quart each of their non-toxic Feng Shui Multi-Surface Paint in Gallery (a reddish orange) and Brushy Creek Brown.   They assured me that this benign paint would stick to metal.  They were right.  :)

Rods were lightly sanded (inside plastic with wet sanding sponge to control dust).

Next, "sock puppet hands" (with plastic bag liners underneath) dip alternately in each color paint to get the right mix of patina and rub it on.

Dry and ready to hang in about 30 minutes.

Voila!  The bronze and rust tones beautifully complement Jim Holland's gorgeous Two In The Dunes oil painting, from Powers Gallery.

For interior design or healthy/green design services, email me at Lisa@KTharpDesign.com.

All photos:  Kauffman Tharp Design