An unfinished piece of furniture is like a blank canvas with endless possibilities. During a recent trip to Westport, editor Stephen Earle explained how he created three pieces of distinctive furniture using simple unfinished cabinets.

To fashion a cabinet with a galvanized top, Stephen began by painting the main body with two coats of Martha Stewart Bone China paint and then used Martha Stewart Galax paint for the border. He replaced the cabinet's wooden knobs with polished chrome cup-style drawer pulls and topped the piece with a custom-sized sheet of galvanized metal.

Stephen used a specially cut glass top for the next cabinet, making it an ideal perch for plants or a lamp in the living room or foyer. He also painted the piece with two coats of Martha Stewart Kalamata and replaced the knob on each drawer with two brass pulls.

Using a relatively easy technique called combing, Stephen lent a distinctive visual flair to the third cabinet. First, he painted the piece with two coats of Martha Stewart Quiet Brown and allowed it to dry for several hours. Using tape, he then created a 1 1/2-inch border on the top and edged the sides of the drawers to keep them clean. Next, Stephen made a glazing mix by combining one part oil-based paint, one part paint thinner, and two parts alkyd glazing liquid. He applied a thin transparent layer of this mix to the base coat and, with a steady hand, pulled a combing tool through the glaze, wiping the tool clean after each pass. (Combing tools can be found in hardware or crafts stores, or you can make your own by cutting a squeegee or using a piece of corrugated cardboard.) The glaze will stay wet for about 30 minutes; if more time elapses, dab on some paint thinner to loosen it. Repeat combing until the entire surface is covered.

Resources
The unfinished chest was from Gothic Cabinet Craft (1601 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10028; phone: 212-472-7359). We found the wooden knobs and cup-style and brass drawer pulls at Whitechapel (phone: 307-739-9478). The metal sheet was from Klatt & Sons (South Jamesport, NY; phone: 631-722-3515).