Antiquing, distressing, in decorative painting, is the art of simulating an aged look. In the 1980s, the term was often used for everything from glazing, to “distressing,” and even marbling. Later in the years and with the advent of the “loft” craze in 1990s New York City, having that aged look took on a different nuance as exposed rusting pipes and peeling wall paint were not necessarily considered eye sores. We painted this antique vanity to simulate just that: peeling and distressed layers of paint.