Popular and Merit Voting Begins August 17, noon CST - August 24, midnight CST!

IMPORTANT DATES

Submit Entries: are closed. Changes to entries can be made for a short time.

Voting Time Period (popular vote & independent merit judging): August 17, noon CST - August 24, midnight CST

Winners Announced: August 31

Claim Prizes: September 7-17
 

PROJECT ENTRY RULES

These rules are applicable to EVERY contest category. However, each category has its own unique rules. See "Rules By Category" below.

Project & Product Description: You must describe your finishing technique as well as color and manufacturer of products used. The better the back story, the more chances to win; judges love them. 

Multiple Entries: You may enter all categories with multiple unique entries but may NOT submit the same project into multiple categories. Each project can only be submitted once. For example, you can submit four pieces of furniture in the Creative category, but cannot submit any of those four to another category.

Entries from Past Contests: Projects entered in a previous GF Design Challenge must NOT be entered again. There is no time restriction on when the project you are submitting was created.

Original Work: Entries must be your original work.

Judges: Judges may not enter the design challenge.

NOTE: 

Image Size: We prefer images that are 1000 pixels wide.

GENERAL LOCATION RESTRICTIONS

These rules are applicable to EVERY contest category.

Categories open to mainland U.S. and mainland Europe, including mainland U.K. and mainland Ireland:

• Upcycling Categories
• Popular Vote
• Best Staging
• Woodworking Categories
• Woodturning Categories

Categories open to mainland European residents only, including mainland UK, and mainland Ireland:

• Creative Combos

Prizes cannot be delivered to the isles due to shipping premiums. Prizes can only be shipped to Mainland UK, Mainland Ireland and Mainland Europe including: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

European winners are limited to General Finishes water-based product prizes. 

Duty charges must be paid by entrants, not General Finishes.

Shipping restrictions or delays may occur due to location. European prizes may be shipped by container, which will cause delays.

Canadians: Please be advised that Canada was unable to respond to our request for approval in time for the contest. Canadians, please save your projects for the 2019 Design Challenge. We will try to gain approval again next year.

 

CLAIMING PRIZES

• Winners MUST claim prizes between September 7 and September 17. Prize rights will be revoked after September 17. 
• One prize per entrant with the exception of Best Staging Prizes. Entrants who win in multiple categories will only be awarded the prize with the highest value, but may also win a staging prize. GF needs to share the fun!

RULES BY CATEGORY

POPULAR VOTE CATEGORY: CHALK UP ANOTHER ONE!

Show us your best work completed in any chalk-style paint.

Unique Rule: If you mix colors, you must include your "color mix" recipe in the description.
Materials: All manufacturers' finishing products are welcome as long as a chalk-style paint, any brand, is included in the design. The chalk-style paint can be intermixed with other products.
Location Restrictions: Open to mainland U.S. and mainland Europe, including mainland U.K. and mainland Ireland only. See "General Location Restrictions" above for more information.
Voters:

• Popular vote among fans, friends and family.
• Votes accepted August 17-24, 2018. 
• The project with the most votes by the end of the contest wins this category. 
• Only one vote per person and per computer will be accepted in the Popular Vote. Multiple votes from a single IP address will be monitored, so ask friends and family to vote from their own computer. Do not submit multiple votes using alternative email addresses. 
• Use your audience and fans to your advantage. Contact your customers and share your project across your social media channels. 
• DO NOT compensate voters: General Finishes will not accept entries where votes are promoted in exchange for a compensation of any kind. You are encouraged to use all aspects of social media to promote your business with this contest, including paid promotions on Facebook, etc. - just no compensation to voters.

 

28 UPCYCLING CATEGORIES

Upcycling categories are for existing furniture that has been rescued, repaired and revitalized.

Materials: All manufacturers' products are welcome.
Location Restrictions: Open to mainland U.S. and mainland Europe, including mainland U.K. and mainland Ireland only. See "General Location Restrictions" above for more information.
Voters: Independent panel of judges 

Upcycling Categories:

1. BARNWOOD CHIC: Rustic wood finish.
2. BEST FAUX-LUXE: Show us your best imitation finish. 
3. BLACK AND WHITE: These are the best-selling colors! Show us your best black-and-white COMBO finish, includes really dark grays and softer whites. Wood accents such as tabletops, buffet tops or wood seats are fine.
4. JAVA JIVE: Show us your best Gel Stain refresh. Paint accents are fine.
5. COASTAL LOVE: Show us those seacoast blues.
6. COMBINATION: Use a combination of paint and stain to create anything from classic to creative.
7. DECOUPAGE: Show us your best decoupaged wooden project.
8. DIY WORLD: Open to DIY HOBBYIST with NO formal resale business. If you are selling anywhere online, you must enter another category. This category was created as a safe space for hobbyists to enter and have a fair playing field to win. Resale entries will be asked to move, or be removed.
9. HOTLINE BLING: Gilding takes center stage with the use of lustrous finish adornments of any kind, including gold/silver wax, GF Pearl Effects, gold or silver leaf, copper, etc., or other gilding or metallic finishes.
10. LADY IN RED: Any shade of red with or without embellishment. 
11. LITTLE BLACK DRESS: any black finish with or without embellishment. 
12. MODERN LOVE: Mid-century modern makeover. Bring on your best mid-1950s revival. 
13. MOLDINGS & APPLIQUES: A piece finished using applied moldings and appliques.
14. ROLLERS, STENCILING & EMBOSSING: Get out your rollers and stencils and show us some texture!
15. ROLL OUT THE BURL-EL: Show us how you bring out the grain, the burl or detailed inset patterns on your entire project, a tabletop or drawer fronts. 
16. SECONDARY PURPOSE: Transformation project of furniture repurposed to a new use. 
17. SIGN OF THE TIMES: Painted or stained signs.
18. SHABBY CHIC: Distressed, aged, chippy or just plain shabby. 
19. SHADES OF GRAY: Enter a project completed mostly in gray - wood or color accents are fine. 
20. SILVERADO BENCH SEAT (AND CHAIRS): Chairs & benches with wooden frames, with or without upholstery. 
21. SOUL KITCHEN: CABINETRY UPCYCLE: PAINT OR STAIN: Refinish of EXISTING kitchens, baths, bars. etc. 
22. STARRY STARRY NIGHT - MASTERPIECE TRANSFERS: Transfer of printed image onto furniture.
23. THE BOHEMIAN GIRL: Calling all boho chics (or guys) - get out your glass of wine, get your bad pants on, grab a spray bottle and paint away. 
24. TWISTIN' IN THE KITCHEN WITH DINAH - NEW CABINETS: A new finish on new wood; kitchen, bath, bars, etc.
25. THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Open category for entries that DO NOT fit into the other categories. 
26. UNFINISHED: Best finish using pre-made unfinished wood furniture. To enter this category, your raw-wood piece must have been purchased from a business that sells pre-made unfinished wood furniture. You must submit both "before" and "after" photos to be considered for a prize.
27. WATER BASED STAINS: A finished piece using water-based stain. 
28. WHITER SHADE OF PALE: any white finish with or without embellishment. 

 

BEST STAGING

All Upcycling category entries from the continental U.S. are automatically entered to win 1 of 4 Best Staging prizes.

Judging will be based on the size and beauty of the image, quality of lighting, and accessorizing. Preference will be given to images that are at least 1,000 pixels wide - the standard for most social media channels. 

Location Restrictions: Open to continental U.S. only.
Voters: Independent panel of judges

CREATIVE COMBOS

FOR OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS! Let inspiration reign! Use a combination of paint and stain to create anything from classic to creative. Stained top or painted frame, stained drawer fronts and painted frame, or any other combo. 

Materials: All manufacturers' products are welcome.
Location Restrictions: Open to mainland European residents only, including mainland UK, and mainland Ireland.
Voters: Independent panel of judges 
 

7 WOODWORKING CATEGORIES

Handcrafted projects and furniture will be judged on design and craftsmanship.

Materials: All manufacturers' products are welcome.
Location Restrictions: Open to mainland U.S. and mainland Europe, including mainland U.K. and mainland Ireland only. See "General Location Restrictions" above for more information.
Voters: Independent panel of judges 

Woodworking Categories:

1. TABLES
2. CHAIRS & BENCHES
3. STORAGE (Cabinets, Chests, Boxes, Dressers)
4. INSTRUMENTS
5. WOOD CARVINGS & SCULPTURE
6. YOUTH OR STUDENT WOODWORKING (25 Years Old and Under)
7. OTHER
    

14 WOODTURNING CATEGORIES

Woodturning is one of the most demanding and beautiful art forms. These categories are for hand-turned projects.

Materials: All manufacturers' products are welcome.
Location Restrictions: Open to mainland U.S. and mainland Europe, including mainland U.K. and mainland Ireland only. See "General Location Restrictions" above for more information.
Voters: Independent panel of judges 

Woodturning Categories: 

1. TURNED & CARVED SURFACE
2. DECORATED & EMBELLISHED SURFACE
3. CONVENTIONAL NATURAL EDGE BOWLS
4. CONVENTIONAL FINISHED EDGE BOWLS
5. HOLLOW VESSELS WITH OR WITHOUT LIDS OR FINIALS
6. PENS
7. LIDDED BOXES
8. SMALL TURNINGS: Toys, Ornaments, Functional, etc.
9. TURNED, CARVED & EMBELLISHED SPINDLES & LEGS
10. CONVENTIONAL SPINDLE & LEGS
11. SEGMENTED WOODTURNING
12. CREATIVE FINISH COLOR
13. YOUTH OR STUDENT WOODTURNER (25 Years and Under)
14. BEGINNING WOODTURNERS (With less than one year of experience. Any age is welcome, but cannot have postings or resales of work older than 12 months from the start of the contest.)