Archive for September, 2009

Creating a Strie

September 25, 2009 at 10:52 pm · Filed under Decorative Painting ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Do you have walls with a lot of imperfections? Maybe you tried to remove old wallpaper and your walls were left damaged after that process? Faux wall treatments are a great way to restore beauty to your walls, at a minimal cost.

The technique I will discuss here requires lightweight joint compound, a large 12″ taping knife, wallpaper brush, and a small brush with the bristles cut short. If you would like to add your paint to the compound you may do so before starting the job. I normally just paint the walls after the joint compound has cured.

Prepare your walls by removing light switch and outlet covers. I would strongly recommend taping your woodwork around the doors, floors, and tape your ceiling. This will save clean up time after the technique has been completed. Make sure you use drop cloths to protect your floors. This project could be a little messy.

If you are going to add your paint before your begin, make sure you add it to the entire amount of compound you will be using. This will help to ensure your color remains consistent throughout the process. Make sure you mix it well. You might want to use a drill with a special piece attached just for mixing paint and similar liquids.

If you are not adding paint, your joint compound will typically dry white with a chalky sheen. I would recommend painting the walls once the compound has dried completely. This will make it easier to clean and will help protect the walls.

Work in sections sizes that you will be able to comfortably manage. I would apply the joint compound in small sections, run the brush through it and then move to the next section, unless there are more than one person doing the technique with you. It would be perfect to have one person apply the compound while the other one creates the texture.

You will begin by coating your surface with the joint compound. You will be using the tape knife to apply the compound to your walls. Skim the coat on the wall in a relatively thin fashion. It does not have to be perfect, but you do not want it to be thicker in some areas than in others. If you maintain consistency at this point you will obtain a nicer look.

The next step calls for the wallpaper brush to be used. Again, remember to work in small sections. Start from the top of the wall near a corner, pulling the brush from the ceiling down past the middle of the wall. Clean out the brush and proceed to repeat this technique, but this time you will start at the bottom pulling the brush up to meet and blend in the middle where you left off.

Use the small brush with the cut bristles when you need to fit in to tight spots. It is also a good tool to use when you are trying to fit in to the corners. It may also be used to clean up any access joint compound.

I would recommend allowing the joint compound to dry completely for at least 24 hours before you paint it. If you have added the paint already to the compound, still allow for drying time before you hang pictures and other home decor items to your walls.

If you are in doubt about being able to complete this technique in a pleasing manner,
go through the extra expense of buying practice boards. This treatment is harder to correct than just painting. I cannot say all you have to do is re-paint it. That will not do the trick. Practice before moving to your walls. You will be glad you did.

Amy

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Sponging Your Walls

September 5, 2009 at 4:28 am · Filed under Decorative Painting ·Tagged , , , , ,

Sponging is probably one of the most well known faux techniques. Many are probably familiar with using a sponge to apply paint to the wall, but it may also be used in the reverse technique of removing paint. Create a neat look with one color or multiple colors.

The pictures attached show a wall base painted with semi-gloss paint. The paint used for the sponging was the same color, but a flat paint. This technique can be used to create a foiled look too. It is amazing how different the paints look, being different sheens, but the same color.

This is another technique where you will dilute the paint being used for sponging. You may be able to get away with only using a quart. Just remember if your paint begins to thicken, add more water. This will keep the paint from looking
like a blob on the wall.

Add a little water and stir the paint until thoroughly mixed. Keep adding water and stirring a little at a time. It is always easy to add more water than to correct it if you add too much. Your goal is to have an inky consistency.

Place a little paint on a plate when you are ready to begin. Wet your sponge and make sure you squeeze out the excess water. Place the surface of the sponge on top of the paint. Just get the paint on the surface, do not drench the sponge. You may want to tap the sponge on wadded up paper towels to make sure you remove the excess paint before place on the wall. Remember to change the position on the sponge often so that you will create a random look.

When you place the sponge on the wall, make sure you do not cover the paint underneath entirely. Start from the top and work your way down. Do not paint in a straight line down the wall. Move the sponge in small section. If you want to add another color, just repeat this step. If you feel the need to bring more of the first color out, sponge with that color again. It is important that you continue around the room and finish each color out before moving on to the next. This will keep all of the walls looking similar. If you try to finish one wall at a time when using multiple colors, it is very unlikely they will look the same. Also, if someone else is helping you sponge, make sure they do all of one color as you are doing all of another.

If you would like to do the reverse painting technique and use the sponge to remove the paint, paint the second color over the base color in small sections. It is important to work in small sections and in random areas as you move from the top of the wall to the floor. Once you have painted the second color in the small section, immediately place the sponge in the painted area and pull away from the wall. Repeat this, moving the sponge in different directions to avoid a creating a definite pattern. Once you have done this to the entire painted section, paint another section and repeat this process.

Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, there are many ways to do the sponging. There really is not a right and wrong way to do this. I would recommend practicing on small practice boards before moving to the wall. Remember, if you do not like the finished product, all you have to do is paint over it and start again. It really is just that easy!

Amy

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Ragging Your Walls

September 4, 2009 at 2:13 pm · Filed under Decorative Painting ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Ragging is another easy faux treatment that may be used on many surfaces, including your walls. Turn your walls from plain to beautiful using a few different colors of paint, a few rags, and a paint brush. It really is as simple as that.

This painting technique may be painted over any type of sheen, but works well over semi-gloss and 100 % acrylic paint. In this technique, much like the color washing you will dilute your paint. This will allow the base color of the walls to show through.

Begin by diluting both shades of paint you are going to use in this technique. I normally choose two colors, but you certainly may use more if you like. I begin by choosing colors to coordinate with the base coat. In the sample given you will see a carmel brown. A slightly lighter golden brown color was chosen along with a white.

Start in a corner like you would the color washing technique. You will place a small amount of each color on the walls using a paint brush. Try to work in small areas at a time. No larger than about two feet in diameter. Do it in random shapes to avoid creating a pattern. Start at the top of a wall and move down toward the flower.

After you place the two colors of paint on the wall, pull some of the paint off the wall by placing the lint free rag on the painted area. You place it in the painted areas and pull straight up from the wall. Move your rag in different directions to deviate the design.

Rinse out the rag and ring it out well once it becomes too saturated with paint. This will allow your rag to pull the paint and create interesting designs. You may always add more paint to the walls if you do not like the look created.

As you continue to move around the room, your paint will start to thicken up. Add water to keep the inky consistency of the paint. If it gets too thick it will look more like a blob on the wall. You want to create visual interest. Your paint will be heavier in some areas, that’s okay, but you do not want it to look like it was put on too heavy in one spot. It should be pleasing to the eye.

This is also a wonder technique to add further decorative painting to it. Hand painted vines and other designs look nice with faux painted walls. It really is an affordable way to add to your home decor or office decor, without spending a fortune.

Always remember, if you try it and do not like it you just have to paint over it. You never know, you just may love it! Surprise yourself and give it a try.

Amy

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Color Washing Your Walls

September 2, 2009 at 2:22 am · Filed under Decorative Painting ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Color washing is a nice technique to use over walls that are already painted. It is an easy way to change the look of any room without having to base paint. It is just the right touch to add life to any room.

This technique can be washed over any sheen of paint, however it seems to work best over flat paint. You will be using diluted paint to wash the walls with. It is important that you use a lint free rag to apply the paint.

This faux technique can be a little messy. Make sure you lay down a drop cloth while you are painting. It is very likely you will have drips while you are washing the walls.

You will begin this process by pouring a small portion of your paint into a small container that will be easy for you to work with. You will add a little water at a time. Each time you add water make sure you stir the paint well. Keep adding a little at a time until your paint is an inky consistency. As you paint you will find that consistency will start to thicken. You can add more paint or water as needed. It is important to keep the inky consistency so that paint will not be too thick when applied to your walls.

After diluting your paint you will be ready to begin. Use a rag that is easy for you to work with. I recommend a size that fits within the palm of your hand. This will make it easy to work with and help keep the dripping down.

Place the rag into the inky paint, getting the entire rag wet. Squeeze your rag to remove excess water and paint. Your rag will still be wet but not drenched. Start at one corner of the room and move around the room from one wall to the next. Begin at the top corner and work your way down to the bottom. You will wash the paint on the walls just as you would wash your walls with water. Do it in a random pattern so that you are not creating a definite pattern. You will have a varied amount of paint from once section to the next. This is the look your are trying to achieve.

If you need to touch up the paint in the future, just repeat this process. You will do it in smaller amounts a needed to complete the touch up. This is a nice technique to cover up imperfect walls.

Get your rag ready and begin to paint!!!

Amy011012007008

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