The painted House.......A Harlequin Patterned Powder Room

My clients love harlequin diamonds. Therefore,  I get a lot of requests to adorn walls with the ever popular design. The Harlequin design,  a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end, has been around since  the fifteenth century. It is still a theme which is in high demand. This design can be found in antique fine furniture, marquetry, inlaid boxes, tables, dressers, and even floors.

The Italian-based classical character, the servant, wore colorful diamond-patterned tights and a mask.

Creating harlequin diamonds require lots of patience and measuring, but is well worth the intensive labor involved. If you want to save some time here is a harlequin calculator harlequin diamond calculator courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

Supplies:
Lots of 1"or 2" blue tape.
Soft fine pencil ( I use a mechanical pencil)
White Eraser ( art store or Michaels)
Chalk line 
Chalk in the color of the paint    or 
Pastel Pencils in the color of the paint
Two contrasting paint colors*  or if you like to create a monotone design use Eggshell sheen *

 Level ( if possible 5ft long) **
Ruler (if possible 5ft long)
Drop cloths
Paint roller
Angled paint brush ( for touch ups)
Razor ( for mitering corners)



* If you choose a monotone color theme you may use Eggshell sheen paint and MinWax satin polycrylic. 

** available at the wallpaper section in any paint store.
Step One:

Decide on the size of your diamonds. The rule of thumb is that the height of the diamond is twice the width. Now that you have figured out the the design or size, select a focal point. Usually the wall you see, entering the room. Completed this task you are now ready to tackle step two.

Step Two

Paint the room in the color of your choice.

Step Three:
Having calculated the height and width of

Courtesy of Silverspoon murals

 your diamond theme draw vertical lines onto the wall. The space between each line equals the width of your diamond. Continue around the room until each wall is done



Step Four:
Draw the horizontal lines onto the wall. These lines represent the height of your diamond theme. Continue around the room until each wall is done.

Step Five:
Once you have laid out your pattern you might have to make small adjustments in  each corner so the diamonds match up. You may make these small adjustments with the width only. 

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals 

  

  Step Six: Find and mark the middle of each rectangle and mark the top, bottom,left and right side. Connect the points, using your ruler, chalk line, pencil or pastel pencil. Be aware that using a chalk line will deposit chalk residue on the wall.

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

 Step 7:
Having  your base color applied to all walls (step two) you now have to tape off each diamond. Mark each alternating diamond with a piece of tape, so you will not get confused which diamond to paint with the contrasting color. Use you single edge razor blade to miter the tape corners.

My client wanted a tufted harlequin pattern so I omitted contrasting paint colors, which gives you a subtle effect.

Try this classical design and let us know how you did. Good luck,

 

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With Love from Europe

Time is passing quickly and August is fast approaching. In August I will be teaching German faux finishers in Hannover and five other locations.

During l my recent 4 month visit to Germany, beside being involved in an bomb alarm and getting into a riot,

I was invited to teach and demonstrate American faux finishes. I must eat humble pie!! American faux finish artists are the avant garde to faux painting.. Even simple techniques, like tissue paper, packing paper and joint compound textures received the obligatory, "Amazing!" and "How did you do this?" remarks.

Due to the unexpected invitation to teach, I was not prepared. Consequently I had to search 'painfully' all over town for mediums I could teach with. Even tissue paper was not available due to the "Green" craze taking over Europe. I finally begged a store for some sheets and as a thank you I gave them the sample board of this fun technique.

After that I proceeded to "OBI" the German Home Depot to look for mediums I could use. My presence rummaging through the paint and other departments arose so much interest that I again was invited to demonstrate these selected mediums. It was so much fun. From Vinegar to lime paint and Moltofill I used everything I could get my hands on.

Here are some of the finishes I came up with:

Chinatown, done with Lime paint

Louis Vuitton Leather, everyone loved this one!

Old World Plaster à la Germany

Faux Venetian Plaster

Zen - Rust à la Heidi

Germany was very good to me and I am looking forward to teach there again in the near future.

Blessings,

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The painted house

I worked in this home for almost a year. My clients  bought this  home and needed help to add  their personal taste to it. It was my job to bring it back to "Beautiful Homes".

The first item which was obvious,  was all that white washed wood work which had a pinkish tint. Someone whitewashed and did not know how to do it. If you white wash red oak, you will get a pinkish tint.

Countless spindles, a wet bar, two bannisters,  fifty six kitchen cabinets and  seventy five drawers later all the wood work had a soft warm wood tone.


If you are tired of your wood work, whitewashed or too dark, here is a sweet and short remedy.

1. Remove all grease and dust with Ammonia.
2. Sand lightly and use a tack cloth to dust off.
3. Mix a have bodied  gel stain and stain your  wood into an elegant luster. 

Kitchen Island Before

Kitchen completed 

Staining:


I used three colors of stain. Using a 4" chip brush,  apply  each of the stain in a design you like. Soften with a clean brush. Now you can take off some more stain with a rag. Lightly soften again. This type of staining is very fast and easy to do. After the stain has dried, apply two coats of varnish. I like Min Wax Acrylic water based varnish in satin sheen.

Good luck and let us know how your staining project turned out. Naturally we are here to help you, if you get stuck.



My next blog will tell how to create a polished stone look on your walls using copy paper. It's easy and it's fast.


Until then....


Blessings, 

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It's time.... give that old dresser a make over

Recently I decided to make over an old library table which  collected dust in my basement and which was bought for a make over. But.. alas... the mind is willing but the hands are not. So, finally I decided to tackle that project.  Maybe you have some old furniture piece, which is in desperate need to get some TLC.  


Here are some ideas which might inspire you.

Library Table - Before

I chose a design depicting a McKenzie Childs rendition, because I always wanted to have some piece out of her collection.

Library Table - After

A client of mine bought this sideboard at a rummage sale.  She ran out of ideas what to do with that piece and hired me  for a make over.

I decided to base coat the piece red, with a faux painted  rust table top and a rust finish on the doors. I painted a trompe l'oeil rendition on the doors and stenciled the side panels. Once finished the trompe l'oeil design was crackled followed by waxing, which made this chest look a hundred years old.

This old writing desk received a glam 1920s look by covering the drawers with black silk fabric. I love this idea. Just imagine the hundreds of possibilities. People are so smart to come up with these ideas. Looks like it's easy to do but the end result is very glamorous.

Courtesy of My Crazy Life 

 I love the fabric on the drawers and see this piece in any room

Courtesy of My Crazy Life 

I absolutely love  this made over Bombay chest.

Curbly Chic

This make over involved  silver leave. Isn't it astounding how elegant it turned out?

Moral of the story, don't be afraid to tackle a make over. And if you do, please share. We all want to know and see.


Until next time....

Blessings,

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The New Business of Faux & Decorative Painting

Is faux painting a business, which can sustain you and your family?
Can you make a comfortable living as a decorative painter?

Of course you can…however, as with most things it requires some work, study and practice! You cannot take one class, hang out your shingle and expect super earnings immediately. Being successful in any business requires preparation, practice, hard work and, of course, opportunity (some call it luck).

I hear the frustration of many finishers today. Work has slowed. The economy is taking a toll! How do I survive?

First, I advise that you find a mentor in our industry and/or attend a good business workshop with someone who has been a working decorative painter for many years.

I took a survey of professional decorative painters where I asked, “What is your number one concern about your business?” The answers were overwhelmingly, “Marketing to find more business/clients.” I then asked, “Would you attend a workshop dealing solely with business principles?” and most answered, “No!” They added that they would attend a workshop that combined business and finishes, but felt that it would cost too much to attend a business-only workshop.

This mindset puzzled me. You could have hundreds of techniques to sell but if you don’t have anyone to sell them to, you aren’t going to be in business very long. The vast majority, who make a successful career of decorative painting, take business very seriously. They look at it as a business and operate it as a business and nurture it as a business.

One of the first questions I ask the decorative painters I counsel is, do you have a business or a job? It is vital for you to get clarity on this if you want to be a business owner and have a long, stable career. It is a much different set of rules for running a business owner versus being an employee. The people who don’t get this concept will never make it as a business owner. Neglecting the business side of your business is a sure-fire way to find yourself working for someone else.

Heidi has developed a new 4-Week Hybrid (Online/Onsite) Business Workshop where students will learn everything they need to know to run a successful faux and decorative painting business through online teaching and then create a stunning portfolio in a week-long hands-on class.

Blessings,
Rebecca E. Parsons

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Shimmer Stone

A few days ago,  a client interior designer asked for a sample and proposal, faux finishing a large master bedroom suite. Naturally, time is of essence, because the owners of the home are  taking a vacation. In  the best of two worlds, I would be getting the job and  do the work during the owners are gone.
I asked the interior designer for a description of the home and was told that all the fixtures are brushed nickel, the home is contemporary,  lots of reds, blacks and greys. One accent wall will be wall papered with a black leather look.

Draperies will  be two contrasting fabrics

In addition there is a beautiful brushed nickel mirror which looks like it should be the "jewel" of the room. Furniture is black.

The designer's  vision....  a finish which would not compete with the wall paper and the mirror. Of  course,  it is the luck of the draw, to come up with a finish, accessories etc. unseen. My vision, a metallic soft finish, with lots of movement to depict the mirror. Modern Masters Shimmer Stone and metallics came to mind. Here is the finish I came up with.

In the meantime I have completed this monster of a bed room suite. I am happy to report that the designer, client and I absolutely love the look of this now beautiful bed room suite.

  Until next time. Take care and Happy painting!

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