Kitchens gone wild.... paper floors, kitchen cabinets, fake tiles and plumbing fixtures Part 2.

It has been a while.I took this time to come up with a just awesome

Here is an instant fix for a TLC treatment for a linoleum or sub floor.

The Inspiration floor was my Library flooring, which I fell in love with at a  client's home, which was under construction. The flooring came from her great grand fathers first warehouse and was milled into flooring. Absolutely positively gorgeous.

One Saturday morning the door bell rang and lead carpenter was outside with abox car truck and the flooring. The client had given me the flooring for my library including the installation. If I ever move out of my home I will take this flooring along.

Being a creative artist at times, I decided to copy that floor on paper and install in my kitchen. Here are the necessary steps.

Supplies:

Brown packing paper or construction paper ( available at Home Depot) http://www.homedepot.com
1 Gallon of Elmer's Glue
 Scissors, 6" Putty Knife, utility knife, ruler/ tape measure.
Water, sponge/rags
Yellow paint
Acrylic paint Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber and black, black and gray Sharpie

1. Technique:
2. Cut strips of paper.
3. Submerge into water.
4. Apply glue onto floor.
5. Paste paste strip and smooth with putty knife
6. Let dry
7. Apply 2 coats of yellow paint
8. Let dry
9. Wood grain   http://www.fotosearch.com/CSP020/k0204632/ 
10. Let dry.
11. Apply three coats of Varnish

You have created tough flooring which also will be a conversation piece and best of all Eco friendly and inexpensive. Almost a "must" floor.

Voila, my floor

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Kitchens gone wild.... paper floors, kitchen cabinets, fake tiles and plumbing fixtures Part 1.

Do you ever "think outside the box decorating your home?If you don't you are missing a lot. As a popular local artist and designer and raised among couture fashion designers "thinking outside the box seems natural to me

• There is no  other way to transform a room quickly and inexpensively but with decorative artistry
• No wall paper can do what paint, creatively applied, can do. In addition you have something artsy and unique; and the the neighborhood has finally "something to talk about".

Art is never finished, only abandoned (Leonardo da Vinci)

Don't we all know it.I really do not need a kitchen except to make coffee or tea and once in a while like a true bachelorette, I am having dinner over the sink.
From avocado green, to watermelons, to Tuscany old world, to French Country and now to eclectic Transitional; and all that in the last 20 years. I have a very difficult time to decide what style/finish to create in my home. All I know it must be comfy, bohemian and informal (typical artist crib) and representing what I stand for. It's my haven to come home to.


I am in love with my wide plank naturally distressed floor in my family room/library. I won't ever consider selling my home because of this floor;and should I be ever evicted, I'll take my floor with me. This floor fits me to a "T". It also represents a great friendship and sadness and a beloved friend. This friend kept my business card (a postcard)for ten yeas, knowing that if she ever built her "dream home" she would hire me to do all the artwork... and she did. The floor was a gift from her.It used to be the beams of her grandfather's warehouse which were milled into flooring.


Back to my kitchen ...

The original floor was black and white linoleum. Then I painted it mustard yellow and red. It held up for 15 years.(prep is important)

Here is what I did:

• Sand floor
• Vacuum
• Wash with ammonia
• Apply 123 primer (love that stuff)
• Let dry
• Apply base color
• Measure and tape off 
• Paint the diamonds. Be wise and mark every contrasting diamond. Believe me I learned my lessons, so nowadays I mark off.

Voilà - you have a "New" floor.

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