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A Guide to Antique Bird Cages -
It has been said that everything old is new again. So it is with bird cages. Antique bird cages are a popular addition to many houses and apartments. They fit in with many styles of decorating, including Victorian and shabby chic. Chinese antique...
About Hummingbirds and How to Attract Them to Your Garden
Visualize watching a bright green hummingbird in your garden moving from flower to flower in search of the tasty nectar within. These beautiful and tiny birds weigh about 2 to 20 grams and are found in a wide variety of environments from the high...
How Stained Glass Can Add Elegance To Your Home
If there is one way to throw a new light on your home, it's through the stained glass you put in your windows. Whether you want to enhance old windows by replacing some of the panes, or are complementing the new Pella windows you've installed,...
Incentive can help address common problems
(NC)—Uncomfortable drafts on cold winter days, excessive condensation on windows and a heating system that operates continuously are all signs that your home may be wasting energy. And that's nothing but bad news.
First and foremost,...
Wall Oven - A Necessity For The Disabled
Wall ovens, available in electric and gas forms, are best ovens for the people with disabilities. The ovens can be placed considering the required height of the user, and the controls can also be placed within the reach of the standing or sitting...
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Softening Your Walls with Color Wash
If you like the soft look of watercolors, why not try using a color wash on your walls? In addition to a softer color, color washing can accentuate the texture of your plaster or stucco walls. And it�s so simple that even I, a faux-finish-impaired decorator, can do it
There are two techniques for color wash application: sponge or brush. Each requires a slightly different glaze formula.
Sponge Technique:
Color Wash Glaze: Mix together 1 part latex paint and 6 parts water in a bucket.
1. Mask off (using painter�s tape) parts of the room which will not receive the wash. Its best to cover the floor with plastic drop cloths (especially if you are as messy as I am).
2. Prime the wall with a low luster latex paint and allow it to dry completely before the next step.
3. Dip the sponge into the color wash glaze and squeeze lightly.
4. Beginning in a lower corner, apply the glaze to the wall in short, overlapping strokes. Change the direction of the strokes frequently. Work on a small portion of the wall at a time (3 foot by 3 foot is a good size).
5. Repeat moving upward until all the wall is covered.
6. Allow to dry completely.
Brush Technique:
Brush Color Wash Glaze: 1 part flat latex paint, 1 part latex paint conditioner (available at your local
home improvement center), and 2 parts water. Mix in a bucket.
1. Mask off (using painter�s tape) parts of the room which will not receive the wash. Its best to cover the floor with plastic drop cloths.
2. Prime the wall with a low luster latex enamel paint and allow it to dry completely before the next step.
3. Allow the paint to dry.
4. Dip a paintbrush in the glaze and remove the excess against the side of the bucket.
5. Apply the paint in a criss-cross pattern.
6. Brush over the surface repeatedly to soften the look of the paint.
7. Wipe excess glaze away, if necessary. (Better get the industrial-sized package of paper towels!)
There you have it! A soft paint look perfect for your newly decorated room�And since you have the technique down to a science, why not come and do my family room? Powder room? Closet?
About the author:
Pamela Cole Harris has been a writer and designer for 35 years (Yikes, has it been that long?) Enjoy her tongue-in-cheek approach to inexpensive interior design at: http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.comand http://www.diy-homedecor.com
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