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Add value to your home with a kitchen remodeling job.
Every year, various Realtor groups poll home improvement stores
and other Realtors to come up with a list of home improvements
that actually add value to your house. Year after year, the top
results are the same. Kitchen remodeling is the home...
Creating Comfort Under Ceilings That Soar (Decorating With Wallpaper)
(ARA) - It's not surprising that vaulted ceilings are a growing trend in today's new homes. Ceilings that rise two or more stories in one continuous expanse certainly give rooms a feeling of spaciousness. They also add a sense of drama,...
Granite Countertops: An Overview
Home remodelers and builders have experienced a boom in the demand for granite countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. The beauty and warmth of granite makes it an ideal material for aesthetic appeal in home design, and the durability and easy care...
Is a Vacation Home Right for You?
Many of us dream about owning the vacation home in the Mountains, or on the Lake or Ocean. A place where one can retreat periodically from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. However, for those who do achieve the financial resources to make such...
Kitchen Improvements - Enjoy Now and When You Sell
Who would've ever though the kitchen could be the key to building wealth in your home? Well, it is. If you are going to increase the value of your home through improvements, the kitchen is a very good place to start.
Improvements
Obviously,...
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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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