mother of invention
by sandy mccall

Ahhh, its January . . . long nights and short days and not as much color outdoors---might be a good time to bring more color into your living space.

I have been experimenting with color, faux finishes and textures on my walls for the past couple of years. My daughter, Kelly, says I should be careful not to use too many finishes in my house, but I like the variety it creates from room to room and the wonderful warm, cozy feeling it gives my house.

I have seen a number of homes where I felt the faux finish in a room was overkill because they used the same finish on all four walls. I like doing an accent wall or maybe two but leaving contrast by using solid colors on the remaining walls. My experience with faux wall painting may be limited in relationship to the possibilities that are out there, so be daring and creative when you try it. There are great books out there that will give you a play by play and many new ideas.

Faux finishes can be created by applying the finish in different ways and with different applicators. You can try sponging on or sponging off, but read on and you’ll see that you may be able to replace the sponge with feathers, sea sponges, wadded up newspaper, or paper bags. My new favorite was created by wadding up those plastic grocery store bags --- I seem to be overwhelmed with the numbers that accumulate so I always have plenty.

Sponging on means that after applying the base coat (color), you add the second coat (color) by applying it with a sponge or other applicator as mentioned above. Sponging off means that after applying the base coat, you add the second coat with a roller and then use something like cheesecloth or a rag to remove parts of the second coat, leaving the essence of the first coat showing through. You can also try rubbing on or rubbing off the second coat.

You start by choosing a couple of colors that appeal to you and that might add color and accent to the room you are painting. In my den on the north side of the house, I wanted more color but the illusion of bright and light, particularly in the winter. So I chose a sea foam green latex semi-gloss paint for the undercoat and then a mellow turquoise satin wall paint for the over layer and used the ragging-on technique. After rolling the sea foam green undercoat and allowing it to dry completely, I poured some of the turquoise satin wall paint into a container and mixed it 50/50 with something called glaze. It makes your paint kind of translucent so that when it is applied over the first coat, it has a different look than solid paint. You can purchase glaze at any hardware store. I also discovered something called paint conditioner that is considerably less expensive and I am told works just like glaze. Oh yes, remember to use masking tape to tape off the woodwork or corners before you start.

After I mixed the glaze and wall paint thoroughly, I poured it into a roller tray. Then I gathered 10-20 plastic grocery bags so I'd have plenty of them available when needed. They get very full of paint as you are working, so you need to use a new one from time to time. I took one of the bags and shaped it into something that looked like an old ice pack---larger at one end with a knot tied in the other end for a handle. Then I dabbed it lightly in my paint/glaze mixture and then on to the wall. Before starting, find an area of the wall where you can test your work. That way, if you don¹t like the amount of paint or the look of the application, you can let the area dry and paint over it again with your base coat and start again.

Remember to stand back away from your work to get the full affect. As I stood back to look at my work, I realized that my young cat, Rosemary, had dipped her paws in the paint and was walking on the plastic drop cloth to create her own faux finish. Maybe we can find a way to use cat paws for a faux finish . . . hmmm, probably end up with a very angry cat.

Anyway, I think the trick is to get a look that is rather uniform so it doesn¹t look like you just let the kids go wild in the paint, but not so uniform that it loses its artistic value. Try working in an area a couple feet wide and long before you move on to the next area. If the under layer (color) doesn't show through enough, dab a clean plastic bag on the wall to remove some more of the paint. So keep dabbing until you have created the look you want and covered the entire surface.

You can also try sponging or ragging off which means that you would paint your undercoat as before, roll the second glaze mixture on the wall and use your plastic bags (or maybe a sponge or wadded up newspaper) to dab some of the paint back off of the wall. One technique puts a layer of paint on the wall and the other technique removes paint from the wall. Be creative and try one of these finishes on an old, clean flower pot, picture frame, etc. Write to me and I'll tell you more.

I have also experimented with textured walls and furniture and I like this look alot. I used joint compound and applied it to the wall to look like old plaster and then I used a paint/glaze wash to make a rather subtle color finish. Another fun finish is using something called crackle. You can buy it at the hardware store and it has good directions for creating a crackle finish on furnish or walls. I saw a house where someone had taken brown paper grocery bags, ripped them in random pieces, dipped them in wallpaper glue and applied them to the wall. It was cool!!! There¹s no end to the possibilities . . .

E-mail me at sandy@wnc-woman.com or mail questions and pictures to Sandy McCall, P.O. Box 1332, Mars Hill, NC 28754 and I will share my ideas with you and other readers in a month to follow.

Buying/Selling Tip: Sellers, a home with clean, freshly painted walls always appears more appealing to a prospective buyer. Buyers, you may get a better deal on a home when you are willing to do some of the cosmetic work yourself.

Sandy McCall is a real estate broker with Appalachian Realty Associates and enjoys the mountain life in a recreated log cabin near the Appalachian Trail with her four-legged and finned kids, Cooper, Moondoggie, Zipper, Rosemary and Salena. She is also the mother of three human daughters, Kerri, Kelly and Nancy, grandmother to many and a former foster parent.
[ sandy@wnc-woman.com ]