We’ve been using paint to transform our worlds for over thirty thousand years. Faux painting uses the magic of paint to create fabulous illusions. Whether you want a stylish new look for walls, floors, doors, columns or cabinets, there’s a faux painting technique for the task.

Some well-known finishes that can be achieved with faux painting including brick (or block) effects, wood grain finishes, the appearance of marble and the look of leather. You can also created distressed finishes that are ideal for making rooms match the style and ambiance of an older house or character building. Alternatively, faux painting can revitalize drab and tired spaces, indoors or outdoors.

Brick and Block Finishes

There are many scenarios in which you might want to create a brick effect. You can transform a plain wall into a life-like brick wall. Outdoors, ugly concrete patios, floors and pillars can be made over using brick stencils. Stenciling is a simple method for adding texture, pattern and color to dull surfaces. The ‘breakaway’ look (bricks showing through exfoliated plaster) is another striking visual effect.

Wood Effects

The plainest and cheapest door, beam or other feature can be transformed with grainy wood finishes. Fireplace surrounds and picture or mirror frames also invite a warm, wood treatment. Oak, country pine, rich mahogany or that clean, bleached driftwood look are just brushstrokes away. It’s far cheaper than trying to source old doors to match others in your home, let alone finding one with a grain that matches existing fixtures. You’ll just need some practice to master the dragging technique.

Faux Marble

It’s hard to beat marble’s elegant look. Faux marble has been around for centuries. The secret lies in the sponging method of applying paint, which is then sealed with a high gloss paint to give it that highly polished sheen. Painting surfaces to resemble marble can turn your bathroom from a functional space into a luxury one, or add a touch of class to your kitchen. Other stone finishes are possible. Polished granite is one popular alternative.

More Designer Finishes

Any material can be replicated with paint and some know-how. Faux techniques can provide the finishing touch for a particular style. A leather look makes an unusual finish, ideal for a masculine study or in modern d?cor schemes. Metallic finishes of chrome or bronze effectively complement contemporary and antique d?cor respectively.

Warm Tuscan finishes that evoke antiquity are ideal for rough walls. They create a multi-layered, textured effect in glowing, earthy colors. The versatile Tuscan look can set the tone for an elegant living room or provide a cozy, lived-in feel to a kitchen with a terracotta tile floor. A rustic stenciled border of acanthus or vine leaves completes the look.

With faux painting techniques you can endow furniture and features with an antique or distressed appearance to enhance a room’s atmosphere and character. Co-ordination is the key in interior design. Faux painting helps achieve that unity. Paint can simulate the deep glow of a patina that may take centuries to develop naturally. Color washes and treatments provide texture, banishing that sharp, ‘too new’ look, while crackle glazed dry to resemble old varnish.

Faux painting is the answer to a host of home decorating problems. Not only is it economical, but it’s a creative and fun way to make your home uniquely your own.

By: Debra T Conrad

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Painting your kitchens cabinets is very simple and affordable. The great part is that your kitchen will look completely changed without having to remodel. You do not have to be a professional to paint. Anyone can do it. There are things you should know beforehand, though. Such as, some cabinets can not even be painted.

Three common tools that you can use when painting are:

brush spray gun roller

It is your preference on what would work best for you. Brushes can leave marks on larger areas. Spray guns are expensive and can overspray so you will need an area to enclose it. Possibly the best option is using a roller. It is the quickest and least expensive choice. It can cover areas with a single stroke.

Before you begin painting you will want to remove all hardware which includes knobs, hinges, and pulls. Taking the doors off the cabinets will make painting much easier. Remember to label each door so they will be easy to put back once it has dried. Cleaning the cabinets is important to assure the paint coat will look its best.

When painting the face frames it may drip, so covering the counter tops and whatever other items might get splattered is a good idea. After completing the frames, start on the doors and drawers. Start with the door insides. Once those are drying, do the drawer fronts. Have a pattern and paint that way until they are all completed. You may need to do other coats depending out what type of paint you used.

Once every item is dry you should look over them in the light to make sure you have not missed a spot. If everything is perfect, they are ready to be carefully installed. Do not forget to add the pulls or knobs. Another easy and quick cabinet makeover is by changing the knobs. Update them to match the design you are going for. When doing so you will begin to see your kitchen transforms its style and appearance.

Painted cabinets do not have to end with one color. You can experiment with different finishes such as crackle, and splatter. Stencils are also a unique addition and a fun project. After your work is done, you will be able to enjoy your new kitchen.

Deciding to paint your kitchen cabinets could be one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to your home. It can benefit your homes value and change your overall mood. Imagine cooking a meal while having bright colored cabinets around you. It will make you feel lively and in a fantastic mood. You will also feel great knowing your hard work of painting them has paid off.

By: Jeff Stevens

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