{friday finds: the sheen scene and stencils}

Would you like your walls to be as stunning as the walls in this photo? You will need paint from Hirshfield’s, a stencil, and a steady hand.

This plain black wall would be able to stand on its own. The black oozes drama with the contrast of the white wall and good-looking accent trim, making it a wonderful space. Someone thought it needed a little pizzazz and brought a stencil into play. At first I thought the base coat and top coat were the same color, just different sheens, but I’m having second thoughts. Darker colors in higher sheens appear lighter due to light reflecting from them. What do you think? I can’t make up my mind

If you are trying your hand at stenciling, and want a tone on tone finish, test the different sheens on sample boards. Try a flat or matte finish with a semi-gloss as a topcoat; or an eggshell base and a high gloss top coat. Another option is using the Benjamin Moore Metallic Glaze as a topcoat. Hang the sample boards on the wall, in the space you are planning to stencil, with the lighting you are using. Is a 60 watt bulb reflecting off a high gloss topcoat a good look? Personal preference. You decide.

Hirshfield’s downtown contractor service center painted flames on one of their walls using a matte finish as the base and a satin topcoat. The flames are so subtle that unless you catch the light at just the right angle, you don’t know the flames exist. The guys at the CSC told me you can achieve the same tone on tone look, by using a clear, acrylic topcoat instead of paint.

Are you familiar with the Imperial Trellis wallpaper from Schumacher? One of my favorites. Hello, Gorgeous made her own Imperial Trellis stencil… you’ll have to read her posting for the entire scoop, stencil making and all. Keep in mind, she did an accent wall, not the entire room.

Sheen can highlight imperfections or hide imperfections. Get it right before you buy your Hirshfield’s paint and sundries. Have your people talk to my people, because my people are the experts.

Do you have time for one more great looking wall? Hope so. Compliments of the talented kristin f. davis designs.

The Plaster Center has a few stencils on hand and catalogs for you to look through. They can also give you names of applicators to do the job for you. Royal Design Studio has stencils and tons of how-to information. Don’t forget her blog DesignAmour.

Shop local…For every $1.00 you spend in a local business, 68¢ stays in your community. Spend that $1.00 in a national chain and 43¢ stays in your community. Support your local businesses.

{stencil love}

Moroccan Arches

Henna Stair Risers

Benjamin Moore Tattoo

Break up any painted wall & give it more glam with a tone on tone stencil.

Lantern love

Ceiling modello

I can’t decide on my favorite. How about you? Are you feeling the love? An amazing look is what you get when working with stencils and modellos. As you can see, they can be used anywhere and on anything in your home

If you are not familiar with the term “modello,” it is a one time use masking pattern. Just like a stencil, but comes with adhesive already applied to the back. If you look closely at the last image you can see the creases in the paper as he applies the modello to the ceiling. Make certain to click on the link and see the finished ceiling. The blue you see in the photo is the adhesive, not the painted ceiling.

For more information please contact the Plaster Center. The Plaster Center has stencils on hand for purchase, stencil catalogs to look through, and knowledge to share. They can recommend local artisans who specialize in the field of stenciling and hand painting if you want the help of a local expert.

Thank you to Melanie Royal for allowing us to use her photos. Designamour, is her blog, Royal Design Studio is her stencil line, and Modello Designs, her modellos.

Research on-line and shop local…68¢ out of your dollar stays in the community when you support locally owned businesses versus 43¢ at non-local businesses. Minnesotans hang on to your pennies!

{fine finish envy}

I’ve never been a fan of rag rolling — even in it’s heyday when it was first introduced. So when my neighbor invited me in to show off her new faux walls in her family room, I prepared a few niceties in my head to match her enthusiasm. To my big surprise, I loved what I saw. The walls were painted a rich reddish brown; it looked like they had been covered in textured leather (seriously, I touched it expecting a polished feel), and it gave the room a warm, cozy and inviting look. I instantly saw why my neighbor was so euphoric. “I feel like I just updated the entire room,” she cooed, and I had to agree.

Of course, it didn’t take much time for me to hop on Hirshfield’s website to learn that the rag rolling of the late ’80s that I remembered has been replaced with updated techniques, colors and textures for seriously beautiful results.

I’ve got to go; I’m on my way to remind my neighbor that to copy someone is the highest form of flattery!

A beautiful faux finish can really transform a room.