stenciling art » Fireplaces

Let Plaster Art Get Your Drywall Business Through The Winter Slow Season – Part 1

admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 07:09:55 +0000

4 years ago, I began designing, manufacturing and marketing a line of raised plaster stencils and ornamental molds. My focus was to introduce the art of raised stenciling to the general consumer, creating a new market for common stencils, which I did quite successfully.The typical slow down in winter due to harsher building conditions (and now the recent downturn in the housing industry) commonly left a gaping hole in revenues for businesses of this nature.Plaster stenciling simply involves smearing common wall mud (joint compound) over the stencil openings, removing the stencil and allowing the design to dry which creates an ornate raised design on walls and ceilings.Various mold designs are combined in artistic ways to create ornate ceiling medallions, ceiling corners, wall border designs, wall and ceiling frames and to turn plain fireplaces in to ornate beauties.Professional creation and installation of an ornate plaster ceiling design can produce as much as $50,000.00 from the high end client and can be scaled down to the simplest frame around a light fixture for lower end consumers or builders.Dont forget that areas such as above doorways, windows and exterior doorways also benefit from the beauty of this easy treatment, along with fireplace designs. Victoria Larsen 2006

Tips for effective stenciling of a border

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:27:29 +0000

A stenciled room has a charm all of its own. Follow this simple guide to stenciling attractive and effective borders, and enhance the look of your home.

As well as looking very attractive, a stenciled border can have an architectural impact, in the same way as a wallpaper border. It can highlight existing features such as arches and fireplaces, and make featureless interiors more interesting.

In a room with bare walls, a stenciled border can add character and subtly alter the proportions of the room, making it look more elegant, or cozier.

A stenciled border can be used at skirting board, dado or picture rail level, or immediately below the ceiling to make it seem lower. Around windows and doors a stenciled border frames and decorates in the same way as a wallpaper border, but with a more individual character.

Also, of course, any part of a border stencil can be picked out and reproduced as a separate motif on items of furniture and accessories, for a coordinated room color and pattern scheme.

A stenciled border can be continuous or non-continuous. A continuous border is a line of motifs repeated without any breaks.

Usually the stencil is self-overlapping, and made from clear acetate so that you can easily register the overlaps.

A non-continuous border is a line of repeated but separate motifs and is made with a stand-alone stencil. The stencil can be made of acetate or card; acetate is often easier to use as it is flexible and transparent.

Stenciling a border isn’t difficult if you use a pre-cut stencil. It is also worth paying a little extra for proper stencil paint when stenciling a border; its quick drying properties allow you to work steadily around the room without having to keep stopping to wait for it to dry.

Careful planning is the key to a successful stenciled border. First decide on the position of the border. If you put it immediately above or below a dado or picture rail, or at ceiling height or skirting board level, you have a ready line to guide you.

Otherwise, use a spirit level to find the true horizontal, and lightly pencil a dotted line all the way around the wall to mark the top or bottom of the stencil, as appropriate.

Continuous stenciling

With a continuous border, start by marking the mid point of the most eye-catching section of wall. Center the first stencil above or below this mark as appropriate, then work away from it in both directions.

You can continue some designs straight around

Faux Painting: Creative Ideas For Unique Faux Finishes

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:13:25 +0000

Our prehistoric ancestors knew all about the power of paint. Today, faux painting techniques allow anyone to give their home a magical makeover. Indoors and out, faux paint finishes can transform walls and floors, fittings and furnishings.

Faux painting can give new life to a dull room or a drab outdoor area. Marble and wood grain finishes are some of the best-known faux painting techniques, but there are many more, including brick effects and the appearance of leather. Antique and distressed finishes can be used to create the style and atmosphere of a bygone age in old houses or can refresh and embellish existing dcor.

Brick and Block Effects

Raw brick is a popular look for use both indoors and out. You can add texture to a flat wall or turn dull concrete into attractive brickwork. With stencils and the right paint, it is a relatively simple task to add pattern and color to boring floors or paths. The illusion of brickwork visible behind peeling plaster is an amusing and visually effective way to create the impression of age and that antique lived-in look.

Wood Finishes

With quality wood an expensive investment, faux painting that recreates a wood grain look is an economical alternative for doors, window frames and other household fittings. Any kind of wood look can be replicated, from patinated mahogany to rustic pine or the distressed appearance of driftwood. The dragging technique that is usually used to simulate wood grain can be especially useful if you need to match a door or window to existing wood fittings. Other items, including picture frames, fireplaces and furniture can also be transformed to match a room.

The Luxurious Look of Marble

Craftsmen centuries ago learned how to use paint to give ordinary materials the opulent appearance of marble. Faux marble can give your kitchen and bathroom an expensive and luxurious look. Paint applied with a sponge and fine brush and completed with a glossy finish help to create the illusion of fine marble. As with wood, many different effects can be reproduced. For example, a granite effect is popular for kitchen counter tops.

Other Stylish Effects

With the right materials and knowledge, a range of exotic and stylish finishes can be achieved using paint, including metallic finishes. Faux chrome details can complement contemporary homes, whereas faux bronze can add the finishing touch to a traditional room furnished with antiques.

Other faux painting techniques that simulate a warm and lived-in look include Tuscan finishes, perfect for uneven surfaces. Tuscan finishes use warm, earthy colors to create a textured and layered appearance. The Tuscan finish is ideal for kitchens and dining areas, and complements floors tiled in terracotta, but can equally add style to a living room. Vine and acanthus motifs used as a stenciled border provide a finishing touch.

Faux painting allows you to coordinate dcor schemes and achieves a unified overall appearance. Antique and distressed finishes can help bring the look of a room together. New furniture and fittings can be given a glowing patina that makes them look as if they have been around for centuries. Textured finishes such as color washes can help achieve this visual effect. On furniture or doors, crackle glazes dry to look like antique varnishing.

Faux painting is an inexpensive and creative solution for many interior designs and a fun way to give your home and furnishings a makeover.