New Homes & Lifestyles

Finishes Add Character

A new home is like a blank canvas, waiting for color and design elements to bring it to life. Homebuilder design center consultants help new homebuyers choose designer fixtures, decorative moldings, window frames and even intricate door designs that express their style preferences.

While all these new home options contribute to the overall look and feel of a new home, one of the most important design elements will be the choice of wall coverings, wall color and paint finishes. This is where the new homeowner will put his own personal touch on each room.

Today, more and more homeowners are choosing to individualize each room of their home using different paint techniques including faux finishes. Also popular are custom murals that can reflect the owner’s particular passions. Specially designed murals are frequently chosen to adorn the walls of children’s rooms; everything from rainbows and clouds to a child’s favorite cartoon characters can now be a focal point in a youngster’s room. Custom wall murals make a one-of-a-kind statement that is guaranteed to set each home apart.

Some painting techniques can be achieved with a bit of skill and imagination, but others should be left to an expert. A good interior designer or decorator will ensure that the homeowners’ goals are met.

Typically, the designer makes specific paint and finishing suggestions based on the texture of the walls since not all walls are conducive to all techniques. The designer will also provide design ideas and color suggestions as well as a price and timeline to meet the owners’ budget, schedule and goals. Prices are determined by the size of the room and the complexity of the paint, faux finishing or wall covering process that has been chosen.

Often faux finishing and other design elements look different than the owner may have anticipated. Before starting work on the walls, the designer will present design boards, which are a preview of how the finished wall will look. Seeing a preview and making adjustments before an entire wall or room is finished can save the homeowner hours of time and money.

Nearly Endless Possibilities

There is a vast array of wall covering options and design elements to choose from with faux finishing taking the lead. Faux finishing is a versatile wall treatment that can achieve a wide variety of effects. Faux finishing enables the homeowner to choose custom looks to make their rooms and home unique. Another desirable feature of faux finished walls is that when the homeowner tires of the look or decides to change colors, the finish can easily be painted over, unlike wallpaper which must be removed.

Faux finishing can be used for an entire room or as accent touches. Art niches and coffered ceilings can be highlighted with color accents to create decorative focal points, usually highlighted with lighting.

When choosing faux finishing, the variety of looks and color combinations are nearly endless. For example, faux finishes can replicate an aged stone finish to capture an old-world feeling, which may be great for a dining room or wine cellar. A suede or brushed metal finish offers a nouveau look for rooms that feature modern furniture and the newest home theater options.

Faux finishes can also change the feeling or mood the room creates. Color and desi gn el ements can make a room l ook bi gger or smal l er, create warmth and even bring the outside in with ceilings that mimic variations in the sky and clouds.

Faux finishes are also very versatile. They can be applied to almost any surface and last three to five times longer than regular paint. Faux finishes are more resistant to environmental factors including heat and humidity, and are easy to maintain.

There are many different faux finishing techniques—ranging from those that are simple enough for a beginner to achieve to very complex, which should be left to a professional. Faux finishes often use many colors, glazes and textures. Several techniques can be used together to get a one-of-a-kind look.

A few of the techniques that professional faux finishers use to get the look that’s right for their client’s home and lifestyle are:

Glazing and washes: Both glazes and washes are non-textured finishes and are extremely popular. Glazes are typically mixed with paint or tints resulting in a transparent effect that creates depth and movement. They are generally easier to apply as they dry fairly slowly, and they are economical.

Color washing uses a glaze to which water has been added. These finishes can be created with professional tools or tools as basic as household items like plastic wrap and cloth. Color-washing techniques can transform the look of almost any surface. Faux wood, marble, stone and leather, just to name a few, are finishes that can be made using glazes.

Sponging, ragging: Sponging and ragging are similar to each other in that the process involves either taking off paint or adding paint with the sponge or rag to create bold or subtle finishes depending on the color and or amount of paint applied.

Decorative painting: In addition to enhancing walls, fireplaces, crown molding and chair rails, decorative painting can also be used for furniture, doors, cabinets and floors. The wide range of decorative painting looks include marble, brick and distressed effects as well as custom stencil designs.

Murals and trompe l’oeil: Murals are great for children’s rooms or to play up a specific theme. Beautifully painted murals can be used in conjunction with a trompe l’oeil to create a work of art on walls or just about any surface. Trompe l’oeil is French for “fool the eye,” which is what this technique accomplishes when it makes a two-dimensional design appear to be three-dimensional.

Venetian plaster: Venetian plaster is the modern version of an ancient stucco wall coating. Venetian artisans developed the distinctive plaster by blending aged lime, ground marble dust and a color pigment. Working with Venetian plaster is one of the more difficult wall effects and should be left to the professions. This layered, textured finish is usually used in high-end homes for rooms that are designed to make a statement.

All in all, wall finishes can be as varied and as detailed as a new homebuyer wishes. All it takes is some imagination and skill to turn the walls and entire home into a showplace that is uniquely your own. Author Marianne Cox, professional faux finisher, is Vice President of Operations, Apex National Decorators.

INFO LINK
APEX National Decorators
480.946.0050

INFO LINK
APEX National Decorators
480.946.0050