This happens a lot.  You buy a home that someone else has personalized to suit their taste.  Problem is…it isn’t your taste.  So what do you do?  Paint it of course!

Yes, you paint it.  Paint can change anything to be more “user friendly”.    That’s why we LOVE it so much!!  You can even paint Formica!  Check it out.  Here’s a letter from a newsletter subscriber:

Hi, I would love to get the look of dark wood on my Formica cabinets that have been painted white by the owners before me. We don’t have the money to buy new cabinets, and I have seen on TV that it can be done, and looks great. However, I am not sure where to start. Do I have to paint the white cabinets a darker color? Also I found this wood grain brush at Lowe’s for 6 bucks should I buy it. How many colors do I need to buy for the look of a dark wood, with maybe a red undertone. That would look nice. My husband is going to do granite tile on the counter and backsplash. But these white color has got to go! Please help! ~Christina

Man…don’t you KNOW just how she feels?  And wanting to make a change but needing to be budget conscious.  Who isn’t budget conscious these days?  Right?  So here’s what we wrote back:

Christina, you definitely should buy Debra’s video on how to achieve the Faux Woodgrain Finish!  She shows you how in very simple -beginner level – steps.  Here…click on this link: Beginner Guides to Faux Wood Painting. You can read the information there and make the decision on whether or not this is the path you want to take.  There’s a short video there at that site and if you decide to buy the DVD or download you’ll see that it truly gives you step-by-step easy to understand instructions.

What we all know is that the key to any great finish is in the prep work.  So here are a few suggestions on how to prep your Formica cabinets to be painted:

1.  Clean the cabinets thoroughly, using an ammonia-based cleaner. Rinse well and let the cabinets dry.

2.  Lightly sand the surface of the cabinets. This removes any embedded grease and prepares the surface to be primed. Wipe down surface completely to remove all dust.

3.  Tape off everything you don’t want to paint.

4.  Apply a good primer/sealer.  We like Kilz but feel free to use what you know and like.  Use a foam roller and work slowly to avoid air bubbles. Let this dry as directed on the product.

5.  Sand the dry primed surface one time – very lightly.  Again, wipe down the surface to remove all of the dust.

You’re now ready to base coat!

If you want to achieve a dark wood with a red undertones. I would start by base-coating the cabinets a brick red color.  You can then faux finish over that with a dark brown mixed with glaze.  Try it out on a sample board first.  So much easier to test things out on a foam core board first to see what you like and don’t like and get your technique down. 

Also, you can definitely try to use the wood grain brush from Lowe’s. You may also want to try a few other wood grain tools to see what works best and achieves the look you are going for.  Debra prefers a regular paint (artist) brush. 

Good luck with your project and keep us posted on your progress.   Take pictures as you go along and SHARE!

photo credit: Ctd 2005

Faux Wood Painting On Formica

I know that some of you are “old pros” at painting, so you might feel like you want to skip this article.  But before you do…some of my painting buddies found this information REALLY helpful.

If you’re new to the painting world – it’s your lucky day!!  You’ve just found a FABULOUS resource!  A resource I WISH I’d found years before I got in to this full time.  Lol!    Maybe you want to get creative and learn some great indoor painting techniques.  Brian Santos, author of Painting Secrets, shows you how.

If you feel like you need a “professional” paint job in your home but can’t afford to hire a professional painter to do the job and are worried about doing it yourself…worry no more!  This book is used with truly fantastic results by newbie painters and some old pros as well.

Painting Secrets

Painting Secrets by Brian Santos  -  Book Review.

This is not a new book on the market…but many of you may not have it in your painting library.  I’m here to tell you – you need it.  It could have helped me so much if I’d had it way back when.  Things like:

• If you have trouble loading and using a paint brush.

• If you want tips on how to cut the time it takes to paint a wall.

• If you want to learn how to use inexpensive tools with good results.

• How to tips on prep, clean-up and color inspiration I hadn’t used before.

Some of the tips Brian offers are so simple it’ll make you think,  “Why didn’t I think of that?!”  Using just a few of the tricks in this book saved me the cost of the book immediately.  Not only has Brian been working in this industry with his dad & grandad for many years, but he also received a degree in Chemistry to learn the “why”, behind the “how” to paint & decorate.  And he shares that information with you.

How to paint a concrete wall…

How to paint a block wall…

How to paint floors…

How to paint counter-tops…

Plus he has some great what NOT to do tips…including those tips we have all used.  Like filling holes with toothpaste and why you should never use that tip.  Like I said…I wished I’d read this book YEARS ago.

The simple things Brian lays out for you here really does save time, money and greatly decrease frustration.  And who doesn’t want to save money and lower our frustration level? 

I know you don’t normally come here to read a book review – but you do come here for help or at the least helpful hints and tips.  That’s why I’m writing this review.  This book is so helpful – to all levels of painter – that I just had to share with you.  Will you already know some of the information?  Yes, probably.  Will you know it all?  Maybe not.  I learned some new things from it and learning new things that help me get my task done is what it’s all about! 

Have fun…and splash some paint around!

Kids Room - Image by clg2071

Do you have children?  Or grandchildren?  Or friends with children? Or maybe you know of a shelter that cares for children.  It can be hard to figure out what it is our kids really want.  The newest video game?  A bike?   Peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter and honey?

One area that’s actually easier to figure out is their space.  They really want their own space.  A place that feels good.   A place that feels safe and secure.  When they walk in they glow with delight.  And even better?  You can create that space easily.

Sadly there are many kids that live in a troubled space… they may be going through a divorce or an issue with their friends.  School might not be going well or maybe they just are feeling out of sorts…maybe they’re feeling pressure from their peers.  Where do they go to be accepted and safe… is it at home?  Their space isn’t the entire home…it’s their own personal space.  Is it their bedroom or part of a room they might have to share?

We found a book (actually a couple) that we thought you might enjoy.  It’ll help you create safe places for your kids or your grandkids or maybe you want to volunteer to give it to kids at a shelter.  How great would that be?  Painting kids spaces is really our favorite. How about you?

Anyway…do you think parents can learn to accept the “decorating” habits of kids?  Can a parent embrace the creative nature of kids and let them have their very own “space”?  Will a parent share in the creative needs of kids and help to make the space “safe” and loving?  It’s sometimes not all that easy because what they want … and what you want…don’t always mesh up very well.  What you have to do is remember…this is THEIR space.  Their little sanctuary.

Kids' Sacred Places

The author of this book, Kids’ Sacred Places,  involves the reader in stories about kids healing through hands-on “decorating”.

Meet Henry… his parents are divorced, and he is reminded of his dad’s farm through the decor (some made by himself) in his room

Meet Jessica… her self-esteem was low.   Now she has a place of belonging in her own room.  Where others won’t make her feel inferior.

Meet Anna and Alexis.  Step-sisters overcoming their anger and becoming friends through the power of decorating and hands-on decorating.

The book is filled with stories and photographs showing readers how to take good childlike ideas – from the heart – and turn them into something with their hands.  Including them in the process gives them ownership, too.

Every project is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, questionnaires and fun exercises.

House of Belief: Creating Your Personal Style

The artist, Kelee Katillac, was featured on “Oprah” at one time with her book  House of Belief. A ‘reformed interior designer’, artist, creative therapist and author, Kelee’s first book, House of Belief: Creating Your Personal Style lead to writing this new book kids… Kids’ Sacred Places.

Remember…sometimes a good place to help your kid get ideas is from magazines, movies, their favorite books…even coloring books work!  But let them pull the ideas in.  You can “help” but don’t dominate. Don’t squash.  Let them choose as much as possible.

If they’re old enough, let them do the painting and drawing and – well – let them do it all.  Let them have their friends over to help.  If they aren’t old enough let them help as much as possible.

Remember…it’s only paint.  But it’s their sanctuary.

If you don’t do anything else…go read the first few pages of Kids’ Sacred Places. The stories just on those first few pages are really inspiring.

Image by 5500

A lot of people write in before they start to paint to ask this question.  “What wall do I paint?” Sometimes it is just as hard to choose which walls to paint and what to paint on them as it is to learn the techniques!

Recently we received this question – How to choose what to paint…

Tip: When asking THAT Painter Lady for help, pictures will always be a huge help for both of us.  We often do mock-ups and sketches from the photos.

So…here’s the question:

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Our reply is probably a little vague, but we try to give simple answers that don’t overwhelm people when they write in.  Tooooo much information can be “mind-boggling”.  Then if they want more detail…we can work on other options and details.  Baby steps! 

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Hi Ron & Regina,
Thanks for writing in.  Great question!  Without being there and seeing the light, the walls and the layout it’s hard to “see” your room and give good direction.  But our first thought/suggestion is… don’t over do the brick stuff.  Especially on the wall with the cabinets.

If there are too many things to look at in a room your eye bounces around unable to “settle” on anything.   It becomes over stimulating and it isn’t nice to look at…it’s junky and cluttered looking.  Blech! 

Faux finishes are different than bricks…  The more walls you do a faux finish on in the same room the better.  They’re soft and soothing and can tie a room together.  If all the walls are white and one wall is a bold accent color that can be nice, but if that one wall has a deep rich faux finish on it… the room looks unfinished.  So spread the faux love around when painting a room.

As for the cabinets … we bet they would look good with a green faux finish surrounding them!  Or if the wood is a deep cherry color…a goldenrod might be nice.  You can make it looked like aged plaster to get that Tuscan feel!  Do a test board at least 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide (foam core boards are great) and then stand them next to your cabinet for a day or two and see which one “feels” best to you.

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Some times it’s good just to do a simple faux around the room and then do a more involved look on a single wall.  We’ve done this often in bedrooms.  Soothing walls all around and then one wall to punch it up.  You just don’t want to leave it “hanging” out there by leaving your other walls “naked”!    Lol!

Do your faux finish over all the walls and then go back and create an accent wall by adding two more layers to it.  Give it depth. Or add a design…either hand painted or using stencils.

Depending on Ron & Regina’s room layout and how much of the wall is covered with the cabinets…well…all those  things need to be factored in.  And is it a long wall or a short wall that the cabinets are on?  All these things play in to what to do with the walls.

If it’s a long wall then we’d say paint the whole room a nice soft color wash, have some “break outs” of bricks but not on the wall with the cabinets.  Or at least VERY VERY limited on the cabinet wall.

If the cabinets are dead center of a long wall maybe create a topiary on each side.  But again…you don’t want to get to carried away and have entirely toooo much to look at on that wall.  Cabinets will be full of “stuff” so adding painted visuals can be overwhelming.

Remember…each room is different.  Each room has it’s own energy.  Don’t overwhelm your room by painting too many different things on the walls, then filling the walls with paintings, or cabinets with books, and photos, and statues and stuff.  Your eye won’t be able to rest and the room will feel oppressive.

OH! And this book…we’ve probably put it on here (TPL) once or twice already, but really… it’s a great book if you’re going to be doing faux finishes.

As you can see it’s called, “The Paint Effects Bible:  100 Recipes for Faux Finishes” and it is one of the best books to have on hand as a home owner or faux finisher.  Every time you want to change a room up, open this book up and get inspired.  There are all kinds of great ideas in this thing.

Most of the finishes are subtle and interesting.  It’s just a wonderful little encyclopedia that is an absolute must for any do-it-yourselfer who is wanting to create results that are definitely not your standard fair.

It has instructions on how to take your ordinary wall and create a textured look to it or a metallic look or wooden, even like snakeskin!   Yeah…SNAKESKIN!

Okay…now get out there and splash some paint around!  And share your projects!

Recently we’ve been asked by numerous newsletter subscribers about painting over their white brick fireplaces.  Figured if so many of you are doing this project it was time to get the steps out here for you!  Here’s a letter from Carol.

“I have a white brick fireplace that always looks dirty. I would like to faux paint it using colors of brown and blue.  The surrounding bookshelves are white with brown interior paint.  Walls and carpet are beige/taupe at this point.  I have never tried to faux finish anything so I am looking for an easy application.”  ~Carol

Hi Carol,

If you’re looking for an easy application, I am not sure if this would count as one.   It’s not “difficult” but there are a lot of steps involved.  And like all projects it takes prep work.  Also,  there  is really no way you can try this out on a sample board first.  It won’t have the “texture” that your brick fireplace will have.  You can do a test board but really all you’ll be seeing is your color combinations.  You won’t have the texture that the TRUE bricks will have.  You could go out and buy a few bricks and practice on them before working directly on your brick fireplace.  But you’ll have to paint them white first! 

Here is your list of things you’ll need to have one hand:

1. Acrylic Paints (or regular latex paint in various shades – “oops paints” from your paint store work GREAT!)
2. Several small sea sponges or even some kitchen sponges cut in to 3″ x 3″ squares
3. TSP cleaner or something equally strong
4. A scrub brush and maybe a toothbrush (for cleaning the brick)
5. Drop cloths or Newspapers
6. Painters Tape
7. Sponge Paint Rollers and Trays or even better – some paper plates
8. A couple of stiff 2inch paint brushes
9. Spray bottle with water
10. Rags and paper towels for clean up

Once you have your base color figured out, you can then dry brush and sponge your acrylic paints (mixed with glaze so they stay moveable longer) onto the face of the bricks.  If you like brown & blue, you will want to grab a couple different shades of each.

Here are the steps you will need to follow:

1. Pick Your Colors (in your case a few different shades of blues & browns).  You will also need to pick a grout color and use that as your base.  I’d go with a good muddy cement brown/gray. 

2.  Protect Your Surroundings! Tape up newspapers on the surrounding areas (your bookcases, your mantle, etc. ) and lay your drop cloth down to protect your flooring.

3.  Next – Prep work!!! Clean the brick thoroughly. Small amounts of soot aren’t a problem and can be sealed with a good primer.  But if the fireplace is really dirty (with soot or age) then it needs to be cleaned with TSP.  Washing the brick helps the primer to stick better to the surface.  I’d rather you clean it and be happy with the finish than take a chance, NOT clean it and then have your finish fail.  TSP is a STRONG cleaner so make sure you follow the directions on the box.  Wear gloves and protective eye covers. 

4. Prime Time – Use a good primer/sealer like Kilz, Bin, or Zinsser.  My favorite trick at this point is to have the primer tinted to the base coat color I want.  So whatever color you chose for your grout is what I’d tint my primer/sealer. 

5. Time to Grout…or rather PAINT your Grout! Like I said, a good “cement/mud” color is perfect and you can have your primer/sealer tinted to that shade and paint it in when you prime the whole surface.     A satin or pearl finish would be your best choice.  Make sure you get good coverage in the grout line area.  But if you’ve decided to go with a dark color for your grout (like say…charcoal) you’ll have to paint that in after priming.  Use your 2″ brush to paint the grout lines in and don’t worry if you get some on the face of the bricks.  It won’t show when you’re done.

6.  Now for your bricks! Pour your base color in to a roller tray.  Next, set up your other colors (4 or 5 various colors of browns and blues and golds).  Use “oops” paints from your paint store or get some acrylic craft paints and pour a small pancake sized puddle of each color on a paper plate.  Use a small sponge roller and roll your base color over all the brick faces, working in small sections about 3′ by 3′ so you have time to work your colors in.

7.  Time to Add Some Color! Get out a dry brush or sponge.  After you roll your base color on to your brick faces then take your sponge and dab on your next primary/dominate color.  Maybe this is when you want the blue!  Next, take your sponge and dip it in two or three of your other colors and dab them on your bricks.  Keep it random to give it a more natural feel.  You want to layer the colors on top of one another.  This will be the part where your creativity will come in!  Play around with the colors.  Be sure to mix your colors with glaze to make the paint more movable. (2 parts paint to 2 parts glaze)

8.  Random but not? Try keeping the same color scheme going for three or four bricks in a row but on an angle and no more than three or four.  Otherwise you’ll create “stripes”!  Some should be darker than others.  The key is to keep it all fairly random.  After painting a 3′ by 3′ section step back and see if you like the way it looks.  If not – get back in there and dab some more colors on until you do like it.

9.  What’s the water bottle for? You need the spray bottle with water to keep your surface damp as you go.  This way you can work the paint in and around and get those colors blended and smooshed until you LOVE the way it looks.  The glaze should do this without water, but if you work in a warm environment you may need the extra spritz of water once in a while.  Just watch out for drips!

10.  Old or new? You might want to leave some of that old white showing through in the brick faces so it looks like your bricks are “reclaimed” or recycled and not “new”.

Working in sections allows you to shift the colors the way you want them and to clean up any paint that goes astray and gets on your “grout”.  Take your time and enjoy the process.  Dip the sponge in two or three colors at a time and turn your hand so the colors change position as you dab them on the surface of your bricks.

Hope this helps!  Can’t wait to see how your project turns out!

Get out there and splash some paint around!

P.S.  A friend used this tool (a Woolie) on a recent fireplace job and she said it worked for the Dry Brushing on the surface of the bricks perfectly:

Woolie #100607 Lambwool Faux Appl Tool