THAT PainterLady.com - Choosing color and style for faux painting your home. Debra Conrad THAT Painter Lady answers your questions about decorating, style and painting your home.

Faux Woodgrain over Formica Cabinets

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 darder color? Also I found this wood grain brush at lowes 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

You definitely have to buy our video on how to achieve the Faux Woodgrain Finish! Click on this link: www.fauxfinishhowto.com/Faux_Wood_Graining It gives you step by step easy to understand instructions.

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, such as Kilz. Use a foam roller and work slowly to avoid air bubbles. Let this dry as directed on the product.

5. Sand once very lightly. Again, wipe down the surface to remove all pf the dust. You are now ready to base coat.

If you want to achieve a dark wood with a red undertones. I would start by basecoating 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. You can definitely try to use the Lowes wood grain brush. 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.

Good luck with your project! That Painter Lady, DAWN

photo credit: Ctd 2005

Faux Wood Graining On Formica

Mexican Inspired Color Suggestions

I am overwhelmed by color choices!!! I want to have a fun Mexican theme. I want a yellowish- gold wall (primary walls) with green and blue accent walls. There are soooo many yellow-golds out there, not to mention the blues and greens! Please help! Before I don’t have any hair left…. Cheri

blanket
photo credit: tim eschaton

Hi Cheri, Mexican colors are so inspiring. What a great way to bring life to a room! A good idea, in your case, would be to print out a few pictures of mexican blankets and get your colors from there. I have been looking through my Benjamin Moore color charts and I have picked a few colors.

Yellow-Gold: American Cheese 2019-40 and Sunflower 2019-30

Blue: Electric Blue 2061-40 and Bermuda Blue 2061-30

Green: Prairie Green 2038-30 and Irish Clover 2038-20

Red: Rosy Apple 2006-30 and Sangria 2006-20

These are just a few suggestions. They are on the bright side. But you can also go a little more subtle if you like. You can grab a few color chips and make your choice from there, but at least you have a good starting point.

You may be able to have these colors mixed in other brand paints besides Benjamin Moore. Check with your local paint store. Send pictures when you are finished painting!! Here are a couple of books I use for inspiration:

Adobe Details

Mexicolor: The Spirit of Mexican Design

How to Paint Black and White Tile Floor

I need a suggestion for wall color for a family room with a red brick fireplace. I am planning to paint the concrete floor to coordinate with the walls and fireplace. Any idea on a color for the concrete floor? ~Nydia

You could tape them off and paint large 2 foot by 2 foot squares of black and white.

Easiest way to do that is to paint the entire floor white, draw your grid and paint the alternate squares black. Where each black touches another black (the corners) your could paint a square turned on point (diamond shaped) the same color as the walls.

Outline the two corners that extend in to the white with a small black line. You don’t need to make the squares 2 foot by 2 foot if you don’t want to. You can make them smaller if you’d like. 18″ squares or even 12″ squares would be fine as well.

Please send a picture when you finish so we can see how fabulous it looks.

That Painter Lady

p.s. You can use a diamond shaped stencil pattern for this project. You won’t need to tape off all the little squares. Click Here to see Diamond Shape Stencil Pattern.

Diamond Shape Stencil Pattern

Stop Paint from Bleeding through Painter’s Tape

I have used blue painters tape in the past when painting different colors on adjacent surfaces and the paint always bleeds under the tape in spite of burnishing the edges.I have read that you can use acrylic gel medium to seal the edge of the blue painters tape when painting stripes or painting 2 different colors of adjacent walls. What kind of acrylic gel medium should be used for this technique? ~ Joelyn

The most frustrating thing about painting your walls is when you are all done and you go to remove the painter’s tape and you find that the paint has bled through onto your trim. You wind up spending just as much time touching up as you did doing the finish itself.

I have not used acrylic gel medium yet to seal the tape, but I do know that it could be used. Golden brand make great gel medium. According to the website, it is translucent when wet and transparent when dry. It increases the brilliance and transparency of acrylic paint.

Click Here To See Golden Matte Medium 8 oz

It can also be used as a transparent ground for acrylic paint or as glue for collage and decoupage. So, I don’t see why you couldn’t use this. I would probably go with the matte or satin finish so there isn’t too much of a shine.

I like to use a water based varnish or poly. It dries quickly and keeps the paint from bleeding through. You may also want to try a new painter’s tape that just came out called: Frog Tape.

It is a lime green colored tape (as opposed to blue) and Home Depot just started carrying it. Otherwise you can click on the picture above and order it online. My favorite width is 1 1/2″. But I like to use 2″ for ceilings. There is little or no bleeding with this new tape. I usually use a paint stirrer stick to press down the edges of the tape onto the surface. I then use a water based varnish for the corners and other areas where I think the paint will bleed through.

Hope this helps ~ That Painter Lady

How to Tone Down Bright Red Walls

This is a great reader question about how to tone done bright colored walls.

Love the site and your advice on red walls. I have a different question for you though…

My husband and I have bought a house we’re totally in love with. Every room has hardwood floors and white trim. Upstairs, all the rooms are painted somewhat bold colors.

We’ve painted the nursery grass green, the bathroom cobalt blue, our daughter’s room a rich purple, and decided on a vibrant red from Glidden called Flaming Sword for our bedroom.

Problem is, my husband is 90% through with painting the bedroom, and he’s hated every second of working with the red because it’s been difficult to work with.

I think the finished parts look great, but he says it’s too bright and wants it toned down. Any suggestions that would still look good with the bright white trim and hallway? (He would like to see some metallic gold but I’m not convinced.)
Thanks so much, Sarah

photo credit: ckaroli

Hi Sarah. Wow, finally someone that isn’t afraid of color! I have spent so much time with clients trying to convince them to be bold and daring - get away from those neutrals. So, you are one step ahead. Great job!

As far as the red. There are soooo many ways to tone it down. You can definitely go with a metallic gold, but I would add some brown or bronze to it - that will be what will tone down the red. You can apply the glaze in a few different ways, this is where sample boards come in.

Samples - Grab a few sheets of foam board (poster board with foam in the center). Base coat the boards first with the primer that you used under the red and then paint the boards using the red that you used to paint your walls.

Mixing Glaze - Mix your glaze & paint (1 part paint - 3 parts glaze). The glaze makes the paint translucent and movable. Make sure you get a good quality glaze.

Application - There are several options in applying the glaze to the red base. You can use: a sea sponge, a rag, Woolie Lambwool Faux Appl Tool or even a brush. I would try a few of these on your sample boards and see which you like the best.

Use a chip brush and apply the glaze randomly to the surface in 2-3 ft sections. Then take your faux finish tool of choice and manipulate the glaze, with a twisting patting motion, moving your wrist.

Be sure to tape off your ceilings, trim, and baseboards before you start working.

Anyway, I hope this helps. We hope to hear back from you. Send some pictures when you are done!

~That Painter Lady

Woolie Lambwool Faux Appl Tool

Best Look Faux Finish Glaze

50 pc. Chip Brush Set

Special Effects Metallic Glaze, Bronze

Frog Tape Pro Painters Masking Tape

Plaster Faux Finish with Joint Compound?

I am trying to get a venetian plaster look in my house. I wanted to try to use drywall mud to create the texture with deeper / thicker results and I am not sure now how to paint it. Does one have to use the plaster in a can to achieve this look or can I paint over the drywall finish with a product that leaves the darker colors behind and the lighter tones to the surface? ~Rob Paulin

The above picture is of the Old World Plaster Finish that I did a few years ago. www.surfaceswithpaint.com

This is my favorite and most popular finish as a professional. I believe this is what you are trying to achieve with the lighter tones on the surface and the darker tone in the recessed areas.

I prefer NOT to use drywall mud for this finish because you will need to prime it before painting. You also run the risk of moisture getting into it when you start painting, and glazing.

Behr actually makes a texture paint that comes in 2 gallon buckets in both smooth and sand finishes. This can be applied to the wall with either a roller or a trowel. Here are the steps that you will need to follow in order to achieve this finish.

1. Apply Plaster - apply to the wall with a 6″ putty knife, pat the wet plaster with a trowel, and knock down with your 6″ putty knife. This is what gives the plaster pattern & texture.

2. Sand - this step is optional depending on how smooth you want your plaster. I like to spot sand areas where you can see lines left from the trowel. Be sure to wipe away the dust that is left from sanding, with a rag.

3. Paint - you can use any color (light to medium tone). I use 2 coats of latex paint. There is no need to prime with this plaster. Let it dry overnight.

4. Mix Glaze & Paint - This is the fun part. You will need a dark color. Don’t be afraid to pick a dark color, because you will be mixing it - 1 part paint to 3 parts glaze. You will also be washing it off with water, so the glaze will lighten up a lot.

5. Apply Glaze - Use a chip brush and apply in random strokes in a 2 -3 ft section.

6. Wash Glaze In - Have a bucket of water ready, dip a big kitchen sponge into the water, ring out until damp and then wash the glaze into the wall.

7. Wash Glaze Off - Wash out your sponge, ring out the water, and then gently wash off the surface of the wall. The light base color will show through leaving the darker glaze color in the recessed areas of the plaster finish.

I hope this helps. Please keep us posted on how it goes. ~ Dawn

Venetian Plaster Othello

4 Piece Set Plaster Trowel Set

Best Look Faux Finish Glaze

Woolie Lambwool Faux Appl Tool

Color Suggestions For A Black and White Kitchen

Here is a recent reader question who is asking for color suggestions for a kitchen with black and white appliances. Tawn has answered this one with some creative ideas.

I am painting a kitchen that has black appliances and white countertops. What color would you suggest for the walls, cabinets and for the floor? ~Nydia

Wow! What a great starting point for you. Using white and black can create a stunning and dramatic room. It can be used in almost any decorating style. Contemporary/modern and even Country French. Black and white gives a fresh and clean look to a room. Sophisticated and elegant, or cozy and classic.

If you want a more “contemporary” look to your kitchen you could paint your cabinets with a metallic paint. Silver would be good. OR you could take the doors off, paint the frames black and take the doors out and spray paint them with a Metal Hammered Finish spray paint.

Going modern I’d use a square pull on the doors. Something more linear for a pull.

Or, if you want a more “country” look you could paint your cabinet black and then rub the paint off here and there (edges, corners, etc.) to give them a worn look.

Here are some articles about Distressed Finishes.

Paint Color Choices

Excellent paint colors for your walls, to go with your black and white room, would be salmon, or green, or taupe, or red or turquoise. This gives you a wide variety to choose from for your walls depending on what feel you want to end up with. Even yellow would be a good choice depending on how bold you want to go.

Are you painting your floors? You could tape them off and paint large 2 foot by 2 foot squares of black and white. I wrote an article here about painting diamonds or squares.

Hope these ideas help. Please send a picture when you finish so we can see how fabulous it looks.

THAT Painter Lady

Here are a few resources on choosing color that I find really helpful:

Click Here For Help Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home

Click Here For Help With Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens)

Creating a Distressed Look on Kitchen Island

I am wanting to get a distressed look on the center isle in my kitchen. It is real wood and was stained in a medium to dark finish when we built the home.

I want it to be a different color from my cabinets and thought of a distressed or old world look in a lighter color on top of the already stained wood. Can this be accomplished?

This is my first time doing this particular faux process. I assume there will be sanding involved. I just did not know if this is something I should try myself or if I should hire it out. ~Dave & Donna

What a great idea and fun, too! Easy to do as well. If you want your center isle in your kitchen to look like it is a different piece of furniture, older, well loved, with many transformations, then here are a few steps for you to follow:

1. Sand - lightly sand the isle (this scuffs the surface so that the paint will have something to adhere to without chipping off later on).

2. Add Dabs of Color - paint a dab of turquoise here and some hot pink/red there and some bright sunny yellow over there.

3. Candle Wax Rub - go back over the dabs of color with a rub of wax. Take a candle (a taper or emergency candle works well - white - no color) and rub it on a portion of the color you painted and some on the edge of the dark stain.

4. Paint - you can paint over the entire thing with a creamy ivory color (2 coats)

5. Distress - when the paint dries take your sand paper and lightly run it over the areas you know you rubbed on the candle wax. It will take off the paint exposing the color(s) underneath (your dab of turquoise here and pink there and avocado green there and yellow here). Rub the sandpaper along some of the edges exposing the darker stain underneath and even go deeper here and there exposing just the wood.

6. Antique - to age the piece I would take a light stain or brown paint watered down and rub it all over the piece following the grain of the wood. Then seal it with Polycrylic Satin.

That Painter Lady - TAWN

Here are a few great resources on (do it yourself) kitchen makeovers. Click on the pictures to read about each resource.

How to Protect and Seal a Faux Finish

Here are a couple great questions from one of our readers:

What is the best way to ensure a faux finish is scrubbable and mold/mildew resistant (for a bathroom/vanity area)?

If you are concerned about mold and mildew, you will want to start the project by priming with a mold resistant primer & sealer. Some paint companies offer mold resistant paint as well.

Does the base coat’s lustre (eggshell, satin, semi-gloss) affect the visual appearance/effectiveness of the glaze?

The lustre or paint sheen does not affect the appearance of effectiveness of the glaze. But, I would suggest using a satin finish paint. It gives the wall surface just enough smoothness for the glaze to move and be manipulated easily.

Do you recommend a clear protective coat over the glaze? Does that protection affect the appearance of the glaze?

DEAD FLAT VARNISH - MODERN MASTERS INC

You can use a waterbased (flat finish) varnish. It does not affect the appearance of the glaze or faux finish. This can be used on murals, venetian plaster, and any other faux finish. Don’t let anyone convince you to use polyurethane, because that will yellow over time. You many have a hard time trying to find flat water based varnish, so I included a link above where you can purchase it. Click on the picture.

How to Glaze My Lightly Textured Walls

“What is the easiest way to apply a purchased glaze to my lightly textured walls?

The room is the kitchen which has texture on the walls like houses built in the 70s. The walls and ceiling are painted with Laura Ashley gold #3. It has been suggested that I use van dyke brown on the walls to age for Tuscan like appearance. My living room and hallway are painted the same gold.

I also painted bookcases and fireplace with a white and plan to use glaze on fireplace. When I painted the fireplace and hearth I rolled on the white lightly on the surface of the brick leaving the dark grout with little change and the texture of the brick rough.

When I apply the brown glaze to the fireplace I just want to tone down the white a little and brighten the brick. So far the built in bookcases on either side of the fireplace look wonderful. ~ Thanks Sharon”

Hi Sharon, I would suggest doing a color wash on your walls. Van dyke brown sounds like a good color to go over the gold. A dark glaze will tone down the yellow and give your walls that Tuscan finish that you are looking for. This book- Paint Style: The New Approach to Decorative Paint Finishes has a section that explains the color wash finish in more depth.

Here are few simple steps that you will need to follow:

1. Gather Supplies

Paint
Glaze / glaze extender
Large kitchen sponge
Bucket
Rags (for spatters & spills)
Paint Brush

2. Mix your glaze - 1 part paint to 3 parts glaze. Use a good quality glaze that has a longer open time. If you already have glaze that dries faster than 15 minutes, then add a glaze extender. Follow the directions on the bottle to see how much you need to add.

3. Brush on Glaze - Apply the glaze to your walls in a criss cross motion

Dish Sponge 4. Wash Walls with Sponge - Wring out your sponge in the bucket of water and wash the glaze into the surface of the wall. Dip the sponge again in the bucket of water and then wash off some of the glaze.

Because you have lightly textured walls already. The brown glaze will settle nicely in the recessed areas. You want to wash off the raised areas the reveal the gold color underneath.
photo credit: the Original Muddog

I hope this helps, Let us know how it goes, That Painter Lady

Click here to read one of our recent articles: Painting Techniques Colorwashing With Same Color

Click Here To See TINTABLE GLAZE

How to Create a Faux Driftwood Finish

How do you make yellow pine look like driftwood? any paint techniques for that? I want the trim in my house to resemble driftwood. ~Susan

Hi Susan, this sounds like a fun and creative project. Be sure to get a few pieces of REAL driftwood to use as samples of how you want the finish to come out.

photo credit: TSayles photo credit: Andy Tinkham

1. Remove any paint from the trim using paint stripper and a sander. Get as much off as possible. It is important to see the natural woodgrain

2. Randomly rough up the edges of the wood using an Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander .

3. You can use a hammer or other tools to bang up the wood if you want a more distressed look

4. Use a drill with wire wheel to grind out the soft grain, leaving the hard grain of the wood.

5. Mix Glaze: 50/50 mixture with 3 shades of grey paint (dark-not too dark, to light) You can play around with these colors to get the exact colors that you want.

6. Randomly brush darkest glaze onto raw wood and wipe excess off with a cotton rag

7. Then brush the medium grey onto the wood.

8. Finish by dry brushing the lightest color glaze onto just the surface of the wood. Try not to get a lot of this into the recessed areas.

9. Wipe again with a cotton rag to remove any excess glaze

10. You can seal your surface with a DEAD FLAT VARNISH .

Good luck with your project!

Click Here To See DEAD FLAT VARNISH - MODERN MASTERS INC

Click Here To See TINTABLE GLAZE

Sheffield 9 Tint-All Colorant

Tuscan Yellow Paint Color Wash

I plan on doing a colorwash or faux on our walls. What color paint do I use to achieve a soft Tuscan Yellow Paint Color Wash? My base color is a lite yellow or buttercup shade. I can’t seem to get any help at the stores.
Thank you Sharon

Hi Sharon,

Light yellow is actually not a great base color if you are trying to achieve a Tuscan look.

I would go with a warmer brighter yellow and then go over it with a darker yellow / brown to tone it down.

Try it on sample boards first. Try a few different base colors and then a few different glaze colors.

Don’t be too quick to practice on your walls, because then you will have a larger mess to fix if you are not happy with it.

Take the time to practice, I can’t stress that enough!

Hope this helps in your search for a Tuscan yellow paint color wash,

Here are a few great resources on Tuscan Decorating. Just click on the pictures to get all the details:

How to Paint Faux Grass Cloth

I am considering faux painting my bathroom to achieve a grasscloth effect. Is dragging the correct technique? Can you please forward me instructions and tips for the correct technique? Thank you so much ~Laura

Hi Laura, The grasscloth effect is a very beautiful finish, but there are some concerns that I would like to address before you decide to attempt this finish. First of all, this finish is not for a beginner. It can be difficult to do, especially in a small room. Working around things like a toilet, sink, and light fixtures can be nearly impossible.

The grasscloth finish has to be done in 3ft sections. You cannot do one whole wall at once, because the glaze can dry before you are finished dragging through it. You may be able to do larger sections, if you have a second person helping. But really, real grasscloth comes in sheets and is put up like wallpaper. You will see the seams. So after doing the paint finish, you will also see the seams.

I am not trying to discourage you from doing this finish. I just want you to be aware of what goes into it. I would suggest doing it in a dining room, below a chair rail - flat walls, where you don’t need to maneuver around anything. A bathroom may be tricky, depending on the size. Maybe you can do just one wall to start and see how you do.

Do a sample board first with the colors that you choose. Do one sample with the lighter color as the base and then another sample with the darker color as the base. See which one you like the best.

Anyway, here are a few step by step instructions.

How to Achieve the Grasscloth Effect

1. Base coat the walls with a latex paint.

2. Measure the room and figure out how large you want the panels to be, imagine wallpaper panels. With a pencil, mark your measurements and then use a long level to mark the vertical lines.

3. You will need to tape off every other panel with low tack painter’s tape. Once that panel has been glazed and dried, you will need to remove the tape from that panel and then tape the panel right next to it.

Best Tools for Painting Faux Grass Cloth

4. When glazing, use a brush to get into the corners and ceilings, then quickly roll on the glaze over the first panel. Use your dragging tool (brush, wallpaper brush, or squeegie with teeth cut into it) to drag vertically through the glaze (top to bottom). Continue this on every other panel.

5. Be sure to read the directions on your glaze for the drying time. Some glazes dry slower than others. Once the glaze is dry from the first pass, roll on your second coat and drag horizontally through the wet glaze. Be sure to wipe off your dragging tool after a few times of use. Otherwise the glaze will get caked on and you will have a mess.

6. Remove the painter’s tape before the paint dries completely. By the time you’ve moved around the room once, the first panel should be dry so you can tape over it to start filling in the remaining panels. If not, then you can let it dry overnight.

7. Start the same process over again on the remaining panels.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Here is a bit more information about
How To Faux Paint A Grass Cloth Look On Walls?

Click Here To See The Low Tack Frog Tape Pro Painters Masking Tape

Click Here to read about TINTABLE GLAZE

Pickling Wood With Stain

Pickling Wood With Stain Hi Debra,

I have been redoing my kitchen since before Christmas. I have completely striped off all paint to bare wood and I can not find a finish that I really like.

Me and my husband like the old warn out look but we would like the wood grain to show to and we just can not get the right look.

I have had help from a paint store and trying to help me with showing me on a board that is the same wood as my cabinets.

And yes, color… that is another thing - you should see my walls all different color samples everywhere.

My new floor is like rock or stone so you would think picking a color would be easy (WRONG) not for me. It is either to dark, to light, to something.

I am about ready to give it up. PLEASE HELP Thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I completely understand your dilemma. This is what we are here for.

It would be so much easier to help you with colors and finish if you could email us a few pictures. But if not, have you thought about doing a white wash finish on your cabinets?

This is a great look that would allow the natural wood grain to show through, but lighten up the look a bit.

What colors are you leaning towards for your walls? That Painter Lady, DAWN

Hi Dawn,

Yes I have tried the white wash pickling stain on some of my wood but to me it was chalky looking. But yes I did like the way the grain showed.

I think we would like something like that but more distressed and maybe not so white.

I have not picked a color for my walls yet. I was told to do the cabinets first. I have tried several different colors on my walls and have not found one yet I really like that much. Thanks Lisa

Hi Again Lisa,

There are many different color stains available that you can use on your cabinets. This would be a great option for the natural woodgrain to show through.

You can then distress them by sanding the edges and then adding a darker glaze in the recessed areas of the cabinets. Use an artist brush to get in there, rub the color in and rub off the excess with a rag.

THAT Painter Lady - Dawn

Click here for more information about White washing real wood paneling

Click Here To See MODERN MASTERS PATINA AGING SOLUTION.

Faux Wood Painting

Call for help with Faux Wood Painting. It’s always fun to see what you come up with to “stump” THAT Painter Lady. You know… you haven’t stumped me yet.

Dear Debra, …..HELP!

I need some pointers as to how to create faux wood wainscoating on a wall that has the original wainscoating covered with plaster.

Removing the plaster is too difficult and dirty. The original chair rail is still in place.

HELP! Judy

Hi Judy… what a problem! And a bit comical… I mean, you are asking how to re - create what used to be on these walls and was covered over. Now you want it back. It’s probably a lot more funny to me, than it is to you… you have to do all the work. :-{

Anyway… my first thought was, “why wouldn’t she cover with new wainscoting?” I am assuming that wainscoting is too “thick” to add another layer to these walls.

So… on the the Faux Wood. I think with a bit of plaster and paint… you can pull this off.

You can spread a thin coat of plaster on the walls and “score ” in the wood paneling effect. This is definitely something that would take patience but not overly difficult.

Preserving this thin layer won’t be much of a problem, as long as the under layer is prepared to accept the plaster.

Now… here comes the fun part. The Faux Wood Painting is easy… really easy to achieve.

There are a few tricks and a few cheap tools you will need.

It’s all explained on this faux wood graining video:

Faux Wood Painting Video