FAUX FINISH, STIPPLED PAINT, WAXED ENAMEL WALL FINISHES = $$

In the days long past, faux painting was used only for painting the exteriors, walls, furniture and floors. In just two decades, faux painting crossed the threshold and entered our living rooms. Wallpapers are being replaced, and the use of wallpaper will only be limited to decorating computer desktop, not our living space. (unless you have a New England cottage with attic bedrooms that cry out for roses and lavender and ivy vines). Though they could also be handpainted.

The most exciting thing about faux painting is that faux finishes give rise to various forms of mesmerizing textures and optical illusions. It is not only cost effective way to replicate the natural material, but also an innovative way to add beauty to the monotonous surfaces of our home and workplace. The application of faux techniques can produce visually appealing three-dimensional textures.

Every day, one designer or another comes up with an innovative faux finish idea. Some of these ideas succeed professionally, while others fail to temp even a single contractor. This article will talk about some of the most famous and successful faux finishes. 

VENETIAN PLASTERING
Venetian plaster is a finishing technique, which involves application of thin layers of plaster with a spatula or trowel. This step is followed by burnishing, to create a surface with the optical illusion of textural rise and fall. Venetian plaster is the traditional design technique; the surfaces thus created are very smooth and glossy. It bears quite a deceptive look, as it is quite smooth to touch, unlike its visual texture, which gives the feeling of coarseness.

This ornamental plastering is of two types – fresco and fresco secco. The Italian technique fresco (meaning fresh) takes a combination of pigments and water and applies them to a wet plaster exterior. Another Italian technique fresco secco (meaning dry) undergoes the same procedure of combining materials, as above, but it is applied on a dry surface. This ensures a long lasting rich, vibrant effect.

The buffed plaster wall I saw was in a Beverly Hills Penthouse. It had been enameled a DAFFODIL Yellow. The hostess told me after buffing, the plaster had then been painted with eggshell enamel. When totally dry, it was WAXED like a car or a shoe and was buffed again. The resulting finish was like a bar of good soap. Not overtly shiny.

MARBLING - Marbleizing or faux marbling is the finishing technique that replicates the appearance of a polished marble onto faux finished surface. This is one of the best faux finishes, and if done by the professionals this can put a real marble in doubt.Two of the faux marbling techniques are – Scagliola, Terrazzo. The former is expensive; it involves using special pigmented plasters, while the latter is suitable for flooring. These techniques can do wonder by creating unimaginable variety of marble patterns at a fraction of real marble’s cost.

GRAINING
This finish involves replicating exotic wood surface. This technique gained momentum in the 19th century, when people were fascinated with rare varieties of exotic woods but wanted to keep the cost low. This process enabled them imitate expensive woods.

STRIE
This faux finish creates pleasing, soft and natural striped textures with the usage of glaze and paintbrushes. This word stems from French word that means, ‘stripe’ or ‘streak’.  Strie technique is also used to create Linen or Denim texture on the surface by overlapping horizontal and vertical stripes. This process is called ‘Linen Weave’ or ‘Burlap’.

I once saw a more laborious fabric wall. They'd stretched good French sky blue on white background upholstery cotton over plywood and then glued or nailed the entire plywood piece to the entire wall. Very billionaire Ritzy home, it was done perfectly. If you had superb cotton bedsheets, a great print, maybe this could be affordable. Wall paper sure has gone sky high.

MARBLE PANELS
For those who can’t afford real marble in bathrooms and kitchen, marble panel faux comes as a surge of relief. This marble look alike marble panels exhibit a sophisticated appearance and elegant feel.It can be done in insets.

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Our POSTER is ANITA SANDS HERNANDEZ, Los Angeles Writer, Mother of 4 and career Astrologer. Catch up with her websites  TRUTHS GOV WILL HIDE & NEVER TELL YOU, also The  FUTURE, WHAT'S COMIN' AT YA! & HOW TO SURVIVE the COMING GREAT DEPRESSION, and Secrets of Nature, HOLISTIC, AFFORDABLE HEALING. Also HOW TO LIVE on A NICKLE, The FRUGAL PAGE.* Anita is at astrology@ earthlink.net ). Get a 35$ natal horoscope "my money/future life" reading now + copy horoscope as a Gif file graphic!

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