Have A Nice Trip, See You Next Faux

I am really interested in Faux Finishes. I read and watch anything I can get my hands on relating to the subject. I recently watched a video from HGTV Called Finish it Faux. It was a great resource to learn about faux finishes. One of my favorites was "French Wash".

French Wash gives an old world look to whatever you paint this way. I would say it is french country style but it works with almost any style from Modern to traditional. I myself have a very eclectic style so it definitely would work in my house.

You can finish furniture with french wash or whole walls or floors, or even very small items. You are only limited by your imigination. The ingredients you need can be obtained from any hardware store (large items or walls) to craft stores (smaller items).

A French  wash is created by applying one or more semitransparent washes or glazes of paint over an opaque base in order to create a rich, subtle, multi-toned and aged effect. These days, the material of choice is usually latex paint that has been thinned with water and made more workable with paint additives, known as extenders, that slow the drying process and allow more time for the manipulation of paint to create the desired effects. The layers may be applied from dark to light, or light to dark depending on the look you hope to achieve. Some professionals create French washes with as many as five different hues.

What you will need:

• Latex paints
• Extender paint additive
• Paint roller
• Brushes
• Sponge
• Rags
• Fine-grade sandpaper

What you will do:

1 Apply French washes to walls, ceilings, doors, cabinets, lamps, tables or anywhere you would like to achieve an unusual mottled, shaded or weathered effect.
2 Experiment before beginning by doing a some tests on different surfaces such as foam board or poster board, available in any office supply or art supply store. Use various tools to manipulate the glazes allowing undercoatings to show through in the desired patterns. These tools may include brushes -- both to add and remove paint -- sponges and rags. Cheese cloth gives a very interesting effect.
3 Determine the color combination you want to use and begin by applying a base coat of latex paint to the entire surface using a brush for edges and a roller for the rest. Allow to dry for 24 hours so that the thin glazing you are about to apply does not soften the first coat and cause the colors to combine rather than layer.
4 Mix the second and subsequent colors and apply the glazes, allowing at least some of the undercoating to show through. Make an effort to keep your technique consistent so that the effect remains the same over the entire painted surface.
5 Wait at least 24 hours between coats regardless of how many different color glazes you choose to apply.

This is not that hard to do but does require patience because of the 24 hour drying time between coats. Have fun creating your Courageous Designs.