DIY Decorating & Design host Nancy Golden describes an easy way to create a checkerboard design on a wall with cork tiles. Cork takes color easily and may be stained any color to coordinate with your room. Materials: Cork tile
Stain and brush
Construction adhesive suitable for cork
Chair rail made of 1" x 2" topped with trim molding
Hammer
Finish nails
Nail set
Stain or paint and appropriate tools
Wood putty
- Plan your cork wall, deciding on the number and pattern of tiles.
- To create a checkerboard pattern, stain half the tiles. Apply the stain with a brush (figure A). Work fairly quickly, as cork absorbs stain readily. A mottled look is fine and adds interest.
- Install the tiles with construction adhesive suitable for cork. Apply adhesive to the back of a tile (figure B), and set it in place on the wall (figure C). Continue until the wall is complete.
- When all the cork has been applied, add a chair rail to the top (figure D). Nancy added a chair rail made from a 1" by 2" piece of lumber topped with decorative trim molding. Stain or paint as desired, and attach to the wall with finish nails. Recess the nails with a nail set, and patch the holes.
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