DIY Network

Robot Workshop: Walls A home office receives a makeover to increase its functionality and appearance. From "Fresh Coat" episode DFCT-209

Funky and functional combine for a beautiful room, complete with a graphic wall design that also doubles as a functional chalkboard and magnetic workspace.

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B

John and Michelle are still unpacking; one of their top priorities is making John's office an esthetically pleasing place to work. Because he works in the field of robotics, he needs a functional, organized space; because the workspace is very visible from the living room, it also needs to be pleasing to the eye. His current look is vintage '50s classroom (figure A); he'd like to continue the old-school look but with a fresher, updated style.

Decorative painter and host Shannon Kaye's new look includes a paint palette with warm gray-green walls, a color that will complement the vintage wood tones in the room. A painted circle on one wall will utilize chalk and magnetic paint, creating an artistic yet functional work area (figure B). A window with bad light and an even worse view becomes artistic with pale yellow Plexiglas™ panels decorated with mathematical equations. The large but battered desktop will be smoothed out with auto putty and painted with shiny aluminum paint.

Paint budget: $190

Materials (wall):

rosin paper
painter's tape
box, angle and cutting brushes
paint rollers, trays and mugs
paint can visor
tinted primer (Hancock Gray--HC97)

	Figure C
	Figure D

1. Rosin paper is laid down on the floor and taped in place.

2. The walls are primed with Hancock Gray tinted primer; the color has hints of an institutional color but with warmer tones.

3. The moldings are not taped off prior to priming the walls. Old houses often have molding with built-up layers of paint; taping over layers of paint can result in an irregular paint line along the wall edge. Using an angle brush and a steady hand, Shannon paints along the molding freehand, creating the look of a smooth, straight line (figure C).

4. When the primer is dry, Shannon and crew roll on a coat of Hancock Gray paint. The darker paint helps direct the eye upward, to the top of the moldings and around the room; directing the eyes around the room creates the impression of a larger and taller room (figure D).