| Decorative Wallboard |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-213 |
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Q: I want to turn the basement into a place for my teenagers to hang out. What do I do about the cement walls besides painting or papering them? A: (Nate Berkus, Ask DIY Decorating & Design expert) You could make a decorative wallboard. I've chosen a diamond pattern, but you could create any shape or size wallboard that looks good to you. Use luan, which is very thin plywood. Inexpensive and very light, it's available at home stores in 4' by 8' sheets. If you're really organized, have the store cut it into the precise sizes and shapes you'd like. Once you've got the plywood, here's how to create a wallboard with a diamond pattern. Materials:
4' x 8' sheet of luan (very thin) plywood, cut to size
Store-bought diamond stencil or sheet of acetate
Exacto or other craft knife
Spray adhesive or masking tape
Acrylic paint (2-3 colors, plus black)
Very small paint roller
Artist's brush
Foam pouncer
- Use a pencil to mark the entire front of the plywood with a grid of 6" squares. Measure them using a yardstick-level.
- With an Exacto knife, cut two 6"-square stencils from acetate. Also mark a square within the squares, with corners meeting the center of each side of the outer square (figure A). Make a "positive" stencil from the first square of acetate by cutting out the four triangles around the inner square with an Exacto knife and leaving the inner square intact. Cut a "negative" stencil from the second acetate square by cutting out the inner square. These stencils are reusable, so keep them around after this project.
- Place the "positive" stencil over one of the 6" squares on the luan board, lining up the sides precisely (figure B). Affix the stencil to the board with spray adhesive, taking care to keep the room well ventilated when you spray. If you're working somewhere without ample ventilation, use masking tape to attach the stencil.
- Use a tiny paint roller to roll acrylic paint over the stencil. You want a light layer, not a heavy coat. Let the paint dry, then lift the stencil to reveal painted triangles with an unpainted diamond in the center. Continue this process with every other square to create a checkerboard pattern.
- On the alternate squares of the checkerboard, place the "negative" stencil, lining up the edges of the board and the stencil carefully and attaching the stencil with spray adhesive or tape. Use an artist's brush to paint a second color of acrylic paint over the negative stencil (figure C). If you like, create a marbled effect by making figure-eight shapes with the paint. Do the same on all the other blank squares of the board, using more than one color if you like. Let the paint dry.
- With a "pouncer" (a little foam brush with a round tip) daub circles of black acrylic paint wherever the patterns intersect -- and particularly to cover corners that don't line up perfectly (figure D).
More Questions for Nate:
Q: I'm about to buy my first couch. Would it be better to get one with two or three seat cushions? Should I get one with a skirt or one where you see the feet? I really want to enjoy this purchase for a long time.
A: Buy the best sofa that you can afford, keep your fabric plain and keep the style simple. Don't worry about skirts and feet and so forth. Buy one you like that's high-quality.
Q: What can I do to add some depth and texture to my flat, reddish-orange walls?
A: You can rag over the paint, do a striate finish -- go to the paint store's faux-finish department and explore your options.
Q: I have cabinet handles that I have spray-painted pewter. What could I use over the spray paint to give it a darker, antique finish?
A: Black paint! Pewter has a lot of black in it. Spray some black paint on and wipe it off for the patina you're looking for. Web site resources for Decorative Wall Hanging: Velvet Wall Hanging from HGTV.Com Ocean Breeze Wall Hanging from HGTV.Com Opaque Hearts Wall Hanging from HGTV.Com Book: Small Amish Quilt Patterns: For Crib Quilts and Wall Hangings
By Rachel Thomas Pellman
ISBN: 1561482366
Good Books (1998)
P.O. Box 419
Intercourse, PA 17534
Phone: 800-762-7171
Fax: 888-768-3433
Web site: www.goodbooks.com
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