Decorative Finish: Alhambra

"Alhambra" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Alhambra

Artist: Robin Belisle

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

NOTE: All mixed colors will reference a Benjamin Moore paint color where needed to guide you while you are mixing your colors. They are for reference only unless it is actually a basecoat.

1 | Basecoat in Benjamin Moore HC-40 Greenfield Pumpkin and let dry. Once dry, roll the Golden Paintworks Roman Gold in a smooth even layer and let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Spray the back side of the Wallovers Medina Stencil with a stencil adhesive and let it tack up. While it is tacking up, mix Golden Paintworks Soapstone with Dioxazine Purple, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and Titanitum White Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. You are using Benjamin Moore 1418 Oriental Iris as your color guide.
(Photo 2)

3 | Attach the stencil to your surface and using the bondo scraper, trowel over the entire surface with the custom Soapstone mix, making sure not to bleed through the lines. Try to create a consistent, even layer.
(Photo 3)

4 | Pull the stencil off carefully and soak in hot water. Let the surface dry completely and clean the stencil. You will use it again.
(Photo 4)

At this point, I really, really loved the sample as is. It has a beautiful, clean and very modern tiled look. It can always be left at this point, but I wanted a lot of color. So if you are in for the higher road, continue on.

5 | Mix the following colors with Golden Paintworks Glazing Medium and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics using your Benjamin Moore paint deck for reference:
BM1420 Softened Violet: Dioxazine Purple, Titanium White, and Raw Umber
BM1392 Fire and Ice: Dioxazine Purple, Van Dyke Brown Hue, Raw Sienna, and a small amount of Carbon Black
▪ BM1421 Bistro Blue: Dioxazine Purple, Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), and Titanium White
▪ BM1385 Cupid’s Dart: Titanium White, Raw Sienna, and a small amount Dioxazine Purple
▪ BM1377 Caribbean Sunset: Titanium White, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and a small amount Dioxazine Purple
▪ BM1472 Silver Chain: Titanium White and a small amount of Carbon Black and custom Bistro Blue mix.
(Photo 5)

6 | Spray the back side of the Wallovers Medina Stencil with a stencil adhesive and let it tack up. After tacking up, carefully lay back over the raised design exactly as it was before.
(Photo 6)

7 | Stencil your tinted Glazing Medium colors, making sure your colors are somewhat transparent, as it will give a more glazed tile look. Color in the entire pattern and let dry. Use the attached color map for reference to color placement.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

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About the Artist
Robin Belisle, owner and Decorative Artist at Faux Couture, is a self taught artist who began her decorative painting career in 1998 after an extraordinary encounter with a faux finishing class. From there, she made a pointed decision to become the best decorative painter she could be and searched out award winning designers and builders to work with. She has traveled to Italy, Paris, many times to Morocco and all over the world leaving her mark on homes and hotels in need of artistic interpretation. This in turn has helped her hone her craft and create many signature finishes based on her travels. She has been featured in magazine articles, trade shows and the local news as trends to watch. She began teaching in her own studio and then taught many classes across the US. She joined the Board of Directors for the International Decorative Artisans league (IDAL) as education chair. As that chapter drew to a close, she knew she would eventually be teaching more. She has since joined other instructors on THE PAINT HIVE teaching online decorative painting classes.

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Decorative Finish: Soapstone Tile

"Soapstone Tile" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Soapstone Tile

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Red Oxide, Raw Sienna, Quinacridone Magenta, and Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics into the Soapstone until desired color is achieved. I used a custom pink coloration. The tinted Soapstone will dry a few shades darker. Trowel a thin layer across surface. Let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Trowel a second layer across surface. Let dry.

3 | Cut your desired tile stencil shape in a clear mylar sheet. Apply stencil glue to one side and let dry a few minutes. Lay your stencil, glue side down in the center of your area. Press firmly.
(Photo 2)

4 | Trowel untinted Soapstone across the stencil opening.
(Photo 3)

5 | Lift off stencil carefully and let dry.
(Photo 4)

6 | Tint more Soapstone with a little Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and a hint of Carbon Black. In another container, take half of this new mixture and mix equal parts with your original custom pink Soapstone color. You can create more custom colors by mixing the new and original Soapstone colors together and creating new complementary ones. The swatches show the original pink, the new mixture and then the 2 mixed together. The fourth color swatch mixture is also used on the stencil.
(Photo 5)

7 | Place stencil down next to the area you completed. Trowel Raw Umber, Raw Sienna, and Carbon Black mixture on the stencil. Remove stencil gently.
(Photo 6)

8 | Stencil the other areas with the other mixed colors as well as the untinted Soapstone. You can also use the original pink color in your design for the third layer. I added untinted Soapstone to make it lighter. Let dry.
(Photo 7)

9 | Mix one part Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics to 4 parts Glazing Medium. Brush along the edges on the “tiles” randomly.
(Photo 8)

10 | Wipe excess away with a cloth. Let dry.
(Photo 9)

11 | Using a fine artist brush, highlight the edges of the tiles with the Burnt Umber tinted Glazing Medium.
(Photo 10)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 11)

Decorative Finish: Rose Stone

"Rose Stone" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Rose Stone

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Red Oxide and Raw Sienna Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics into the Sandstone until desired color is achieved. The tinted Sandstone will dry just a tad darker, which makes it easy to tint yourself.
(Photo 1)

2 | Trowel a thin, rough layer. Let dry.
(Photo 2)

3 | Mix together 5 parts Glazing Medium to 1 part Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. Brush on.
(Photo 3)

4 | Wipe off excess with a rag to leave most of the glaze in the crevices. Let dry.
(Photo 4)

5 | Skip trowel more of the tinted Sandstone across the area, building up peaks of plaster as you go. Let dry a few minutes.
(Photo 5)

6 | Using a clean trowel, knock down the peaks. Let dry.
(Photo 6)

7 | Dry brush the Vintage Copper Metallic Paint with a natural bristle brush. After the Vintage Copper dries, dry brush a little White Veil Metallic Paint.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

Decorative Finish: Emerald & Gold Granite

"Emerald & Gold Granite" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Emerald and Gold Granite

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Carbon Black Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics into the Weathered Granite until desired color is achieved. The tinted granite will dry 2 shades darker.
(Photo 1)

2 | Trowel a thin, rough layer. Let dry.
(Photo 2)

3 | Mix one part Glazing Medium to one part Gold Metallic Paint and dab it into the rougher areas of the plaster.
(Photo 3)

4 | Using a dabbing motion, wipe excess Gold Metallic Paint away with a cloth. Let dry.
(Photo 4)

5 | Skip trowel untinted Weathered Granite across the surface. Let dry.
(Photo 5)

6 | Mix your same Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics in Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Carbon Black into Glazing Medium.
(Photo 6)

7 | Brush colored Glazing Medium across entire surface with a natural bristle brush. Let dry.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

Decorative Finish: Concrete Tropical Leaves

"Concrete Tropical Leaves" decorative finish
DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Concrete Tropical Leaves

Artist: Jess Kollar

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Carbon Black Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic into the Sandstone until desired color is achieved. I used a light gray. Using this mix, trowel a thin, smooth coat and let dry. Trowel a second thin, smooth coat over the first and let dry.
(Photo 1)

2 | Draw on your preferred leaf design with a pencil.
(Photo 2)

3 | Tint your preferred amount of Soapstone with a few drops of Burnt Umber Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. In another container, tint Soapstone with a few drops of Raw Sienna Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics. With artist brushes, paint your leaf designs using one color per leaf. Let dry.
(Photo 3)

4 | Using a liner brush and gray latex paint, highlight the veins and outlines of the leaves. (Photo 4)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 5)

Decorative Finish: Woven Metal

DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Woven Metal

Artist: Tim Glastetter

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Tint the Metallic Paint Tint Base Gold with a small amount of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylics Raw Umber and Carbon Black. Apply this custom mix to the surface with a brush or roller.
(Photo 1)

2 | Create a main color: Mix 50% Metallic Texture Tint Base Gold with 50% Metallic Texture Tint Base Pearl.

3 | Using a trowel, apply a very thin layer of this main color to the surface. The surface area does not need to be 100% covered, and keeping the product thin is important. Keep the product wet.
(Photo 2)

4 | Construct Roller: While you are creating the main color and before you start troweling, place multiple size and width rubber bands around a small short nap 6″ mini roller. This will be used to achieve texture.
(Photo 3)

5 | Using the mini roller with rubber bands attached, roll through the wet, thin texture repeatedly to form texture and level out the thickness. Roll consistently in one direction if you want to achieve the same look/finish as shown.
(Photos 4-5)

6 | (Optional Step) Create an accent color: Mix Metallic Texture Tint Base Gold with an intense shot of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Ultramarine Blue.

Note: Mix a very small amount – ¼ cup is enough for an entire room. This color is intended to be very subtle.

7 | Once you have achieved the texture you desire, use the chip brush to apply very sparse and random thread-like amounts of the accent color and gently roll back through these areas until color fades into main color, creating a very subtle color shift.
(Photos 6-7)

8 | Let the texture set up (dry to touch but not dried hard) and pull a trowel over it. With a firm grip and applying pressure, pull in the same direction as the texture. This quick step will allow all the spiked points to lay down into the finish. This step is more of a compression than a burnish.
(Photo 8)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 9)

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Tim Glastetter

About the Artist
Tim Glastetter is a native of the St. Louis area. His lifelong passion and innovative use of painting techniques began in childhood. Tim transforms a client’s perspective of paint from a simple medium into a critical design component. This passion and vision forged the pathway for his professional career as a decorative painter. He pursued arts throughout his college education and continues to hone and innovate his craft through class and trade show participation. He is an active member of the International Decorative Artists League (IDAL) and Metro Artisans Guild (MAG). Functionality, adaptive reuse, and nature are central to Tim’s contemporary vision. Designers, contractors, architects, and homeowners seek his counsel on innovative design. Tim’s studio, RiverHouse, was originally a condemned property along the scenic bluffs of the Bourbeouse River, located nearly 45 mins west of St Louis. His resourceful and inventive use of paint during the remodeling process of the RiverHouse has been featured in multiple magazines and newspapers. More information about Tim and his Riverhouse Project can be found on his website, Tim Glastetter.

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Decorative Finish: Metallic Wood

DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Metallic Wood

Artist: Tim Glastetter

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Base coat in a similar color as the metallic you are using. I used SW 6244 Naval, in satin. Tint the Metallic Paint Tint Base Gold with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Ultramarine Blue to taste. Using a spray gun, apply 2 -3 light coats. Let dry overnight.
(Photo 1)

2 | Mix 1 ¼ cup Glazing Medium with 2 tsp. Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Van Dyke Brown Hue and 1/2 tsp. Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black.
(Photo 2)

3 | Using a spalter brush, apply glaze 100%, making sure to get glazing in all corners and crannies. Remove excess with dry cheese cloth.
(Photos 3-5)

4 | Next use a second (clean and dry) water spalter to drag and soften. Use clean cheese cloth to finish. Let dry completely.
(Photo 6)

5 | Using the Clear Topcoat Satin thinned with water, spray clear coat using HVLP or brush and roller. Let dry. Here is the final finish.
(Photo 7)

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Tim Glastetter

About the Artist
Tim Glastetter is a native of the St. Louis area. His lifelong passion and innovative use of painting techniques began in childhood. Tim transforms a client’s perspective of paint from a simple medium into a critical design component. This passion and vision forged the pathway for his professional career as a decorative painter. He pursued arts throughout his college education and continues to hone and innovate his craft through class and trade show participation. He is an active member of the International Decorative Artists League (IDAL) and Metro Artisans Guild (MAG). Functionality, adaptive reuse, and nature are central to Tim’s contemporary vision. Designers, contractors, architects, and homeowners seek his counsel on innovative design. Tim’s studio, RiverHouse, was originally a condemned property along the scenic bluffs of the Bourbeouse River, located nearly 45 mins west of St Louis. His resourceful and inventive use of paint during the remodeling process of the RiverHouse has been featured in multiple magazines and newspapers. More information about Tim and his Riverhouse Project can be found on his website, Tim Glastetter.

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Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Golden Circles

DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Golden Circles

Artist: Tim Glastetter

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Base coat using SW 6244 Navel in satin and let dry. Mix ½ cup Glazing Medium with ½ tsp. GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics Iridescent Bronze Fine and 1 tsp. GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics Iridescent Gold Fine. Apply to area with large pouncer glazing brush, 100% coverage.
(Photo 1)

Remove and manipulate with a damp terry cloth.
(Photos 2-3)

2 | Use a pencil to mark off the circles. (Note: I normally sketch these circles large.)

3 | Mix:

a. ½ tsp. Iridescent Bronze Fine and 2 ½ tsp. Iridescent Gold Fine and
b. ½ cup Glazing Gel with 1 tsp. Iridescent Bronze Fine and 2 tsp. Iridescent Gold Fine.

4 | Using the tip of the palette knife, apply one of the mixed colors.
(Photo 4)

5 | Follow the pencil line and continue all the way around the circle, then using the same color mix, repeat a second row around the same circle. Continue adding rows until you reach your desired width.
(Photo 5)

6 | Starting with another circle, repeat the process, alternating colors from circle to circle and varying widths and circle sizes.
(Photo 6)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 7)

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Tim Glastetter

About the Artist
Tim Glastetter is a native of the St. Louis area. His lifelong passion and innovative use of painting techniques began in childhood. Tim transforms a client’s perspective of paint from a simple medium into a critical design component. This passion and vision forged the pathway for his professional career as a decorative painter. He pursued arts throughout his college education and continues to hone and innovate his craft through class and trade show participation. He is an active member of the International Decorative Artists League (IDAL) and Metro Artisans Guild (MAG). Functionality, adaptive reuse, and nature are central to Tim’s contemporary vision. Designers, contractors, architects, and homeowners seek his counsel on innovative design. Tim’s studio, RiverHouse, was originally a condemned property along the scenic bluffs of the Bourbeouse River, located nearly 45 mins west of St Louis. His resourceful and inventive use of paint during the remodeling process of the RiverHouse has been featured in multiple magazines and newspapers. More information about Tim and his Riverhouse Project can be found on his website, Tim Glastetter.

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Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Arctic Ice

DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Arctic Ice

Artist: Tim Glastetter

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Roll surface with Benjamin Moore Light Pewter and let dry. Mix 1 part Weathered Granite with 3 parts Sandstone. Tint with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Ultramarine Blue and a drop of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black (just enough to dirty it up). Apply to area using using a skip trowel technique. This base texture technique will transfer through to the finish layers.
(Photos 1 – 3)

2 | Burnish with same 7″ trowel. Not much time is required for this step – it’s super quick and just a light skip over this texture will produce a heavy burnish. A lighter burnish can be produced, if preferred.
(Photo 4)

3 | Tint Soapstone with Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White and just a drop of Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Raw Umber. Apply over Weathered Granite/Sandstone texture, covering 90 – 100%. Do not pull tight, some texture is okay.
(Photo 5)

4 | Apply second layer of Soapstone (same mix as in previous step). This time cover 100% and pull material tight.
(Photo 6)

5 | Apply a clear wax of choice – I used Briwax (clear), buffed to a desired sheen.
(Photo 7)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 8)

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Tim Glastetter

About the Artist
Tim Glastetter is a native of the St. Louis area. His lifelong passion and innovative use of painting techniques began in childhood. Tim transforms a client’s perspective of paint from a simple medium into a critical design component. This passion and vision forged the pathway for his professional career as a decorative painter. He pursued arts throughout his college education and continues to hone and innovate his craft through class and trade show participation. He is an active member of the International Decorative Artists League (IDAL) and Metro Artisans Guild (MAG). Functionality, adaptive reuse, and nature are central to Tim’s contemporary vision. Designers, contractors, architects, and homeowners seek his counsel on innovative design. Tim’s studio, RiverHouse, was originally a condemned property along the scenic bluffs of the Bourbeouse River, located nearly 45 mins west of St Louis. His resourceful and inventive use of paint during the remodeling process of the RiverHouse has been featured in multiple magazines and newspapers. More information about Tim and his Riverhouse Project can be found on his website, Tim Glastetter.

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Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.

Decorative Finish: Strata

DECORATIVE FINISH HOW-TO

Strata

Artist: Michelle Kole Decorative Services

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PROJECT SUPPLIES:

INSTRUCTIONS:

1 | Mix Sandstone, Farrow & Ball Dead Salmon paint and Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic Titanium White until you have a light, muted pink that will be the main color of your wall. Sandstone has a gray tint to it. You may want to add some white paint or primer to lighten it more. Apply Sandstone mixture to the top edge of your trowel and spread a thin layer over the wall in mainly horizontal strokes.
(Photos 1-2)

2 | Allow the layer in Step 1 to dry and apply a second coat in the same manner.
(Photo 3)

3 | Mix up three color glazes by adding the Farrow & Ball paint or a variation of the Slow Dry Fluid Acrylic colors to tint the Sheer Glazing Medium. You will want a white glaze, a muted burnt sienna glaze, and a rosy mauve glaze, as pictured.
(Photo 4)

4 | Brush the glazes horizontally in bands across the surface and soften with a terry cloth rag. Make different bands of texture by using different tools. Try a softer brush and blend gently up and down, or try using a brush then dragging with a spatula. Experiment with spritzing the wet glaze lightly with water. Let it begin to break up the glaze a bit and then blot with the rag. Watch for drips.
(Photos 5-6)

5 | Add a finishing touch by pouring a bit of the white glaze into the small spray bottle. Moving your arm quickly across in a horizontal movement, spray the white glaze onto the wall.
(Photo 7)

Soften with a blending brush and rag.
(Photos 8-9)

Here’s the final texture.
(Photo 10)

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Michelle Kole

About the Artist
Michelle Kole is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in the creation and installation of decorative surfaces for the interior design and architectural industry. Her love of interiors, art, and beautiful things lead to the creation of Michelle Kole Decorative Surfaces. Michelle has over 20 years experience in the field of custom, hand-applied specialty finishes and site-specific art. Interior designers, architects, and homeowners alike come to her for a unique combination of aesthetic vision, technical knowledge, and craftsmanship. Michelle works in time-honored techniques and mediums and builds upon them in contemporary ways. Based in Brooklyn, NY, her walls, custom artwork and design embellishments can be seen in luxury homes and commercial spaces throughout the New York City tri-state area and beyond.

More from this artist

Looking for more inspiration? Click here to view all of the decorative finishes from our Limited Edition Collections.