- If you tend to be a perfectionist; a detail oriented person, attempting this finish may drive you a little crazy. Different parts of the wall are going to look different -- that's sort of the point.
- Ralph Lauren makes a quality product, but the glaze dries very quickly. It is nearly impossible to do this finish by yourself. It's really a two person job: One person to apply the paint, and another to use the stipple tool to work the glaze into the wall. I think I may have given up had my friend and fellow painter Desiree not been there to help and encourage me.
- Even with two painters and a good system worked out, there will still be some places where you will have to go back and feather out the lines.
First, you apply the base coat:
I forget the name of this color, but it is a really great shade.
Then you must complete the dreaded and horrid task of taping the molding. I HATE taping! But you just have to tape when you're doing a faux finish. If someone knows a way around it, please let me know! After that treachery is finished, your ready to faux. The stippling tools are VERY EXPENSIVE, but you only have to buy them once. Bite the bullet and get quality tools. That goes for brushes and paint, too. I'm all about finding bargains, but cheap paint and brushes end up making more work for you in the long run. My favorite paint? Benjamin Moore, baby!
I think we should have painted the ceiling, too. But time was of the essence as they were moving in the following day. I may give the client a call back when I slow down a bit and see if they are willing to let me paint it. I would probably recommend a lighter or contrasting shade up there. Maybe even a lightish shade of blue. What do you think?
