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The
final step in the completion of a wall surface is to add the
interior wall finish. There are so many options to choose
from-how do you make up your mind?
If
you want to be happy with the end results of your hard work, you
need to have a good starting point and then stick within your
established budget.
Now,
to get started off on the right foot, let's...
...get
out your scrapbook and pull out all your favorite rooms. Then on
paper, list your likes and your dislikes for each room.
Following are some questions that may help to get you started:
What
type of interior wall finish does the room have?
What
is it that you like about the color?
How
does the room make you feel?
Does
the room invite you to come in, or does it push you away?
What
type of material does the wall surface have? Is it smooth or
textured, real or faux?
A
number of different materials can be used to finish off your
walls. If you are looking for that professional decorator look
hang on-there is a great deal of fun to be had. Your options are
only as limited as your imagination.
If
you think a particular look is far too expensive to achieve-stop
worrying right now. If your budget doesn't allow for the "Real McCoy", it is chic to go with the ever so popular
faux paint technique or plastered wall effect.
Following
are several choices to consider for your interior wall finish,
but don't stop here-you may have a few ideas of your own:
Brick
or Stone-Solid or veneers, both make a beautiful interior wall finish, but
will need to be installed properly to last. Check with the
manufacturer for proper installation and structural
reinforcement requirements. Once it's up, you won't need to
apply a wall finish-you're done.
Paint-is
available in all types of colors and it even comes textured.
There two basic types of paints for your interior wall finish: oil based and water based.
Water
based paint is usually less toxic and cleans up much
easier. You can choose between flat, eggshell, satin,
semi-gloss and gloss finishes. The glossier finishes wash and
wear better than a flat paint, but you will end up with a
shinier wall. The eggshell finish has almost no sheen and
washes much better than a flat paint.
Oil
based paint, especially on trim, will usually wear longer
and wash better than water based paints.
Color-speaks
volumes about a room. Where specific colors can make you feel
calm, energetic, or nervous. The perfect colors and tones for
your home should be researched wisely in order for your rooms
to reflect the feelings you want them to.
Faûx
Finish-a French term meaning a false finish. This finish
can be made to look like brick, stone, marble, granite, wood
grain, leather, crackled paint, rusted iron, or verdigris and
much more.
Trompe
L'Oeil (sounds like tromp-louee) -meaning "trick the
eye" in French, is a painting technique that depicts
actual objects to look as if they are real. This technique
utilizes principles of light and shadow to make the subject
look three dimensional. Check
out my Beach House Wall Mural
Texturing
Compound-is manufactured by many different
companies. However, there are specific types for different
applications. If you are going to add texture to your walls,
then you need to make sure that it is compatible with the
surface material you are applying it to.
Wall
texturing is fun and the interior wall finish results can be
quite astonishing. There are endless design patterns that can
be created. In addition, you can add other materials such as:
color tinting, glazes, and objects to the compound to make
your walls truly unique.
We've
found a great non-toxic
plaster product that utilizes natural clays, aggregates
and pigmentations that can be used in a number of different
design styles. Whether you are wanting to add that Tuscan,
French Country, Southwest, or other, this clay plaster is
versitile in any décor. Check it out:
http://www.americanclay.com/
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Straw
Thrown Plaster-is very popular in French Country walls.
All you do is trowel on wet plaster to your walls and
literally throw a hand full of straw onto the wet plaster.
Lightly tamper the straw so that it embeds into the plaster
with a clean trowel. Once it's dried apply either one or two
coats of an aged yellow tinted glaze to age and seal the wall
at the same time.
Sand,
Pebbles, Glass, Artifacts-to give an artistic quality to
your interior wall finish. Get creative and be artistic! One
of a kind walls can be created by just using your
imagination. But, before you attempt it-take a piece of scrap
gypsum board and practice, practice, practice to come up with
the look that is uniquely yours.
Pigment-If
you are looking for a true Old World textured wall, an easy
way to achieve it is to add pigmentation to your compound.
Once it's put on the wall with a trowel and let dry, either a
glaze, or a wax is used to seal and age the wall.
Tile-comes
in either porcelain, ceramic, terra-cotta, metals, glass, and
natural stones, marble, or granite. There is just about as
wide of price range for tiles as there is different designs
available on the market. If you can't find what you are
looking for you can have your own designs custom made, or even
make them yourself via a ceramic or pottery shop.
Wood-composed
of either solid wood, plywood or veneers. It can be purchased
in board dimensions, flat or raised panels, shingles, or in
large sheets. It is "WISE" to remember that if you
are wanting to install any type of wood product over a
combustible wall system that an approved fire stop is used
between the wall structure and the wood surface for additional
fire protection.
Did
you know that some building centers and craft stores offer
interior wall finish techniques and other types of classes to
the public? Find out in your area if classes are being offered.
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