Category — instructional

Recently, I did a post featuring a painted floor I saw featured on Design Sponge. I was immediately drawn to the unique design of the pattern. Oh, how I would love to have a floor like this one in my home somewhere. Better yet, while I’m dreaming, how about a studio in the back with this floor. Oh, I would just be creatively inspired every day!

Since this post, I have seen painted floors everywhere. You all might think I am crazy, but I am instantly drawn to this. Maybe it’s the cottage feel it instantly brings to a room.

Photo: Cottage Living

I have been endlessly going through my mounds of magazines, tearing out sheets I have earmarked. I found this one I had saved from at least a year or so ago. This was before I realized my obsession with painted wood floors.

Photo: Southern Accents

Photo: Southern Living

The most common style for painting on the floor is the harlequin or diamond pattern. You can use two different colors of paint, as shown in the first picture, or you can opt for leaving the stain showing and using a darker stain for the second color as shown in the Southern Living kitchen.

For instructions on how to create this harlequin pattern on your floor, click here.

Photo: Cottage Living

Photo: Coastal Living

Photo: Country Living

“Painted floors are a cottage favorite for many reasons: They’re easy to maintain, they cover up a multitude of flaws, and they add a light and cheerful quality to any room. ” - Jessica Shapard of Cottage Living

You all know what I think about painted floors. And the wear and tear that would come along with this with age makes it that much better to me.

How do you feel about this look? Do you dare paint on hardwood?

Have you ever seen a floor so amazing?

Catherine’s Patterned Floor, featured on Design Sponge, is a finalist for the lena corwin printing by hand contest. This was my favorite of all the other contestents, I just had to show you all!

If you would like to do this yourself, just find a pattern you like and create a stencil. The great thing is, you can make it however big or small you like. Paint the stencil in whatever color you desire and then finally apply a coat of sealer. Voila! A beautiful, one of a kind floor!

What do you think? I just love the boldness of the pattern on such a classic wooden floor.

This is a great insight to what our studio is looking like right about now!

We are still working endlessly on our re-do. Emptying it out completely and starting from scratch. You think this is a lot of paint? You haven’t even seen our paint closet!

How long can you store paint and how can you tell if it is good or bad?

The ideal place to store paint is in a temperature controlled environment. If so, the paint stores will tell you that it can be good for up to a year to a year and a half. But I will go on and tell you, Jaime and I have been able to save ours and use for almost up to 3 years.

A good way to tell if your paint is bad is by opening the can and smelling it. If it smells bad, almost like a mold, then it definitely is not good. Throw it out. Also, look at the consistency of the paint. If it has a jelly like appearance, you probably shouldn’t use it.

However, there are times when the can has been sitting for a while, some or most of the sediment will have settled to the bottom of the can. If you have some stir sticks, you may be able to give it a good long stir to mix it up again. You can also take it to your local paint store and have them shake it on there machine. This is a good way to mix all of the sediment up to the original consistency.

Got a faux or paint question? Need a little advice on a faux project?

Once a week, we’ll do a Q & A post to help you get your home decor painting how you want it. Email us your question and we will do our best to give you an answer! Just click on the Email Badge on the left column of this page at any time.

• Tomorrow on the OTW Blog: Exclusive interview with Kim Parker!

Love the color of your walls, just wish you had a little something more?

Often, people paint the whole house with solid paint throughout, but you can have such an impact just by adding a simple finish to one room, such as your dining room. One finish that has been requested quite often is a stripe effect. This is a great finish, especially for the dining room, which tends to be the most formal room in the home. Stripes are a great decorative technique: they’re classic and elegant and never go out of style.

Horizontal stripes make a room appear more spacious; vertical stripes make the ceiling appear higher. Pictured here, is a sophisticated tone-on-tone theme, using Farrell Calhoun’s Devine Mesquite. To achieve this same look, you will need the supplies listed below. Just remember to measure and tape carefully (anything that’s not straight will be very noticeable) and to take your time. This finish can be completed in 2 to 3 days, a great weekend project. And it’s a savvy look for a low budget cost! What could be better, right?

Supplies Needed:

• 2 gallons of latex paint (1 flat, 1 satin - same color)
• 9″ paint roller and tray for your base coat [Read more →]

Have a bathroom you love, but something just isn’t right? Is your bathroom vanity holding your the room back from joining the world of savy, cool furniture-style vanities? Solution: Paint it!

In this bathroom, we pulled a color from the wallpaper to tie the whole thing together. The cabinets started out solid white, and they just didn’t do anything for the decor of the soft, calm colors in this bathroom. The wallpaper in the background above contains a floral print that is a soft blue, with distressed gold. This became the inspiration for the cabinets, which the client wanted to look like furniture she had found at a store or boutique.

Tips for you:

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The weather finally perked up on Sunday, so I thought I would hit the local flea market. My normal thrifty partner was MIA (on a mini-vacation with her children in Nashville) so I hi-jacked my mom and we headed out the door. Unfortunately, we didn’t go until the last day and mid-afternoon for that matter, so most vendors were closing up shop. However, I did manage to find some cool pieces. I love to find things and use them for something they were not intended for, to incorporate fine little details in my home. These brooches and earrings really caught my eye. I just couldn’t pass them up, especially for such a crazy good deal. And if you no me at all, I have an obsession with all things turquoise! Really, it’s true.

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