London's premier painters since 2017. Specialists in Venetian Plastering, Metallic Paint, Sandstone, Brushed Suede, Strié, Crackle, Sponge Painting, and more.
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As Londons commercial painting and decorating contractors, we undertake all manner of specialist projects in both residential and commercial premises. Please contact us now for more info.
This type of Italian style polish plastering whose origins date back to the Roman Empire will add a little history to your home. If the polish is carried out correctly, the result is of a beautiful, high gloss finish that resembles marble in both strength and texture. The substance is made from slaked lime, marble dust, and/or marble chips, and was originally used in sections of a room such as on columns, corbels, and curved walls, where it would be too difficult to install marble itself. Today Venetian plaster has become incredibly popular and is used to decorate entire rooms as although it is a little pricey. It creates the appearance of marble without completely breaking your wallet.
The metallic effect is perfect if you’re looking to add a little glamour to your home. Metallic paint is obviously the easier choice, as it can be applied in the same way as any other paint, but don’t be put off by the intimidating thought of plaster as it is not as difficult as it might first appear. Metallic paint effects are brilliant to use whatever the size of the room you’re decorating as it is incredibly reflective, meaning that light will easily bounce off the walls and make the room appear larger. Your walls also don’t have to be completely metallic, so If you like the idea of your walls glistening, but don’t want them to be too shocking, add a little to create a delicate sheen rather than having your walls glowing.
This is one of the easiest paint effects to apply, as it goes onto the wall in the same way as traditional paint. It has a sandy texture and granular appearance and is slightly raised to create a gritty, rough surface that can look brilliant.
Brushed Suede is a velvety finish that is achieved by applying the paint onto the wall on top of a base layer, in a continuous series of overlapping Xs. This will create variations in the colour tone and adds varying layers of texture to the wall. Its smooth look creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere, but be sure not to use this technique in a high trafficked area, as the paint can be easily scratched or damaged, and it isn’t easy to fill in as he new paint may not blend effectively.
French for ‘streaky’ or ‘streaked’, Strié is lovely to paint effects intended to mirror the look of centuries-old paint altered by things such as dust and sun. It is effortless to achieve compared to other paint effects, but the only thing you need to be careful about is not to add too much water to the paint and to do it carefully but quickly so that the paint does not have time to dry. Unlike suede, strié is a brilliant effect to have in high trafficked areas, as it is easy to wipe clean. It might therefore be a good idea to use it in places such as a child’s bedroom. A linen weave is created using a similar technique, but rather than just layering the paint in vertical straight lines, the paint is drawn across vertically. To soften the look, you can brush with a dry paintbrush after applying the paint, but make sure you go in the same direction as you have already gone in.
Crackle is a type of finish made to replicate the cracks that sometimes appear on old walls and furniture, where the paint has been layered on to thickly and has begun to separate from the under-coat. This finish is trendy, and it is easy to see why. It gives the impression that the furniture has had a full and interesting life, whilst also looking beautiful.
However, to get crackle on an authentic piece, you will have to spend a lot of time searching through antique shops and markets, and might not be especially happy with the furniture that has crackle present on it. In addition, you may come into contact with dust or chips from lead-based paint, which was a common and toxic ingredient in early paints. Painting the crackle on yourself is brilliant as it eliminates these risks, and means that you can apply the crackle wherever you want. You can therefore get this lovely, textured, aged effect, without all the hassle that comes with buying furniture that has aged naturally.
Sponge painting is one of the easiest painting effects that you can achieve on your wall, producing wonderful results even if it is not done professionally. It can transform a bland white wall into a panel of colour, as you can use as many different hues as you wish. Just be sure to practice on another hard surface before you start painting your wall so that you can experiment with colour combinations and practice using the sponge. If you make any mistakes when applying the paint onto the wall, such as making one area too light, this should not be a problem as a sponge painting is very forgiving. Add more paint to the desired area, layering each shade to create depth and texture.
This is a simple painting technique that requires the use of a rag to put the paint on the wall and gives the impression of shifting colour density. In comparison to some of the other paint effects, this one is also quite simple.
Stippling is ‘the creation of a pattern simulating varying degrees of solidity or shading by using small dots’, and can be very useful when used as a paint effect. This is because each of the little dots rises slightly out of the wall, casting a slight shadow. Although this can make the room look darker, it also helps hide any imperfections that can be found on the wall, so it is one of the best paint effects if you are having this problem.
Graining is one of the kinds of painting effects that are indented to mimic the appearance of wood grains on a non-wood/cheaper wooden surface. It becomes prevalent during the 19th century, as people realised that they could to use it to mimic the pattern of expensive woods using cheaper materials. Therefore, it is a handy and cheap technique, allowing people to create the nicest and most expensive wood types using a mottler, creating beautiful and realistic designs to create aesthetic in your home.
Stencils are always brilliant for creating an interesting paint effect, and it is no different when it comes to painting your home. These can be purchased from most good hardware shops or could be a fun DIY job for you and your family.
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