A lot of homeowners tend to shy away from kitchen and bathroom renovations. These people are under the impression that they will be required to replace the doors and cabinets completely. You must not fear making some fashionable changes especially in critical areas of your home. You also do not need to fear the price of such a huge project since all that you need to learn is a few glazing techniques.
Glazing What?
Did you know that it is easy to update the look of your kitchen or bathroom once you learn how to glaze? The cabinets can provide the kitchen with a totally new look as you glaze them.
This process is far from difficult and it is also inexpensive. With just a little direction, a lot of people are able to do the task on their own.
The glazing process offers different finishes, shades and motifs. These can provide the needed makeover for your kitchen or bath. Apart from the refreshing new look, the perfectly applied glaze can also raise your home's value.
You can now instantly update old cabinets using some glazing techniques. Choose the right kind of stain or paint and you should be able to do this without error. There are many acrylic-based paints in the market these days that you can use for this project.
Oil-based paints and stains, however, are known to last longer and are able to provide a glaze that has a deeper luster.
With the stain in your hand, cover the surrounding floors and countertops with cloth. The cloth will catch the drips from your glazing stain or paint.
The glaze that you are going to use is a mixture of paint and a high degree solvent. This mixture is needed to achieve the tinted, transparent finish. If this is your first time to make the glaze, then make sure to have one part of paint mixed with four parts of water (for acrylic products). Use one part paint for every three parts of solvent if you decide to use oil-based products.
You may want to begin with the simplest glazing method which is the pinstripe glaze. This kind of glaze involves wiping away the glaze from specific areas of the cabinet surface or the door. This is a technique that allows highlighting the stunning aspects of the wood which is its grain.
Pinstripe glazing is all about improving the dull areas before as it accentuates and makes vibrant any wooden surface.
Fully wiping the glazes will not effectively highlight wood grain but would accentuate the cabinets and doors themselves. Fully-wiped glazes are used to create a more uniform appearance on shades and tints.
Glazing in Three Steps
First, create the base by rolling on two coats of latex paint. Choose from satin, egg shell or pearl finish. Make sure that the base coat dries up for no less than 24 hours before you start glazing.
The next step is to apply the glaze coat. Use the mixture, thin with water where necessary, to coat the walls. Do this on every three-foot-square wall section. Use a large, natural bristle brush. Use horizontal, vertical and diagonal brush strokes in order to cover the base coat.
The last step is to create glazing effects. You can do this once you get the hang of glazing your walls. Texture effects requires several coats, with each coat being allowed to dry before the next application.
You can now say goodbye to boring walls with the glazing techniques that you just learned. This is an inexpensive way to beautify significant rooms in your home so take the time to learn it.
You can also use crumpled plastic wrap to dab the glaze. This will provide a marbled effect. Use rags in place of plastic and you expose more of the under coat.
Are you ready to step up the style in your home?
When diving into a design project, there's a lot more to consider than just picking the right paint colour.
In addition to having a good sense for colour, pattern, and scale, there are some design basics to keep in mind.
As a designer, I have seen some home owners make pretty big mistakes so here's seven design faux pas you'll want to avoid when decorating a room:
1. Forgetting Comfort - When selecting furniture for a room, don't forget that it has to be a space that you will live in too. Comfort and durability are key when selecting a piece. If it's a heavy traffic room that will have kids, dogs, and a lot of use, get fabrics that can be easily cleaned. Try sitting on the piece in the store. A great piece is something that not only looks great, but functions well too!
2. Not Trying a Paint Colour Out First - There's nothing worse than spending hours painting a room to find out that it's not the shade you were hoping for. In-store lighting is the worst to determine what a paint colour looks like. Instead, buy 2 or 3 paint samples you like. Paint a few squares on a wall at home. With a bigger sample of the paints on the wall displayed in the lighting of your home it will be easier to select a colour you love.
3. Hanging Art Pieces without a Plan - If you are creating a grouping of wall art, lay it out first on the floor to see how it will all fit together before hanging it up. Also refrain from hanging art too high. As a general rule use the rule of thirds. Hang art about 2/3 the way up the wall. Also take into account if it's a room where people are generally standing or sitting so you can hang it at the height it is likely to be viewed most at.
4. Fuzzy Contoured Toilet Rugs - These contoured toilet rugs and matching lid covers may have been the rage a few years back, but today are considered outdated. Instead, choose a rectangular shaped bath rug to set in front of the toilet. When selecting a bath rug, look for one that is washable so it can be cleaned regularly.
5. Buying Something Too Trendy - While having this year's latest fashion might be flashy, it also puts you at risk of being out of date soon. Select themes and styles that you will enjoy living with for many years to come.
6. Skipping Window Treatments - When decorating a room, don't forget to add window treatments. They add colour, style, and texture to a room. With so many styles to choose from (valances, drapes, curtains, and blinds) there's something to add the right wow factor to your space.
7. A Bare Foyer - The foyer is the first thing you see when someone steps into your home. That's why it's so important to make this space feel welcoming. Start this space off right with a carpet or runner. Next add a furniture piece like a bench or hall table. Then give it a flourish with an art display, mirror, or plant.
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