In my experience over the years as a decorative painter, I’ve found that many people don’t understand what faux painting is all about.
Many assume faux or decorative painting, as it’s also called, means you add a basic antiquing glaze or perhaps some sponging or ragging over an already painted wall. These finishes are often promoted by painting contractors or taught on many home decorating shows as “faux” painting. While glazing, sponging and ragging are common faux techniques, they represent only a fraction of countless decorative painting finishes.
Rather, faux is a French word meaning “forgery” or “imitation”. Faux or decorative painting then, is to paint a wall to resemble another surface, such as stone, brick, or leather. Neither term, faux painting nor decorative painting, is technically accurate in that many of the products I use are not actually paint. Oftentimes palate knifes or trowels are preferred over paint brushes.
No matter the technique or the term—decorative painting will add beauty and value to any wall in your home or office. It’s an art that’s been around for centuries because its look is timeless.
Quality faux painting means being able to paint a room to look like aged plaster from an Italian cottage, or to create the rustic look of log walls in a cabin, or to add a metallic copper finish to your new bathroom walls to complement your copper sinks, or to add parchment suede to your homes entry, a finish that invites comfort and compliments from all who enter. It includes Venetian plaster, metallic plaster, carved sandstone, wood graining, and marbling.
Faux painting means that rather than settling for plain paint or wallpaper, you create a finish on your walls that ties everything together—your colors, your style, your furnishings. It means adding ambience—it means making a room bright and inviting, instead of old and dated, and with the added beauty of no ugly wallpaper seams.
Faux finishes can be classic, contemporary, or anywhere in between. Simple or elaborate, but in every case, they should complement your individual style and fit within your budget.
I invite you to look through my web site—check out my portfolio—and then, if you’d like, let’s get together so I can show you the possibilities. Make the effort and you’ll soon discover for yourself why everyone is talking about Faux. When it’s done right, it’s not only affordable, it’s fabulous.