By Kim Bougaardt, Production Kim Bougaardt and Kerstin Eser / Plascon Design Centre Design Assistant, Photography Kerstin Eser, Painter Robert Francke
Sometimes adding a smidge of colour to some woodwork or creating a decorative trim or two is enough to transform an entire space. Here’s how…
Fancy fireplace
A dining room gets the royal treatment when the fireplace becomes a jewel trimmed feature.
What do I need?
Paint Plascon Cashmere Misty Mountain (G4-E1-4); Velvaglo Dusk of Day (B6-E1-2); Plascon Universal Undercoat
Other Sandpaper, cloth, masking tape, drop sheet, Hamilton’s Wool Pro 225mm roller brush, Hamilton’s 50mm paint brush, Hamilton’s artist brush
The prep
- Give the fireplace and skirting a fine sand.
- Wash down the walls to get rid of any dust that might have settled.
- Mask around the fireplace and shelves to protect the edges and lay a drop sheet to cover the floor.
- Prime the skirting with one coat of Plascon Universal Undercoat.
Get the look
Time needed: 4 hours
Step 1 Use the roller and paint brush to paint the feature wall and skirting with two coats of Plascon Cashmere Misty Mountain (G4-E1-4). Allow drying time between coats and be sure to cut around the bookshelves and fi replace. The muted green gives the room an oldworld appeal and extending the colour onto the skirting board creates a polished finish.
Step 2 Paint the fireplace surround with two coats of Plascon Velvaglo Dusk of Day (B6-E1-2). The blue looks regal against the green wall and brings the fi replace to life.
Step 3 Above the fireplace, create an extra trim with paint. Measure and mask out your design. Then use a Hamilton’s artist brush to paint between the masking tape with Misty Mountain. When the paint is dry, paint over it with the Dusk of Day. Applying the base coat first will allow you to get a straighter and ensure that the final colour doesn’t bleed under the masking tape.
A “trim” is usually a skirting or a decorative moulding, such as a picture or dado rail, attached to a wall. It’s easy to create your own with paint – as we did for classical, old-world appeal above the fi replace. Painting the trim in shiny Velvaglo on a matt Cashmere wall adds further texture and drama to the look.
Star Staircase
A gradient paint effect in trendy greys gives this wooden staircase a subtle yet sophisticated update.
What do I need?
Paint Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims Magic Noire (B5-E1-1), Bovine (E29-6), Pencil (E29-5), Sterling (E29-4) and Silver (E29-3); Plascon Universal Undercoat
Other Fine sandpaper, masking tape, Hamilton’s 50mm paint brush
The prep
- Use fine sandpaper to gently sand the rise of each wooden step. Sweep away the dust with a paintbrush as you work to save time and to ensure a clean work surface.
- Mask the edges of the staircase to avoid getting primer and paint on the wall.
- Because the surface is wood and the area a high-traffic one, a good primer is needed. Prime the rises with Plascon’s Universal Undercoat, which prepares the wood and allows the paint a better grip on the surface.
Get the look
Time needed: full day (depending on drying time)
Step 1 Decide on how many colours you’d like to use to create your gradient effect. We used five colours on our 15 rises and divided the colours equally – painting three rises in each of our colours – for an on-trend ombre effect.
Step 2 Using a Hamilton’s 50mm brush give the rises a first coat in Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims. Keep the layers thin – it’s better to do more layers than apply the paint too thickly.
Step 3 Allow the paint to dry fully before repeating the process for a second or third coat. Test the corners of the rises as these take the longest to dry. Drying time between coats is crucial to any successful paint job, especially when painting wood.
For a gradient, choose colours within the same colour family, but in shades that range from light to medium and dark.
Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims dries to a tough, durable high-gloss finish. It’s ideal for both exterior and interior trims and contains UV-resistant pigments to keep colours bright. If you’d prefer a more subtle satin sheen on your interior woodwork, then choose hardwearing, chip-resistant Plascon Velvaglo.
Doorway dramatic
With a stripe of colour along the door frame and skirting board (and some bright triangle art), a TV room gets a little more electric.
What do I need?
Paint Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims Peak Season (Y5-B1-3); Plascon Velvaglo Bermuda Shore (B1-D1-2), Maison Blanche (Y1-E2-1), Big Smile (R5-D2-2), Magic Noire (B5-E1-1) and Winter Haven (B2-E2-3)
Other Sandpaper, cloth, masking tape, drop sheet, Hamilton’s foam roller and tray set
The prep
- Give the skirting and door frame a decent scuff with some sandpaper and clean off the excess dust with a damp cloth.
- If you’re not comfortable with your painting skills, first mask around the door frame and skirting so as not to get paint on the walls.
Get the look
Time needed: 4 hours
Step 1 Paint a thin layer of Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims Peak Season (Y5-B1-3) on to the skirting and door frame. The fresh yellow will bring a decidedly zesty zing to a laidback space.
Step 2 Allow the trims to dry thoroughly before following with a second coat.
Step 3 For the triangle artwork, use a lightweight board to cut out approximately 24 triangles (our longest side was 30cm long).
Step 4 Lay a drop sheet and, using the Hamilton’s foam roller, paint the triangles in Velvaglo Bermuda Shore (B1-D1-2), Maison Blanche (Y1-E2-1), Big Smile (R5-D2-2), Magic Noire (B5-E1-1) and Winter Haven (B2-E2-3). Use your design to decide on the number of triangles in each colour.
Step 5 Once painted and dried, lay the triangles on the floor to create a design that you’re happy with before fixing it to the wall. Living in a neutral or rented space that needs an instant lift? This graphic installation in punchy colours is right on-trend, plus it can be changed or removed with little fuss.
Looking for a wall colour that will show off the pastel shades in your triangle art to best effect? A muted white such as Plascon Cashmere Fresh Scent (Y6-B2-3) is perfect and will allow the blue and lavender greys to really pop. The result? A retro look that’s quiet, sophisticated – and right at home in 2013.
As seen in Plascon Spaces 10
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