The use of horizontal stripes gives the room a more modern feel.

Faux Painting can be pretty tricky to understand with all the fancy French terms and do-it-yourself assurances.  What does faux mean?  Is Venetian Plaster really plaster? Does my “sponged” bathroom count as faux?  The subject can be easily become overwhelming.

In my book, any painting technique or look that is more than a solid coat of regular paint on the wall is decorative painting or “faux” painting as most people call it.  All the various techniques from glazes to plasters fall under this umbrella.  Faux is a French word that means “false” or “fake.”  And while many a poorly sponged bathroom is called “faux” painting, it’s simply not so. 

Should you do it yourself?  The short answer is “No, leave it to the pros.”  It seems to me that homeowners often get their courage up in the powder room and while it’s not the focal point of your home, guests will visit that tiny room and wonder what you were thinking.  Experts range in cost and ability so judge their talent in the technique you desire.  Every artist has their strengths.  Review their portfolio, sample finishes and ask for references.  Also, make sure they will commit to showing you a sample of your exact finish before they start working on the walls.  Most times you will have to make a deposit or at the very least pay them a fee that covers the time it takes to make the sample board.  It is a commitment but a sample board can prevent a world of misunderstanding.

Painting a faux wood grain on garage doors makes a dramatic statement and gives European architecture more authenticity. (Duration Painting)

Here’s a rundown on some of the many techniques:

Wood Graining, Marbling and Metals

Some techniques are actually aiming to replicate the original material and those include wood graining, marbling or gold/silver leafing.  This is a great solution for woodwork where the labor and materials to install the real material is too costly.  It makes a dramatic difference on garage doors and kitchen cabinetry.

The beautiful faux work on this ceiling gives a lovely stone look. (Garay Artisans)

Glazing

Glazes offer a lot of depth and warmth to walls inside and out.  They are achieved with multiple layers of paint and glaze applied with sponges, rags and plastic wrap just to name a few.  This is the technique that is most often referred to as faux painting.

Incredible plaster work by Jonas Everets Design

Plasters and Textures

These finishes add texture and character to your walls.  Think of European frescoes or adobe homes.  They range from quite smooth to crumbly-looking three-dimensional textures.  Venetian plaster is a technique where thin layers of plaster are applied with a spatula or trowel and then burnished to create a smooth surface with the illusion of depth and texture. Molds can also be made to create patterns and scenes.

An amazing example of trompe l'oeil on what was once a plain building.

Trompe L’oeil

Another French word meaning “trick the eye.”  This involves the creation of extremely realistic imagery meant to trick the viewer into thinking that the piece is three dimensional when in fact it is only two dimensional.  Many people try, but there are only a few true masters of this technique which originated in Greek and Roman times.  Some of the best examples are in European churches such as the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.

A light, two-toned diamond pattern on the floor gives the room a shabby-chic feel.

Lettering & Stenciling

Click to Win Great Prizes!

Ask A Design Question!

Tags: paint, walls & ceilings

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm and is filed under paint, walls & ceilings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.