All Things Paint: Faux Grasscloth

Grasscloth wall coverings are a favorite of mine because the rich, textural treatment makes a huge statement. The look works with many decorating styles and grasscloth is available in a myriad of colors. I have long been a fan of the beautiful grasscloth wall coverings by Elitis and the deep red shown below is my absolute favorite.

Elitis

When we moved into this house, I knew I had the perfect wall to cover with the stunning red wall covering.  At 54 square feet I was sure I could make this a high impact wall without breaking the bank.  Unfortunately, too many other things needed to be done to our home, our budget was limited and the grasscloth fell by the wayside.

My husband can tell you, I was like a dog with a bone and did not want to give up on my idea of a focal wall clad in red grasscloth.  PAINT was the answer and were I better at DIY, I would have attempted this myself, but fortunately I was introduced to a talented lady, Emida Roller, who was able to bring my idea to reality.

Foyer {before we moved in}

Foyer {after we moved in and painted}

Foyer {with my gorgeous faux grasscloth wall}

Emida, a decorative painter, was a paint wizard and made up several sample boards using the gold base color (BM Princeton Gold) and layering black, red and a glaze to get just the right look.  The ultimate formula was a horizontal dry brushing of black followed by a vertical dry brushing of red (SW Salute), then the glazing and a coat of poly.  I could not be more delighted by the end result and love that you can see all of the colors through the layers. Then there is the added bonus is that this is a kid friendly, washable finish, something I had not initially considered.  For all of you motivated, inspired "do it yourselfers" this would be a pretty easy project to undertake, just practice on a board beforehand to get the exact look you want.  I did find a tutorial or two to help you along (here is one with a textured version).

I have been fortunate to work with Emida Roller on several decorative painting projects since my own and if you live in the vicinity of Madison, WI I would highly recommend her.

Today I am linking up here:

 

Centsational Girl

Does your room need a “prescription” for a change of decor, function or design? If so please contact me,
I would love to help your room feel better!