Popular Faux Finishes you can do!

 Faux Painting Techniques

By: Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Professional Painters in Northwest Arkansas

Through the last decade faux painting has experienced ups and downs.  Several of the big box home improvement stores have gone through times of pushing faux finishing products and how to do it classes.  Perhaps because it is not as easy as regular painting or maybe we just don’t seem to have the time needed.  For these and other reasons faux painting has never taken off.  However,  you can really create some fantastic effects and looks for your home that are unique and a real pleasure to have in your home.

Perhaps a little explanation of the steps required and some explanations will get you inspired to try one of them.

Faux painting techniques can bring the look of leather, stone or fabric to walls and furniture using certain application methods and a variety of faux painting tools. Most techniques call for layering colors of paint or glaze with everything from sponges and rags to plastic sheets. Learning the different techniques and understanding the results is important in choosing the best faux painting technique for your projects.
Base Coat: All faux painting techniques require a base coat. Then other layers are either added to it (positive) or added and then partially removed (negative). The base coat is the color that will show through with either technique.
Color Washing: The top coat of glaze is applied over the base coat with a rag or sponge in a circular or "washing" motion. The end result is a soft, swirled look.
Dry Brushing: This technique requires a paintbrush dipped in glaze that is applied to the wall in a criss-cross pattern. Most dry brushing faux painting techniques require two different colors of glaze for best results.
Frottage: This is an example of a negative faux painting technique, where glaze is removed using a plastic sheet. Apply the glaze over the base, and then spread a plastic sheet over a section. Press the sheet over the glaze, and then remove. The texture left behind resembles marble.
Ragging: This technique is similar to sponging in that glaze is applied over the base coat with a crinkled dry rag. By moving the rag and rotating your arm, you will create a texture that looks like stucco.
Sponging: This technique is similar to ragging, but gives a much more subtle texture. Use a sea sponge to apply one or two colors of glaze over a base coat, and take advantage of the unique texture of this natural substance.
Verdigris: For the green patina look of copper sulfate, try this technique to mimic weathered copper or bronze. Apply a copper or gold base coat, and then apply dark green paint with a sponge, allowing the base to show through. A light green paint color should be sponged on top of the dark green, giving the item a mottled appearance.
These are just a few of the many faux finished you can do.  Give one of them a try.
As Always "Happy Painting and Decorating"
Ken Rader
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.
Painting Northwest Arkansas beautiful, "One house at a time"
Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com

12 most popular green colors for 2012

12 OF THE MOST POPULAR GREEN COLORS

OF 2012!

12 SHADES OF GREEN YOU WILL LOVE.

WHERE ARE THESE SHADES OF GREEN SHOWING UP?

Green started out the year with a big bang and it continues to be a popular choice.  Everything from paint to pillows to rugs to candles are showing up GREEN.

These are presented in no particular order and there was no clear number one.

First up—Benjamin Moore  CLEVELAND GREEN 1525

It is more brown than green. This is a Mossy, Olivey Green.  It works like a neutral, allowing you to play around with stronger, sharper colors like shocking pink, apple green, turquoise, and chromium yellow.  It is a fabulous background for artwork as well.

Next up—Farrow & Ball COOKING APPLE GREEN 32

This one has been around for several years and continues to capture the eye of cutting edge decorators.  When the light hits it in the early morning, it sort of electrifies.  And then at night, it becomes quiet and dreamy.  It has a multifaceted quality and sometimes looks Georgian and then at other times modern.  Go figure.

Number 3--- Farrow & Ball FOLLY GREEN 76

Farrow & Ball score again with this happy, whimsical green—like Kermit the Frog meets Lucky Charms clover. “ This is probably a little tough to envision”.  It shows up a lot in Kids’ rooms or any room that needs a little color kick.  Bright but not scary, with a cool retro feel.

4^th offering--- Benjamin Moore  NANTUCKET GRAY HC-111

Benjamin Moore has another winner with this gray, earthy green.  It is the color of wet raincoats.  It has depth and age, and somehow it is both utilitarian and romantic at the same time—a great fusion. This is proving to be a perennial color for many.  It too has been around for several years.

Number 5—Donald Kaufman Color  DKC-29

Very subtle and it could be classified as an off white.  It is incredibly rich with pigment and it is easily the most lively pale green you will find.  It can go blue and gray.  It behaves in a completely natural way with light and can appear so different in different settings.

Number 6--- Full Spectrum Paints  LICHEN

It looks a lot like taupe but a more complete description might be, silvery gray-green with blue undertones.  It is both soothing and grounding. It has be described as “the most healing color”.

Coming in at number 7--- Benjamin Moore  CYPRESS GREEN 509

Benjamin Moore continues to produce winning colors.  This is a murky, pond-scum green.  Cagey in its neutrality, it seems to go with almost everythin.  It will set off other colors, like a soft celadon or a saturated orange.

I know, pond scum does not sound nice but it is how us country people see it.

8^th—Glidden THYME 70YY 46/160

I personally like Glidden paint and I am happy to see them in the running.

This is very organic, with a bit of dustiness to it.  It is a surprisingly versatile neutral.  You can balance the coolness of the green with golden yellow and rose. It would also work beautifully with brown bark colors or blue—colors you would find next to it in nature.

Here is Number 9--  Dunn-Edwards RIPE PEAR DE5515

This one almost glows.  You can put this one with pink or chartreuse.  Even porcelain blue will give a unique effect!  A great paint color that is never meant to stand on its own.

Big 10--- Benjamin Moore SEA GLASS PT-330

Chalk another one up for BM.  This is a metallic paint color in appearance.  This green is like a piece of glass washed up on the beach. Light seems to dance across it. It is much more gray than green.  I would say it is in the putty color pallete.

Number 11--- Pratt & Lambert  SUNNY MEADOW 19-7

Green is such an amazing, confident color. It makes you think of nature, health, and vitality.  This is a very crisp green.  It looks good enough to eat.  Anyway, the name says it all “Sunny Meadow”.  Bring it on.

Finally number 12--- Donald Kaufman Color DKC-26

Another good choice from this paint company.  Most of nature is green for a reason. It is pleasing.  This color can also be seen in a St. Petersburg castle with gilt mirrors and candlelight, and in country cottage with French printed linens.  It is a universal, tranquil shade.  Once again, more brown that green.

Well, what do you think?  Do any of these spark your interest?  Most of these greens will be around for years to come.  They are that good.  I must admit though that you can find 100’s of greens just like these at your paint store.  Paint companies have a habit of following the same fashion as everyone else.  So go and check out your local paint store.  What is popular will be featured.

As Always “Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Quality Painters in Fayetteville, Arkansas and painting all of Northwest Arkansas

Check out our web page  www.kenraderinteriors.com , we are proud of it

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Good Painting Tips for a successful painting job.

Some Really Good Tips for a Successful Paint Job!

By Kenneth Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

One of the best ways to give any property a new look is by painting it. In fact, many people who buy new property give it a paint job, irrespective of the age of the current paint. Some consider the paint of the house as just something that makes the walls look good, while yet others consider the colors in their residence and business locale as a part of their identity. Whether you are from the latter or former kind of people, you will have to put your house through a paint job eventually. A bad paint job will seriously hamper the look and feel of the house, and may do more damage to it than accentuate it, therefore, you need to consider some aspects while painting, and here are some of them.
1.  The very first tip to have a successful paint job is covering up everything that is not supposed to go under a paint job and the flooring and the ceiling comes first in this list. The best, and the most economic way to save paint dabs from globbing or dropping onto the floor is covering the floor with paper, cloth, almost anything that is not very expensive and will shield the floor from any color that was not supposed to be there.  The easiest is a paper drop cloth with a plastic layer on the bottom.  They are relatively cheap and will lay flat so that you do not find yourself tripping on it all the time.  If you use plastic by itself, it will bunch up on you and be a source of frustration.
Additionally, pay attention to the colors that you choose, and ensure that they match the room that you will be painting. Choose brighter, 'glad' colors for the Living Room and the dining room (if you have one), and more serene ones for the bedroom. You can also choose brighter colors for the children's room. The quality of paints also matters, as that would decide how long the paint looks bright and new, carry out some research and choose one that fits your budget and requirement.
2.  Secondly, you should cover up furniture, rugs, and even fixtures that exist on walls. Doors, doorknobs, latches, etc. are the most common victims of the stalking nature of the paints. You can cover them with blue tape or masking paper. Pay attention to the edges, as those are the prime areas that fall victim to the unrequited love of the painter and paints.  All time spent on this necessary task is well worth it.  The feeling of success and pure joy when you remove the masking and find no paint under it makes the time spent well worth it.
3.  Tools of the trade.  Use high quality tools.  Let me repeat this”Use HIGH QUALITY TOOLS!  Why, you ask?  Because you will need all the help you can get.  High quality tools to the trade will help even the least skilled painter produce a wonderful paint job.
Here is what you need.
Lambs wool roller ½ inch nap
The highest quality 2 ½” nylon/polyester brush you can afford.  Expect to spend $15.00 to $20.00.  I prefer a firmer bristle on the brush.  So check and see what it says on the brush.  Soft, firm, extra firm.  NO BRISTLE BRUSHES!  These are made for oil paints, NOT ACRYLIC OR LATEX.
Roller Handle.  I know that you see people using the roller frame without a handle all the time.  They are ignorant.  You are smart.  Get the handle and save your back and save some time.  Roller handles allow you to roll with wrist action verses back action with out one.  No Professional painter will roll without one.  I have several that reach from 2 feet to 24 feet.  That is right 24 feet.  You will probably never need one but I did.
A good Roller pan.  Get as deep a pan as you can find.  The thinner the sides the less paint you can put in the pan and the more times you have to fill it.
One final bit of advice.  When you are putting paint on the roller do not submerge it in the paint.  Just roll it up to the paint and let about 1” of the roller surface get in the paint.  Repeat this rolling action until all the roller surface is covered with paint.
These are some tips you should consider while getting a good paint job done. There are many companies that offer paint jobs, and almost every region either has well known brands, as well as family owned businesses that offer you painting services for almost anything. If you are looking for someone in the Northwest Arkansas Area (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bella Vista), let Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. would be happy to assist you. Check us out at www.kenraderinterior.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors
As Always “ Happy Painting and Decorating”
Ken Rader
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.  professional painters in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Wonderful colors for your living room

COLORS FOR YOUR LIVING ROOM

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PLAY IT SAFE

BRING YOUR LIVING ROOM TO LIFE!

By Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Professional painters in Fayetteville

And Northwest Arkansas

There are several colors that are light and are so comfortable to live with.  The room we call the “Living Room” is usually where we spend the majority of our time so why not make it comfortable and a happy place to be.

1. When gray gets too blue, it turns cold.  But, Donald Kaufman Color DKC-62, is a silvery, warm platinum that looks fabulous with anything gold-leafed or mirrored—like a coffee table or silver framed mirror on the wall.  Christian Dior chose gray for his salons.  It is sophisticated, glamorous, and very comfortable and lively.
2. Benjamin Moore color, Weston Flax HC-5, is a yellow that reminds me of butter cream.  It would look good in any living room, but it’s especially useful in a room that faces north because it will intensify every bit of light that comes in.  If you used a satin or semi-gloss on the walls it would make it even more brilliant.
3. Farrow & Ball, Pale Powder 014 is a beautiful color.  The only way to describe this is blue, green, white, and gray.  It changes with the light.  And it has depth which is a difficult combination to find.  It’s almost as if you see into it.  I’ve used it with chocolate brown, acid green, red, and pink.  It’s pretty with Chinese wallpaper on a silver ground.  Or with white curtains, blowing in the wind, it could look very Swedish.
4. Portola Paints, Matisse 250, is fantastic.  This paint comes in a lime-wash finish with a grainy texture, which makes it look like the blue in a Maine cottage that has faded over the years.  If you want a living room that is not stuffy and formal, this is a color for you to consider.  It makes you feel calm and happy, and it looks good with every single color—mustard, peach, gray, lavender, fuchsia.  You’re gonna love it.
5. Fine Paints of Europe, E11-32, is a kind of gray-green.  So many living rooms are never used because they’re kind of boring.  They just collect dust.  But imagine mossy green walls with cobalt-blue linen velvet and lime-green leather, grounded by a touch of black in the base moldings. A watery room, like something in a Venetian palazzo—mysterious, romantic, and darling.
6. Benjamin More, Sleepy Hollow 1454, is a little closer to the edge, if you follow my meaning.  Maybe you would actually use your living room if you painted it this dusty purple.  It is cheerful and bright in the light, and at night it gets moody and just wraps itself around you.  White Moldings and hot magenta or chartreuse fabrics would make it come alive.  Or try silvery grays or washed-out blues.  Throw in some sparkle with mercury glass.

Don’t all of these colors sound fun?  Do they sound Livable? So what are you waiting for?  Head to the paint store and see what they have to offer along these same color lines.

As Always, “ Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Visit our web page at www.kenraderinteriors.com

Like us on Facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

If you are looking for High Quality painters in the Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas area, drop us a note.  We would love to assist you.

We have written over 200 articles on painting, decorating and how to do special finishes.  Check them out in our archives.

NEUTRAL COLORS YOU WILL LOVE

NEUTRAL COLORS

CALMING AND A BREATH

OF FRESH AIR

A HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND

By Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Professional Painters in Fayetteville, Ar.

Because we live in such a color-filled, busy world, coming home to a calm, neutral space feels like a breath of fresh air.

Enter the Neutral Zone--  Saturated neutrals are a happy middle ground between quiet palettes and full-on color.  How can you enter the neutral zone?

1. If you are looking at neutrals on a paint chip, go one step more colorful from what you are thinking to ease you out of the ‘safe’ neutrals and get you into a bolder or perhaps more colorful neutral.
2. Anything you find in a wineglass works well with neutrals, from champagne to burgundy to merlot.
3. Rethink beige.  Far from being one-note, it runs the gamut from grayish mushroom to greenish khaki to rich Café au lait.  If you are most comfortable in the beige area, use variations like these to change things up.
4. Changing the sheen—such as using high-gloss paint on the walls or the ceiling—is a clever way to punch up a neutral palette.  But be careful.  High Gloss paint is not for everyone.

Such terms as “Farm-Fresh Neutrals”, “Rustic”, “Pastoral hues”, “Earthy”, all describe the neutral colors that are popular.  Here are a few for you to consider.

Doeskin (C21-4) made by Olympic Paint is a chocolate alternative.  It is pale brown but still looks rich and yummy.

Homestead Resort Tea Room Yellow (3004-4B) made by Valspar is a warm and livable yellow that is easygoing enough for walls.  Paired with blues or dark woods, the look is classic; with gray, it is fresh and contemporary.

Artesian White (C19-1) made by Ace Hardware is great on trim or furniture, this off-white pops—especially in a high-gloss sheen. Though for most trim a semi-gloss will be a better choice.

Cracked Wheat (320E-2) made by Behr can be paired with a rich brown or deep red, this cream will look even warmer.

Trumpet Gold (14C4) made by True Value is a brownish gold that works very well with all of the colors that we have listed.  Everyone thinks of gold when you mention neutral.  This is a great choice.

From buttery yellow to rustic brown you will find many choices in the neutral palette. One direction that we will talk about in another article is “Green”.  Greens are very, very popular and many of them are in the neutral choices. 

One of the keys to making neutrals work is to use several different colors in any given room.  If you use just one neutral then the room will not pop or have any punch.  The collection of neutrals that you use can be in the paint, furniture, floors, rugs, window treatments, pillows, wall art and accessories.  Each item should be a different neutral color.  Also, vary the texture, this will liven up the room and complete the look.

Enjoy the selection process and plan out as many details as you can before you begin the project.

As Always, “Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Visit our web page at www.kenraderinteriors.com

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Check out our archived articles, 104 to be exact, all about painting and decorating.