When there is a specific style that听you want to achieve, a good starting point is to听investigate the materials and colours that are synonymous with听that look.
Traditional interiors call to mind the warm hues of polished wood, inviting sofas and chairs covered in classic stripes and paisley prints, wallpapered walls and lots of family photos on tables and shelves.
A chic city loft style would show off sleek furniture lines, a听mix of metal meets wood or听plastic for furniture, white walls with a shock of accent colour such as navy blue or acid听yellow for a surprising contrast.
I was asked to redecorate an old city kitchen, and the homeowners preference was for a lighthearted, country style that would suit their young family and听brighten up winter days.
I immediately thought of white听walls, mellow yellow cabinets, tiles with country character and bricks to add texture to the walls.
On a tight budget, we weren鈥檛 about to build a real brick wall, so I investigated options and discovered faux brick panels. The corner of the kitchen beside a big window was big enough to highlight the design, but not so big as to make the job too difficult. We cut the panels to fit and screwed them onto the wall.
The panels were given a good coat of high adhesion primer to seal.
To produce a rough brick texture, white paint was thickened with course wall-texturing powder, stirred but leaving some lumps intact.
A heavy pile roller was used to daub the surface to give the impression of old whitewashed brick walls.
Children love to draw, and see their artwork displayed, and the plain backsplash needed some attention. I devised a plan that would allow the children to get involved in the design and help put it together using mosaic tiles.
They drew a variety of shapes and pictures that fit the kitchen theme. Since building a tile picture directly onto the wall was going to be awkward, pieces of Masonite were cut to fit. Cut out any holes for sockets before you begin tiling. The designs were copied onto the Masonite.
The images were outlined and filled in with cut pieces of black, white and mirrored tiles. It鈥檚 like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. (Cutting tiles must be done by an听adult, as edges can be sharp. Use care and wear protective eye听covering.)
When placing the tiles, leave space around each piece for the grout lines. Glue the board in place before you grout.
There are many approaches to听decorating. If you enjoy the challenge, take the time to investigate what materials are available today that make a DIY project easier.
If the raw materials are too costly, such as precious woods, tinted glass tiles, or on trend wallcoverings, you can always find an affordable solution.
Use paint effects to imitate the听grain in wood, or check out the good quality laminates. Choose a few glorious tiles set听into a central pattern and surround them with basic white tiles.
Most of all, have fun just like the children, and display your work with pride.
听
Debbie Travis鈥檚 House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie鈥檚 website, debbietravis.com.
