Some clients of Franklin Painting LLC are looking for something different than our normal, top-notch interior painting schemes. They are looking for a real “artistic” touch using advanced painting techniques, murals or Trompe L’Oeil effects. We have been offering these services for many years and are quite comfortable meeting our customer’s most imaginative interior desires. Our crews are schooled in many of the decorative and special treatments, and for the real artistic work we call on one of CT’s finest muralists who will add her amazing work to ours producing results that are simply amazing. This work can be applied to walls, ceilings, trim, architectural elements and even furnishings. Imagine the possibilities, then give us a call to discuss how to create the reality.
Large artwork and bright colors stand out in a room but faux finishes make the entire room stand out! You can make a very dramatic statement with faux finishes. The concept of faux finishes, or decorative painting as it is also known, is not a new concept as it has been around for thousands of years, but just as with any other type of artistry, it comes and goes in popularity. Recently, faux painting techniques have seen a huge come back and they are once again in demand home decorating techniques.
What is faux finishing? The name comes from the French word, “faux” meaning false, due to the craft’s typically deceptive appearance, where paint will be used to emulate the look of wood or stone or suede. This style of painting has also grown to encompass other areas of wall artwork and decorative finishes as well.
Just as with any design decision, it can be hard to settle on one color scheme and faux finish. When we work with homeowners or designers, our faux artist becomes a consultant / craftswoman as she works on the project under our pre-planned design direction. We will integrate the artistic into the overall painting scheme to make the most of the techniques used. The effects available are numerous and range from the simple ragging or sponge painting to the more complex suede or stone looks. Since it may be hard to choose a texture or pattern that fits in well with the interior design of the room our design experience will help guide you to just the right choices.
T
o get started, first get to know the various types of finishes out there. Getting a good idea of all of your options will help you narrow down the ones you don’t like and hone in on the ones you do like. There are many methods of faux painting, but some of the more popular choices are listed below.
Trompe L’Opeil: French for “to fool the eye,” this effect creates an illusion on your walls. An example of this work would be a painting of a realistic looking window where there is no physical window in place or painting a serene scene in a bathroom or a sky on the ceiling. This technique is remarkably life like and a dynamic element in any room.
Strie: This is a negative glaze technique that is used to create subtle texture on a wall. Made by running a brush or tool through the top glaze on a wall, it is most commonly used to create a soft striped texture, but can also create a fabric or linen look.
Marble: An elegant mottled surface appearance that looks remarkably like real marble.
Ragging On or Off: One of the more basic methods of faux painting, ragging on encompasses the method of applying paint to the wall using a wadded up cloth to create a textured pattern, and ragging off similarly uses a cloth to pull the freshly applied paint or glaze from the wall, creating a texture.
Brick: The mock brick style can be acquired by either using texturing methods or by painting the brick pattern on the walls and using an artist’s brush to fill them in to create the look of a real brick wall.
Venetian Plaster: One of the most requested types of finish, this encompasses the various elaborate techniques that make a wall look centuries old with the application of thin layers of plaster.
Suede: An elegant texture that works well in a dining room or other formal areas, this is a warm and inviting look that takes on the appearance of real suede.
There are many more special painting techniques and styles to choose from this short list is just designed to stir your creative juices and imagining the possibilities.
Once you have picked a technique that you love, we move on to the color scheme. It is best when the colors for the faux finish are pulled from existing colors and accents used in the room. Most faux finishes use two colors, so keep this in mind when looking for a color combination that will work well. Also remember that you can pull different shades from decorative pieces already in the room such as the bed spread, curtains, or existing artwork. Another approach to choosing colors is to pick contrasting colors for the faux finish on your walls to liven up a room that currently only contains mostly subdued tones.
Take a look at a few more examples of our Decorative Painting in CT by clicking this link.
Now that you have the technique and color scheme picked out, how do you decide between faux finishing companies? Here are a few things to keep in mind…
· First make sure that the company has a professional membership to one of the professional trade organizations like the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA). A good company will be invested in their continued education and improving their work.
· To eliminate your risk as a homeowner and protect yourself in case a problem should arise, always check and make sure that the home painting company you choose has general liability insurance so that this will cover any injuries or damage that may happen to your home. Make sure to not only ask that they have it, but also request that they provide a record proving the insurance.
· Be very wary of companies that can provide an instant estimate over the phone. Faux finishes are a lot more labor intensive than the standard roller painting of a wall. These methods take time and skill if they are to be done correctly. There are many factors that can make the job more difficult, including windows or obstacles or high ceilings. Even knowing the exact amount of square footage the print will cover, the artesian will still need to see the area to produce an accurate estimate.
· Before you give the go-ahead on a project, make sure you feel comfortable with the company you have chosen. Not only will this person likely be spending a few days in your home but faux finishes are also very personal and a matter of the homeowner’s taste. For this reason, you should feel comfortable adding your input and communicating throughout the project to ensure the end result is to your liking.
· Above all, look at a portfolio of work that is done by the painting company and/or the artist that you are considering. Sketches may be provided to help craft the design to be used, so ask if they are included.
· Always ask for references that have has work done like this and call at least one to make sure that they were happy with the results.
Faux finishes are a great way to give a room the “wow” factor and create a unique and personalized space inside your home. Don’t clutter your walls with too much artwork, embellish them with just the right decorative painting instead!
Call us Toll Free at 877-646-7774
or at our main office number 860-678-7701
2 Eastview Drive, Farmington, CT 06032
Faux Painting, Faux Finishes in CT, Decorative Painting in farmington, ct 06032 – avon, ct 06001 – simsbury, ct 06070 – west simsbury, ct 06092 – canton, ct 06019 – burlington, ct 06013 – bloomfield, ct 06002 – unionville, ct 06085 – weatogue, ct 06089 – suffield, ct 06078 – windsor, ct 06095 – granby, ct 06035 – collinsville, ct 06022 – west hartford, ct 06110 – 06117 – 06119 – 06127 – 06133 – 06137 / bristol, ct 06010 – new britain, ct – 06050 – 06051 – 06052 – 06053 / newington, ct 06111 – wethersfield, ct 06109 – cromwell, ct 06416 – rocky hill, ct 06067- berlin, ct 06037 – kensington, ct 06037 – portland, ct 06480 – middletown, ct 06547 – meriden, ct 06450 – middlefield, ct 06455 – east hampton, ct 06424 – chesire, ct 06410 – southington, ct 06489 – glastonbury, ct 06033 – south glastonbury, ct 06073- south windsor, ct 06074 – elllington, ct – east windsor, ct 06088 – hebron, ct 06248 – marlborough, ct 06447 – manchester, ct 06040 – 06042 – 06045 – bolton, ct 06043 – colchester, ct 06415 – tolland, ct 06084
