Tools Needed: painting clothes, ladder, paint tray, brush, roller cage, extension, wet cloth, painter’s tape, Faux Bois Rocker Tool.
Step 1
With your painting clothes on;
Prep the room, by moving furniture away from the wall giving yourself plenty of room to maneuver the ladder, yourself and painting tools. Fill any holes or cracks. Remove electrical plates. This is one of those few times I recommend taping. Use painters tape (blue or green, as it is not as sticky as masking tape) ensuring the edge of tape is stuck to the surface of the ceiling, wall and trim so there’s no seepage of paint.
Step 2
Start in the corner of the focal point (when entering the room).
Mix 5 parts of glaze to one part of Latex Eggshell Paint and then mix this mixture with 1 part water.
Cut wall edges from ceiling to trim with the mixture (glaze, paint and water). Next cut ceiling and above trim 2 (two) “widths” of rocker (faux bois tool).
These 2 “widths” are broken down as follows: 1st width = Straight Lines, 2nd width = Knots, which creates a “section”.
Step 3
Then roll the wall with the mixture, 2 widths wide. Using the rocker tool in the 1st width (In this example we started with 1st Width = Straight lines) start from the ceiling and using the comb edge, pressing firmly, bring the tool straight down the wall to the top of the trim. Don’t worry if you break the continuity (it will look more like planks of wood).
Step 4
Next width using the large surface of the rocker press firmly and “rock” the tool back and forth down the wall creating the 2nd Width = Knots, slightly overlapping the previous width (wet Straight Lines).
Final Steps (depending on how many sections)
Continue as above. Remembering these two widths create a section , you’ll need to work fast, one wet section at a time. This process will ensure the paint surface is continually wet allowing the Faux Bois tool to work its magic!
Upon reaching the end of the wall, work the width closest to the wall first and then the interior width last ensuring you overlap the previous section.
Let Dry (over night if possible) put cover plates on and furniture back.
Here you have your Faux Bois Wall.
Sweet Dreams!
Karen Thursby
KRThursby@hotmail.com
I’m wondering how this technique would work on previously painted wood trim around windows. With the right paint/glaze colour, do you think it could look like real wood? Do the rocker tools come in different patterns, such as oak? It certainly would be less toxic than stripping layers of lead-containing paint!
Hi Suzanne,
That’s a good question. There is a tool that does an oak grain and they do come in different sizes. You can check your local paint store or go online to http://www.paintinthetown.com.
The problem you will have if you try to paint trim is that you will only be able to paint the flat surfaces and not the small crevaces in the trim because the tools are not meant to bend.
But I never say never. Anything is worth trying. Have fun!
Diana
Hi Suzanne,
I just rendered a beautiful faux bois finish with paint and glaze on top of 250 square feet of white molding. It looks like real wood. There are several unique tools tool that are critical to the success of faux bois and for getting into the small areas.
FYI: The EPA has a new law regarding disturbing painted surfaces and Lead Paint. More information can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
Johanna Annable
WA-JOHANDS931CN
OR-174433
A) We’re doing this for our baby’s nursery and
B) We’re thinking about making a floating headboard like this for our oldest daughter’s room.. did you upholster it yourself? It’s so cool!
Hi Lacey,
Thanks for your comment.
Your baby’s room is going to look fantastic !!
The headboard was purchased, but you could easily make one with plywood, cut to size and covered in quilting and whatever fabric you want (all available at your favourite fabric store). Wrap the quilting around the front and staple gun it all around the back and then do the same with the fabric. You can find the fasteners (the name escapes me) to hang the headboard at your local hardware store. Best of luck!! And please send pictures.
Excellent! Thank you for the response! I love your site & I’ll definitely keep you posted on both.
Does it matter which way the rocker tool goes? Like would you hold it so the concentric half circles are like a rainbow or so it’s an upside down rainbow? And are you thinking of French cleats for hanging the headboard? They are ideal for this and very strong. Google it and you will see metal and wood varieties. The wood ones you could fashion yourself if you are handy.
Hi Bernadette,
You would hold the rocker tool either way depending on the type of grain look you want. This is where you would experiment. And yes, you are correct and French cleats were used to hang the headboard. Thanks for the feedback and have a great day!
Not sure how to post pics of my stuff on here but I finished the headboard (need to mount it still) but it turned out to be super cheap and stunning, well, I’m biased! 🙂
[…] Paint Talk – How to Faux Bois Your Walls February 2010 9 comments […]
Love this!!! This is exactly what I was looking for, and I can’t wait to try it 😀