Decorative Artists are often faced with the challenge of renewing multiple surfaces in a single room while also containing costs.  This can be achieved with a smart selection of products applied in different ways to create complimentary looks.

At Surfaces, we’ve been developing a series of sleek glamorous finishes we call the Modern Romantics. Our Bombshell Bath combines soothing but sexy shades of pearl, silver, and light mocha for a ceiling, wall, cabinet, and tile finish.

I’ve done illustrated demonstrations (another way of saying training) since I was 9 and in 4-H.  Then it was “How to feed a puppy.”  Early on, I knew two things-I love talking and I love drawing. Much later, I started my career writing and training on youth programs for, of all groups, 4-H!   Teaching got really interesting when I began to specialize in adolescent reproductive health.  Now when artist students ask a faux finishing question and prefaces it with “this may be a weird question…” I always smile and think, “After teaching sex education, nothing asked in a painting class even comes close to strange.”    – Rebecca Slaton

Bombshell Bath: Tattinger Tile

Faux Effects Products:  Primetch, Royal Taupe Setcoat, Pearl Palette Deco, FX Thinner, Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal, Van Dyke Brown Stain & Seal, Copper Faux Metal, Silver Fine Glitter, Lace Table Cloth or Runner and C-500 Satin Topcoat.

Step One: Clean tile and grout with TSP. Lightly sand tile with 150 sandpaper and remove dust. Roll a coat of Primetch 100% over the tile and grout using a black foam roller. Back rolling with a dry foam roller will minimize bubbles.  The Primetch should dry to the stage where it is no longer tacky to the touch. If applied in the morning, Setcoat may be applied in the late afternoon.

Step Two: Using a Black Foam Roller, apply a coat of Royal Taupe Setcoat to the tile and the grout.  This should dry overnight.  Lightly sand the surface the next day to check bonding.  Tape off the grout lines using ¼” or 1/8” grout tape making sure to burnish the tape edges.

Step Three: Tape a piece of lace table cloth or runner over the tile.  Using a trowel, apply a medium amount of Palette Deco Pearl over the lace.  Pull the Palette Deco over the pattern with the trowel or a Japan Scraper. You should be able to see the fabric through the Palette Deco.

Remove the lace and repeat across the surface lapping areas as you go.  It is easier to use a lace that has an allover random pattern rather then lace that has distinct pattern like a stripe. The Palette Deco will dry in a few hours based on thickness.

Step Four: Stir the contents of Faux Metal Copper well making sure to blend the metal shaving with the alcohol base. Brush a medium thick layer of the copper over the pattern and soften with cheesecloth or a cloth.  You may remove more of the copper using a damp rag but do not add water or a water-based glade medium to this product. This layer should dry several hours.

Step Five: When the Faux Metal is dry, brush an antiquing glaze of 1pint FX Thinner + 2 TBSP Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal + 2 TBSP Van Dyke Brown Stain & Seal  100% over the tile and soften with cheesecloth or a cloth.

Use a foam brush to pull the stain off the tips of the pattern.  This will also remove some of the Faux Metal. Let the glaze layer dry several hours to overnight before sealing.

Step Six: Score the grout tape with a blade and carefully remove. Place some fine silver glitter on a plate and pour C500 Satin over the top. (Image Seven) Roll this 100% over the surface.  Dry overnight and apply a second coat if needed.

Rebecca Slaton and her husband Bruce own Surfaces School of Decorative Finishing in Kansas City. Surfaces is a Faux Effects Gold Label Studio with 6,000 square feet of classroom and product retail space.  Rebecca’s commission work has been featured in numerous national publications and she has taught at several Faux Effects studios across the country. You can find out more about Rebecca, classes, and decorative art projects by checking out the Surfaces website, www.surfacesfinepaint.com or the Surfaces Fan Page on Facebook.