Metallic Striped Nook

After we came back from our Honeymoon in France I wanted to keep that Parisian feel going. The French really know how to make something basic look chic. Stripes are so simple but add so much sophistication to a room. I don’t have photos to go with this guide, but there are 2 main tricks to use when painting stripes that I have detailed in the guide.
 
Skill Level: Beginner

Materials

• Water-based paint (2 tones)

Tools

• Paint brushes
• Small sponge roller
• Rubber gloves
• Masking tape
• Tape measure
• Pencil

​How to Guide

Paint, paint, paint

• Put on your rubber gloves!
• Open your lighter tone of paint and stir it well.
• Pour some of the paint into the roller pan.

Home Base

• Using the roller, paint the whole area with the base tone.
• Apply at least 2 coats.

• Allow paint to fully dry between coats.

Setting up stripes

• Measure the height of your wall (assuming you want horizontal stripes).
• Divide your height measurement by the total number of stripes you want (both tones).
• Check to see if you like the thickness of the stipe based on your measurements (for thicker stripes divide by a smaller number, for thinner stripes divide by a bigger number).

Mark it up

• After the base tone is fully dry, mark the measurements of your stripes along the wall edge with a pencil.
• Using the measurements on the wall edge as a guide, continue to mark your lines across the wall (this will make it easier to place the masking tape).

Taping Stripes

• Using your guide, place the tape along the line.
• Make sure to tape OUTSIDE the stripes that you will be painting the second tone on.

The FIRST TRICK to perfect lines!

• Before applying your second tone, using a paintbrush, go back over the inside edges of the tape with your first tone.
• Any bleeding that occurs when you do this will be your base tone and will be invisible.

Two tone

• Open your second tone of paint and stir it well.
• Pour some of the paint into the roller pan.
• Using a roller, apply your second tone to every other stripe.
• Apply at least 2 coats.
• Allow paint to fully dry between coats.

The SECOND TRICK to perfect lines!

• Apply one final coat of your second tone, but before it dries carefully peel off your tape.
• Do this stripe by stripe to ensure the paint is wet.
• The wet paint will make it easier to pull the tape off without ripping it or having it become “glued” to the wall.

Hang a baroque mirror, art or photos, then stand back and admire!