Strie and Chambray Painting Techniques

Are you looking for an inexpensive and easy idea to change the look of a room in your home? Or thinking about a home improvement project that will add interest and charm to a particular area in your home? Then you may want to consider a painting technique called Strie and chambray. Using this technique, a colored glaze is applied over a light colored base coat. Then the wet glaze is immediately worked with a dry brush to create a delicate pattern. This technique creates dramatic results in any room of your home and is a simple and easy way to decorate your home.

The materials required to accomplish this job are fairly simple. A stepladder, a canvas drop cloth, a paint roller, paint tray and paintbrushes. There are so many paints available on store shelves today that it can be hard to choose just one. Just remember that oil based paints and glazes are the ones preferred by most professional decorative painters. You'll also need to buy some painters tape, which is designed to seal well at the edges so the paint won't bleed underneath. It won't pull off any of the paint or damage the surface when it is removed. Glazing liquid is another item you will need before beginning your home improvement project. This has a paint like consistency and when mixed with paint, the resulting glaze produces a translucent finish. You also need to purchase paint in two colors. Making sure one of them is a light colored base coat and a darker color you'll use to tint the glazing liquid. Paint thinner for thinning the glaze and a paint mixing bucket.
1. The first step in beginning your paint project is to prepare your walls for painting. Remove any cover plates and mask the fixtures. Complete any needed trim or wall repairs, prime them and paint the trim. Mask the trim to protect it while you are painting the walls. Roll on a base coat of eggshell or other light colored semi gloss latex paint.
2. Mix and apply the glaze by pouring one part paint and one part glazing liquid into a paint bucket mixing together well. Use a medium roller to apply the gauze over a three foot wide area from the top to the bottom of the wall.
3. Texture the paint by filling in the unpainted areas at the very top and bottom with the strie or dragging brush. Then drag the brush down the wall from top to bottom in a single pass with the same amount of pressure. Overlap the previously brushed area very slightly to avoid a noticeable transition from one pass to the next.
4. Remove the masking tape as you complete each wall by pulling slowly, at a low angle to avoid peeling off the paint. This method of painting is excellent on walls, but also works well on tables, doors, or just about anywhere you'd like to have a new and unique look. This painting technique adds instant charm and sophistication to any room.

There are many colors to choose from when painting a room using this style. Just remember to choose a light color for the base and a darker colored paint for the accenting color. Remember when you are painting to keep your texturing brush dry by wiping the glaze off the bristles with a damp rag as you complete each pass. Painting a room is a relative easy job that can be completed with minimal effort and expense. Small lower areas are particularly good candidates for dragging because you don't have to climb on a ladder for access to hard to reach areas. To get more information on this stylish and unique painting method visitwww.diy.com.