Group C - Decorative finishes on plaster surfaces (Jennifer Shum)

Group C - Decorative finishes on plaster surfaces (Jennifer Shum)

HOW TO CREATE ROUGH PLASTER WALLS

A rough plaster finish, painted pale pink and glazed with copper, adds old-world charm to any room.

Materials

stucco mud

latex paint

glaze

Tools

trowel

paintbrush

soft cloth

joint knife

Step 1: Apply the first layer

Apply a thin coat -- about 1/4" thick -- of compound to the wall, using the flat edge of the joint knife. A thick coat might crack and would take a very long time to dry.

Step 2: Make different textures

Experiment with creating various surface textures. Use a trowel with teeth to make ridges, aluminum foil to make peaks or a whiskbroom to create a striated surface. When the textured surface is complete, let the wall compound dry for about 24 hours.

Step 3: Apply the semigloss paint

Use a paintbrush to apply pale-pink semigloss paint to the wall. This warm undercoat will give the wall an aged look. Apply at least two coats to seal the surface of the drywall compound. Allow the paint to dry between coats.

Step 4: Apply the glaze

Brush a liberal amount of glaze onto the wall with a wide paintbrush. Wipe off the excess with a cotton cloth, allowing glaze to collect in the crevices for an aged look. Glaze one small area at a time, but try to complete an entire wall before stopping, to prevent overlap marks.