YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
by Christine Ballew-Gonzales
SBJ Contributing Writer
Trends in interior paint and wallpaper are leaning away from pristine, new looks and moving toward crackled, weathered finishes, according to Jeanie Compas, designer at Seminole Paint and D?cor. Compas said that faux finishes are hot right now in interior paint.
"It's like a sponging, a tone-on-tone look," she said. "It gives a worn, antiquated look, and it warms up the room." Faux finishes are very versatile, Compas said, and can be used throughout a home. "They lend themselves to any kind of look," she said.
The faux finish can be achieved by first applying a base coat, then covering that with a second, diluted coat of paint. The second coat may be applied by rag or sponge, Compas said. A glaze, which may be the same color or a different color, is applied over the second coat. The result is a finish rich in color and dimension. "Then you just sit back and enjoy it," she said. "Faux finishes give walls texture and depth."
Wallpaper is reflecting the same trend, Compas said. "The wallpaper is printed to look textured and worn, and have some depth," she said. Compas urged those who are considering these looks to first evaluate what they like, rather than just going with the latest trend. "We can tell people what's trendy, but we encourage people to do what's best for them," she said.
Sharon Cates, owner and a designer at Seminole Paint and D?cor, said that faux finishes are used in all kinds of wall design applications. "Faux finishes are any kind of finish that simulates something else," she said. "Now, people want things to look like they've been in their barn for 30 years."
Faux finishes range from suede and marble looks to fantasy finishes, those that are created in a setting where they would not naturally occur, Cates said, and a homeowner can figuratively let his or her imagination run wild when it comes to fantasy finishes. "If you can imagine it, there's a designer who can create it," she said.
Maralee Cook, designer at Habersham Interiors, said that the colors used for interior walls are changing, as well. "We're seeing a richening of the colors we've been working with in the '90s," Cook said. "Green has really been the color of the '90s." But the forest green seen at the beginning of the decade has given way to the olive and sage seen more today.
Other updated colors for walls include new twists on the same old whites and browns. "We're seeing richer neutrals, deeper tones than the traditional beige and antique off-white," Cook said.
The new colors also have added a kick of texture. "Texture still plays an important role," she said. Textured looks for walls can be achieved with different techniques. Paint can be applied over textured drywall, or paint with sand in the mixture can be used on a flat wall to create dimension.
However, textured paint techniques aren't for the amateur painter, Cook said. "Texture is very difficult to apply, so we recommend that a professional do that," she said. An easier way to get the textured look without hiring a pro is to use textured wallpapers. "It still appears to be a faux finish, but it's achieved using wallpaper," she said. "It's much easier to apply."
Springfield Design Center designer Robyn Cionko said that classics are still making their presence felt when it comes to wallpaper designs.
Traditional, document-type prints, as well as the Ralph Lauren wallpapers, are very popular choices, Cionko said. "I see as many classic selections selling as trendy ones," she said.
Wall color trends for the coming years will include clearer, brighter colors with silver overtones, lending an updated dimension to color.
According to Cionko, choosing interior paint or wallpaper begins with looking at color trends. "If you know what the hot colors are now, those will show up in wallcovering, paint and fabrics," she said.
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