Create an Old World Fresco Wall Finish

Learn how to create a textured fresco wall finish.

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Filed under: Traditional, Painting and Finishing, How To, Design Style

Antique your walls with a fresco wall finish.

Artist Melanie Royals shares how to create an Old World fresco wall finish with a stenciled pattern using a wax resist method. It's a rich, expensive-looking decorative treatment that will improve the look of any room.

Materials:

PlasterTex (a specialty plaster finish)
AquaWax (water-based synthetic wax)
Antique Cherry Stain and Seal (water-based gel stain)
stencils (Small Moorish Trellis , Floral Chain)
acrylic colorant (Yellow Ochre)
4" dense foam roller
8-inch 1/2" nap roller
paint trays
plastic joint knife or wallpaper smoother
large stipple brush
blue painter's tape
repositionable spray adhesive
3" chip brush
spray bottle with water

Steps:

Apply plaster finish to the walls by rolling a generous amount on with a 1/2" nap roller. Use a plastic joint knife to apply material into corners and along ceiling line. Knock down peaks lightly as you work with the joint knife or plastic wallpaper smoother, holding the tool at a parallel angle to the surface and using a light pressure . Work in manageable sections so that the plaster does not dry out before you can smooth it down. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Figure A

Tape stencil to the wall in desired location. Tip: For all-over and repeated border patterns, instead of making registration marks on the wall, place a small piece of tape under the area of the registration mark and make your marks on the tape (figure A). For added adhesion, spray the stencil lightly with repositionable spray adhesive .

Mix AquaWax with a small amount of yellow ochre acrylic paint to tint and place in a paint tray. Load a foam roller evenly with the tinted wax and offload excess wax on paper towels. Stencil the pattern by rolling the wax lightly over the stencil . Be sure not to press too hard, as that will push the material under the stencil . It is best to do a couple of light coats rather than one heavy one. Repeat until the wall is completed. Wipe off excess wax that may have leaked onto the back between repeats. Allow to dry.

Figure B

Pour Stain and Seal into a paint tray. Apply to wall in manageable sections with a 3" chip brush. In order to keep the stain wet and workable as you manipulate it, mist the wall lightly with water. Use the large stipple brush to "scrub" the stain into the surface of the plaster. The stenciled wax pattern will resist the color as you apply, allowing the design to show through for a distressed, Old World look (figure B).