Shari Hiller and Matt Fox come to the rescue with decorating ideas for a newly purchased home in Dallas with little in the way of furniture and accessories. Their primary task was to decorate a foyer with a big expanse of white walls, tall ceilings and high windows. Based on the homeowner's preferences, they blend classic and contemporary styles and use a soft, pastel color palette.
In the Know
Textured, acoustic ceilings are popular in the south, but they can be difficult to paint since the little particles tend to flake off. Fox recommends using a split foam roller, which conforms around the particles, when painting an acoustic ceiling. Be sure and roll the paint on in both directions, completely painting the ceiling from one direction first, and then repeating from the other direction. To get close to the wall, mask off the wall with painter's tape, and push the roller up against it.
Out and About
Before tackling their decorating project, Hiller and Fox visit decorated models in the area to get a sense of regional styles and to get some ideas for handling a large volume of space. Taking a camera along is a good way to document the ideas . They come away with ideas for three projects:
- Built-in ledges or shelves to fill in the top quarter of a high ceiling or break up a large expanse of wall.
- Mirrors on the dining room walls
- Trim used to create details on walls--boxes that provide a road map for hanging pictures.
The Process
Hiller and Fox use color, decorative trim and shelving to break up the big wall in the foyer of the Dallas home they are decorating. Fox explains how to create the trim boxes and shelving.
Trim Boxes:
- Determine what size the box should be then use a measuring tape and level to mark the dimensions on the wall.
- Mark off the boxes with painter's blue tape.
- Paint the wall outside the boxes. Fox used a soft putty color pulled from the flooring on the wall around the boxes to contrast with the lighter color for the inside of the boxes already on the walls. When the paint is dry, pull off tape.
- Cut the picture frame trim to length, using a miter box and hack saw.
- Pre-prime and paint the first coat before installing the trim on the wall.
- Attach trim to wall using trim nails.
- Fill the nail holes, sand smooth and paint the final coat.
- Touch up the wall paint around the box if necessary.
Shelving:
- Measure the length of shelf and cut with a circular saw, using a block of wood for a guide.
- Cut sides and front trim.
- Place front trim flush with the top of the shelf.
- Attach with finish nails, being sure to countersink the nails.
- Fill nail holes with wood filler and sand smooth with 150 grade sandpaper.
- Prime and sand with 220 grade sand paper.
- Attach 1' x 3' shelf support piece to the wall, making sure to find the studs.
- Attach shelf brackets, available at home supply stores and install the shelf.
- Install a piece or corner cove to cover the joint between the wall and the top of the shelf.
Pulling It All Together
Hiller and Fox established a soft contemporary style mixed with classic style in the entry with their choice of pictures and the soft colors in the area rug. They continue accessorizing in the family room in the same style, pulling the blue from couch upholstery as the accent color for the picture and vases that dress the mantel. In the kitchen, which is visible from the great room, they use a soft shade of green for table accessories, and add a touch of burgundy for depth. Later, as time and money allow, the top of the cabinets will be filled with silk greenery, urns and pictures.
paint for walls (discontinued: Rolling Hills 25-Y-1)
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