HGTV.comHGTV.com

Decorative Paint Technique: Leather

From our online exclusive Decorative Paint Techniques with Danielle Hirsch of Color Splash.

PHOTO

Put the luxurious look of soft leather on your walls using plastic grocery bags.
Difficulty level: 2 brushes out of 5

Danielle's Tips

  • Always practice this technique on a sample board beforehand.
  • Foam rollers distribute paint more evenly than dipping the bag directly into the color.

Materials:

plastic bags
paint tray
2 foam rollers and handle
china bristle brush
latex glaze (Studio Finishes 405) – Benjamin Moore
cheesecloth
latex paint, eggshell sheen: (base coat: Richmond Gold HC-41); (top coat: Maryville Brown HC-75) – Benjamin Moore
water bottle
top-coat glaze: Special Effects translucent color glaze (Mocha) – McCloskey

Steps:

1. Prepare the walls for painting; apply the base coat (Richmond Gold) and let dry.

PHOTO

Figure A
2. Mix one part Maryville Brown with one part water and one part glaze (Studio Finishes 405). Roll the mixture onto a scrunched-up plastic bag and dab it lightly on the wall (figure A). Control the amount of paint on the bags or it will drip. To avoid repeated patterns, move the bag around in your hands each time you add paint.
PHOTO

Figure B
3. Don't apply too much pressure or there won't be any texture. The idea is to keep the subtle contrast between the two colors so don't overwork it. Use a dry brush to remove any excess paint on the walls. Let the walls dry completely.
4. Carefully apply the Mocha glaze with a foam roller to bring the two colors together and add lots of luster. Use damp cheesecloth to smooth any dark edges the roller creates (figure B). Let dry.
Resources
paint
Benjamin Moore
Website: www.benjaminmoore.com

painting products
McCloskey
Website: www.valspar.com/val/resident/mccloskey.jsp
HGTV.com
Services Popular Content About
Our Sister Sites

Comparison Shop for Home Decor & Garden Tools at Shopzilla & BizRate

UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.

© 2008 Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.