Designer Kurt Cyr suggests ways to use plaster or composition-resin pillars in decorating and gives tips for finishing a pillar.
- Apply a terra-cotta latex base and let dry.
- On a plastic plate or other palette, pour pools of white paint and any other colors you wish to use. Mix one color into some of the white (Cyr used yellow oxide) and , working with the paint somewhat watery, spatter the white mixture onto the painted pillar. Using a brush and a block of wood, spatter the paint by tapping the brush against the block lightly. Layer colors as you desire, coordinating with your home 's interior colors.
- Apply a coat of oil-based dark-walnut stain over the surface to age the color and the spatters.
- After the stain is dry, brush on a quick-dry synthetic gold sizing (this will make gilding powder adhere to the surface), placing it wherever you will wish the gilding to go and being sure that it doesn't pool in any areas. Let it dry a couple of minutes , until it's tacky.
- Apply gilding powder (Cyr used bronze) with a dabbing brush (a type of Oriental paintbrush). It's a good idea to wear a mask, as the powder is fine and will blow about your work area.
- Spray the gilded area with lacquer and let dry. Polish it with a soft rag.
You can apply the wood stain over the gilded areas to darken the crevices, if you wish. You can also brush white into the crevices to "pickle" the finish and mimic gesso ground.
Cyr grounded his column by painting the base charcoal and adding a gold stripe around it.
Decorating With Columns
Some of Kurt Cyr and Kitty Bartholomew's ideas for decorating with columns include the following:
- Use a column as a nightstand.
- Place four small columns about 36" apart and top with a piece of glass for a coffee table. (Small columns run about $20, tall ones about $50.)
- Use a tall column as a plant stand or more than one as the base for a bar.
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