Well guys, this last week of the challenge was both an exciting one and also a very very busy one.
We finally got the wall all patched up, primed, repainted and then stencilled. And, I truly could not be happier with the results:
Honestly, the entire vibe of the apartment has been elevated. This dining room is visible from our sectional and I literally can’t stop looking over and smiling while I'm sitting on it!
Here are the before photos once again, just for dramatics:
And, here is the Glam Dining Room I can't wait to brag about:
So what did I learn along the way:
Paint stripper and working in the sun helps you scrap and sand furniture much easier
How to properly inspect a wall before painting it
How to fill holes in wood and perfectly sand them so they are invisible
Using a brush or roller to apply paint to furniture and then going over it with a foam brush leaves a nice clean texture on the piece
Cracks in walls, no matter how small, will need to be chipped out and re-patched
How to set up a plastic barrier wall for intense sanding
Don’t buy the cheap painters tape + when to use delicate painters tape
Bulkheads should almost always be white underneath
Stencilling a full wall can be time consuming but is sooooooo worth it. Don‘t be afraid to cut up stencils at the end for tight areas
A high-density roller is the best option for stencilling, AND, you should definitely also order a stippling brush & fine tip flat brush for touch ups - you will need them
Doing two coats of paint on a stencil will take a lot longer because you have to wait for the first coat to dry before moving the stencil or adding the second coat
Stencils will almost always bleed a little but it seriously is not visible at all once you get 3 feet away from the wall + touch ups work incredibly well
I am not a professional painter ha!
Cleaning a chandelier by hand is very time consuming and tedious, but damn do they sparkle when you’re done
7 weeks really do fly by!
My cat likes to be my audience when I take videos explaining stuff - and I can't keep my game face on when he does
Champagne is the best way to celebrate a job well done
Quick Designer tips:
1st off, all of the above!
Matte white paint hides so much on your walls - take your time when inspecting the condition of a wall
Paint will almost always look darker in your home
Paint also dries darker
Oil based metallics are shinier
Light changes colour drastically
Always up-size round mirrors above consoles because they visually are much smaller than square or rectangle mirrors
Mix your textures & patterns by using different scales/ repeats
Always include items that excite you
Behind the Scenes celebrating with my partner in crime:
(He scared the cat ha!)
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That's all for now!
Here are the links to the previous posts:
Don't forget to take a look at what the other fab designer did for their ORC by clicking the link below!
