FLIGHT OF Fancy
To decorate one of his staircases, Terry studied historic stencil designs and then hired a painter to apply his chosen graphics to thin wood panels for the builders to affix to the risers. He stenciled additional patterns on the landings as a finishing touch. He admits to painting over his first attempt and beginning again. “The design is duplicated from a painted floor at the 1790s Bump Tavern, now located at The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, New York,” he explains. “I found it online while researching patterns for floorcloths.” Here’s how to get a similar look with a single-color stencil on your stair risers:
Materials and Tools
• Thin wood boards cut to fit risers
• Stencils
• Stencil adhesive
• Painter’s tape
• Latex paint
• Paint roller and tray
• Paintbrush with natural bristles
• Mini stencil roller and tray
• Paper towels
• Finish sealer
• Finish nailer and nails
Instructions
1. Tape off all wall and trim areas that will not be painted.
2. Paint the stair treads, risers, boards to affix to risers, and any landings with two coats of base color using a fullsize roller and paintbrush. Let dry between coats.
3. Spray the back of a stencil with stencil adhesive, and position it at your starting point on a board. Press the stencil onto the surface, smoothing it to ensure that all areas have adhered well.
4. Pour a small amount of paint into the mini roller tray. Saturate the stencil roller, and roll off the excess paint onto a stack of paper towels. The foam roller should be nearly dry to the touch to make a crisp design. Using light pressure, apply the paint to the stencil. Check to make sure all stencil openings have been covered. Remove the stencil and let the paint dry.
5. Move the stencil to the repeat position, taking care to line it up. Roll on paint, remove the stencil carefully and let dry. Continue stenciling until all areas are complete. Let dry.
6. Apply two or three coats of finish sealer to protect all painted surfaces, letting dry between coats.
7. Nail the stenciled boards to the risers.