Ask the experts
Want to jazz up melamine or antique furniture, paint your ceiling white – or simply looking for advice on colour? We’ve got the answers...
A ‘hole’ new look!
My bedroom cupboard has four melaminecoated doors, one of which has a hole. I can’t afford to replace all four, but I don’t want one to look different to the others. I’ve thought about painting them white, but that seems like a major job – never mind the smell! Any advice?
Jani Goussard of Paint & Décor DIY replies The DIY buzz item at the moment is Annie Sloan paint. You can apply it directly to your melamine cupboards and it doesn’t have a strong smell – in fact, it’s very ecofriendly and has extremely low VOCS, so it’s perfect for bedrooms! You can then replace just the one door or fill and sand it.
First, clean all the doors with sugar soap and perhaps give them a light sanding with 180-grit sandpaper (this is not a prerequisite, but it will help the paint adhere to the melamine even better), and then simply paint! Once the paint has dried (about 20 minutes), seal it with Annie Sloan Clear Soft Wax or even a water-based non-yellowing sealant such as Harlequin Decorators Varnish.
For a fun alternative, make use of frames to hide the hole in the cupboard door and decorate it with mouldings from Paint & Décor DIY. You can put anything in the frame from neutral stripes or a pretty pattern to material stuck to card and mounted.
Otherwise, paint hardboard in chalkboard paint, frame it and stick it onto your cupboards. Now you can add inspirational messages or reminders! You can also use double-sided tape to secure the frames to the doors. Have fun! CONTACT paintdecordiy.co.za
Antique update
How do I create a white antique look on my terracotta pot plant holders?
Lisa Spaarwater replies There are two methods: 1 Use yoghurt to age a terracotta pot Simply brush the exterior with plain yoghurt, covering it completely. Set it aside in a shaded spot and leave it for about one month. If you prefer a more subtle look, soak the pot in water for 15 minutes before you brush it with the yoghurt. 2 Use the antique stucco technique to age the pot and add texture:
• Mix 1 litre water-based paint with 1/5 of a cup of crack filler – it’s easier to work with than cement.
• Apply the mixture thinly on the terracotta pot with a scraper, working in different directions until the entire pot is covered.
• If you like the look, allow it to dry.
• For a more subtle look, allow the pot to dry slightly and smooth the texture out a bit.
• You can even ‘engrave’ the surface now for a personalised look.
• Allow it to dry completely.
• For a more antique look: use a darker colour in a water-based paint, mix with scumble glaze (check the ratio on the tin) and rub the pot with a mutton cloth; or use the artist oil colour ‘raw umber’ mixed with a few drops of turpentine and then buff the pot with a dry mutton cloth. CONTACT lemonlilac.co.za
Hit the ceiling
How do I go about painting my knotty pine ceilings white?
Dulux expert Nonkululeko Mcunu replies This can be a tricky task – you’ll be applying a paint technique to a ceiling after all! Depending on how white you want the ceiling, there are two methods to achieve the look you want.
First, wipe down the pine boards with a moist rag to remove any dust and dirt. Then take a small sample of Dulux Pearlglo Waterbased satin enamel in a clear base and ask your local paint store to mix in some white tint (colourant). The amount of white tint used depends on how white you want the finish. Then apply the mixture as you would any other ceiling paint. Note that with this particular mixture, the actual grain of the wood will be lost, but the knots in the wood will still be visible.
If an exposed wood grain and a washed effect is what you desire, you will need to use the same mixture with equal parts of scumble glaze and water as this will keep the mixture open until you achieve the desired finish. Use a thick sponge to apply the mixture. Remember not to apply too much pressure as you want the wood grain to be visible.