PAINTED CHECK FLOOR
This lively two-tone effect in contrasting shades makes a striking feature in a hallway, kitchen or conservatory.
YOU WILL NEED
Sheets of 1.2cm-thick plywood to create a base covering for the floor (if needed) Sheets of 1.8cm or 1.2cm-thick plywood, cut into 20cm-wide planks Earl Grey and Olive Vintage Paint by Grand Illusions Card or spare plywood for a template Pencil and rubber Long baton of wood as a ruler guide Masking tape Mini roller and paintbrush Acrylic satin varnish Simply Varnish by Grand Illusions
1 How you start depends on the type of floor you have already. For most, it is likely you’ll need to line the entire area first with sheets of 1.2cm-thick plywood. Ask your DIY store to cut them to size. 2 Also get the DIY store to cut other plywood sheets into 20cm-wide planks, enough to cover the floor space. 3 Starting at a straight edge in the room, nail the planks to the plywood-sheeting base (if being used) or directly to existing floorboards. Leave a small gap between the planks to mimic the look of boards and continue until the floor is covered. 4 Paint the whole area with two coats of one of the colours (we used Earl Grey). 5 Make a square template (roughly 36cm x 36cm) from card or a piece of plywood. 6 Find a central line to work from on a floorboard and draw around the template square in pencil. 7 Using the template and a long baton of wood, keep extending the lines to make a checked pattern on the floor. If you’re going off centre, re-draw the line, erasing the first. Make a pencil mark in squares to be painted in a contrasting colour. 8 Mask the outer edges of the squares to be painted first. You will need to do this in two stages, otherwise the masking tape will overlap the next square. 9 Using a mini roller or brush, carefully paint the squares with two coats of the other shade (we used Olive), starting on the tape to avoid paint bleeding beneath. 10 Once dry, gently peel away the masking tape and repeat the process to paint the remaining marked squares. Leave to dry. 11 Apply a coat of acrylic satin varnish and, when dry, a coat of Simply Varnish on top for a matt finish.
Floorboards in Earl Grey and Olive; walls in Chapel; skirting in Earl Grey; dresser base in Olive over a base coat of Verde: all Vintage Paint range by Grand Illusions. Glassware and ceramic jugs, from a selection, Grand Illusions. Garden chair, mug and textiles, antiques market finds