STENCIL Magic

Diane Cargioli loves stencils. “They are just so Colonial—I never tire of the historical designs,” she enthuses. She purchases designs from stencil books and has even created a few custom patterns for her Fairfield, Ohio, home. A fan of classic designs by Moses Eaton, she offers the following advice for others considering similar period-perfect designs:

TRY YOUR HAND. Diane advises doing a dry run before taking your design to the walls. “Practice on paper first, and then tape it up on the wall,” she recommends.

GO FOR THE BOLD. If you like big motifs, don’t shy away from incorporating them into your rooms. Diane still wishes she had used a larger stencil in her master bedroom. “Don’t be afraid to go big at the ceiling. If it’s too

small, it gets lost. I’ve learned that the hard way,” she says.

STAY DRY. Stenciling works best with a fairly dry brush, so it’s necessary to blot off much of the paint before applying it to the stencil. “I put a small spot of my colors on a paper plate and wrap a thick padding of paper towel around my right wrist and secure with tape,” Diane, a leftie, explains. “I use this for blotting my brush for paint control.”

SPRAY PUT. Apply spray adhesive to the back of the stencil before positioning it on the wall. “It helps a lot to keep paint from getting underneath,” Diane notes.

A DAB WILL DO. Use specialty stencil brushes. These tools are short and round. Using a quick up and down “dabbing” movement will help you avoid paint bleeding under the edges of the stencil.

“You don’t have to be an antiques dealer or decorator— there is so much you can do with paint.”

Diane found the family room end tables at an antiques store and painted and distressed them to her liking; she also repainted the coffee table a deep red. Though they feature a different design, plates on the small wall shelf coordinate with the colors on the accent chair and sofa pillows.

Below: Lighter tones in the pie safe and trim balance the darker panels and black and upholstered furniture in the family room. To boost the character of the black cabinet in the opposite corner, Diane installed wood brackets in the opening, crown molding on top, and wood strips along the sides.

Left: Pretty posies fill a small country crock in the family room. An appliquéd stitchery beneath the crock helps call attention to the piece and protects the furniture surface.