Faux Finish Slate

Random Sample 2: Mary Walker’s Patina Project Part Two


Let’s go back to Mary’s project. She wanted a finish for the home office that would also compliment her deep olive carpet and the same navy cast black fabric. Mary also wanted to use a geometric stencil in a silver color over a patina surface. I decided to do a version of an oxidized Lusterstone I have in my own home.

Oxidized Lusterstone in my guestroom

I started the finish over a “slate” appropriate Setcoat color-Black, Dark Brown, Royal Taupe, or Sage will all work. I selected Ebony Frost and Weathered Bronze Lusterstones for my rock base. Butter the trowel blade with the Weathered Bronze and spot in connecting areas lightly knocking down the peaks. The Ebony Frost is applied in the same way. I alternated the colors using 80% Ebony Frost and 20% of the Weathered Bronze.

 

When the Lusterstone is dry, I used a sea sponge to spot in Magic Metallic Steel. The steel will give the Lusterstones a grayish cast. While the steel is still wet, I use another sponge to dab in Burnt Sienna Faux Crème Color thinned with glaze. You may work a 6’x6’ section at a time. Before a section dries, I spritz the surface with the Rapid Rust and then water to break and blend all my colors. Use a cloth to dab at any large runs and drips.

The Rapid Rust does not react immediately so don’t over do this product or the whole wall will be all rust hiding the other colors! You can always add more of each color later. Before my surface dries totally (the wall will feel cold but not wet), I rolled a coat of Varnish Plus Dull.

 

 

 

 

 

Quickly the Varnish Plus will frost and turn a pale blue green. I use a putty blade to scrape off areas creating the shale effect of slate. Wait overnight for these layers to dry and then seal the reaction with a coat of the Varnish Plus Dull.

For the subtle silver accent that Mary wanted, I used Wheat Metal Glow over the “Hudson” stencil from the Loft 101 line by Sheri Zeman. We love the pattern but the stencil is a little thick and heavy. Unless you have an extra set of hands, I would suggest hat-banding the room in the stencil color so you don’t have to deal with edges and corners. I lightly load a foam roller with the metallic and then off load onto a clean paper plate to evenly distribute the color. Alternating my roller pressure will create a varied faded effect.

The finish worked so well, we added it to our Makeover Class as a tile finish that we teach at Surfaces and our class for Gary Lord’s Studio this summer in Cincinnati.


(Sources:  Faux Effects, Magic Metallics, and Loft 101 Stencil)