Our New Blog Home!

We're moving to a new site!

I started Finishing Acts about 8 years ago to share my love of decorative painting. Along the way you've also followed my journey with travel, running, personal injury, Bruce's cancer diagnosis, a few home remodels and closing our studio. Now as I move (literally, we're headed to Dallas) into my new position with Faux Effects I'm taking Finishing Acts with me!

I've been working hard on a new Hub for Faux Effects: The FEI Finish Line. This is a one-stop site for all things related to decorative finishing and Faux Effects: stories, product offerings, galleries, classes and much more! You can find us at www.fauxeffects.org.

Thanks so much for sticking with my antics for almost a decade and I hope to see you at the new site.

Rebecca 

The Case for A Cabinet Class

Decorative Painting is going through an evolution. Trends in interior design, home ownership and client personal preferences really changed demand for wall finishes.  Thankfully, this is starting to shift again-hello feature walls and ceilings! But the bright spot for money generating jobs was and continues to be Cabinetry.  So, you may be asking yourself, "should I add cabinets and furniture to my services?" I would say "absolutely" and not just because it's my forte. Let me make my case:

1.  There are a lot of ugly dark and dated kitchens. Just because it's wood doesn't mean it's good. There I said it!  Putting on a new coat of paint or stain is the fastest and least intrusive way to update cabinets. Clients will appreciate the added value to the most used room in the house so there is always a demand for this service. Any realtor will tell you- a kitchen sells a house!

Good bye Golden Oak. New subtle metallic!

2.  You are part of the recycling movement. Giving cabinets a makeover keeps it out of a landfill. And water-based products like Setcoat®, Stain & Seal™, and Varnish Plus™ Topcoat are earth respectful and client friendly with both low odor and low VOC's.

Oak Cabinets go light grey and an Oak Table is new in Turquoise.

3. Up cycling is on-trend. Clients have furniture they cherish-maybe it's unique or it's the providence of a piece. You get to be the hero who saved Grandma's china cabinet for future generations! Hunting for pieces at flea markets and garage sales is fun. Expressing your creativity on furniture is more wide open (less a commitment than cabinets). And selling your finished pieces can be a nice side hustle.

Guess what? You can also up cycle accessories like lighting

4.  There is a lot of wood in a home.  It is not just the cabinets. There are handrails, doors, built-ins, paneling and trim. Once you know what to do and show how fabulous the kitchen may look, there is a whole house to keep finishing!

Ceiling planks in tinted Duraseal and Finishing Paste

5.  People are still hesitant to paint their own kitchens or furniture.  Homeowners look at a wall and think, "hmmm, I can paint that. If I mess-up, I can just paint it over."  In their hearts they know that it's riskier and more expensive to ruin their cabinets or that family heirloom. And while videos inspire DIY'ers, it's another thing to assembly the proper equipment and finish 50 doors/drawers and the frames. Most families can only have a kitchen torn part for so long...  

So what are you waiting for? 

Did you know that furniture and cabinetry finishing has always been a foundation of Faux Effects® products-not just a trendy add-on?  And our studios offer a range of cabinet and furniture classes? Just like with walls, nothing replaces learning on a real piece of wood with a trained experienced instructor. We have several classes coming up and let's start with a workshop in March.

The Faux Finish School in Louisville, Kentucky is offering a 3-day workshop Monday, March 26th -Wednesday, March 28th, 2018.

You will work with a variety of  cabinet products including Old World Finishing Paint™ on 20 trim samples.

And you will select one finish to render on a cabinet door for a total of 23 samples.  This class covers layering colors, patterns, and project management. 

Your workshop is taught by The Faux Finish School Owner, Martin Alan Hirsch

and The Faux Finish School Lead Instructor, Morey Dunbar. 

Cost for this workshop is $995. You may find out the details of this class by visiting:

Website: www.fauxfinish.com 

Facebook: @fauxfinishschool

Instagram: @fauxfinishschool

or Contacting The Faux Finish School at:

Email: fauxfinishschool@gmail.com

Phone: (502)-583-0102

And keep reading-we will have more information on up-coming classes at all our studios as 2018 Schedules are released!  Time to put a cabinet (and yes, a wall class too) on your calendar.

Rebecca 

Faux Effect's Happenings: February-April 2018

Decorative Finishing is Back!

Are you ready to fire up your portfolio? 

There is a lot happening in our family of Faux Effects International™ Studios the next 3 months. From a studio open house to classes in walls, cabinets, furniture and art work-there is something for everyone, no matter where you live! Take a look and save the date (or dates). And keep checking back as we update our calendar of events.

February 2018

It's Open House time at Faux Design Studio in Chicago. Sheri Zeman will be hosting demonstrations, class previews and giveaways at this Free Event. Winterfest is February 10 from 9am-12pm. 

Want to try something new with Faux Effects products? Then give Abstract & Inks with guest instructor Michelle Fountain a try! This class at Faux Design Studio is on February 12th-13th.

A few spots are left for the 30 Samples Class Chicago. This class taught by Sheri Zeman owner of Faux Design Studio is February 19th-23rd.  Register soon before this popular class is sold out! 

Faux Design Studio, Sheri Zeman

(630)627-1011

101 N. Swift Rd, Addison, Illinois 60101

Follow at:

www.paintanddesignstore.com

Facebook @FauxDesignStudio

Instagram @fauxdesignstudio

March 2018

The 30 Samples Class at FE Dallas taught by Sheri Zeman of Faux Design Studio. This class is March 5th-9th and March 19th-23rd. Both classes are currently sold out but Sheri has a wait list. Contact information listed above. 

Ready to expand your portfolio into lucrative cabinet and furniture finishing? Sign up for New World Cabinetry, Furniture & Trim Workshop at The Faux Finish School in Louisville, Kentucky. This comprehensive class is March 26th-March 28th and is taught by Martin Alan Hirsch and Morey Dunbar. Contact information listed below.

April 2018

The popular "Timeless Creations" The Art and Business of Faux Finishing Workshop "Interpretation by Inspiration" will be offered April 9th-13th.  This class includes new and updated finishes and is taught by The Faux Finish School's owner, Martin Alan Hirsch and lead instructor Morey Dunbar.

To find out more about New World Cabinetry & Furniture and Timeless Creations Classes:

The Faux Finish School, Martin Alan Hirsch
(502)583-0102
414 Baxter Avenue, 3rd Floor Loft
Louisville, Kentucky 40204
Follow at:

www.fauxfinish.com

Facebook @fauxfinishschool

Instagram @fauxfinishschool

 It's Cabinet Week at FE Dallas with 5 different One Day Classes covering our unique system for RE-Staining, Metallic Cabinets and Modern Rustic Furniture. This series is offered April 16th-20th and is taught by Faux Effects' Instructor, Rebecca Slaton.

FE Dallas Inc, Chris Kelly or Rebecca Slaton at Rebecca@fauxfx.com

(972)733-0028

4550 Sunbelt Dr, Addison, Texas 75001

Follow at:

www.fedallas.com

Facebook @FEDallasInc

Instagram @fauxeffectsdallas

Want to know more about these exciting events? We will share a feature about each class with more information about the samples and instructors in the coming weeks. Plus follow us on Faux Effects Social Network for bonus pictures. Let's connect at:

www.fauxfx.com

Facebook @FauxEffectsInternationalInc

Instagram @fauxeffectsinternationalinc

GalaxyStone: 2 New Colors and a Few More Tips

What would a galaxy be without the silver of the moon and the stars? Or the golden light of the sun?

Introducing two new colors of  GalaxyStone™ in Silver and Gold. Perfect for 2 of the biggest design trends for 2018: Bold Ceilings and Mixed Metallic Finishes.

I've had a few questions about GalaxyStone since my original post.

"Can GalaxyStone be applied over paint?"

Yes. We always recommend a quality latex paint appropriate to the surface you are working on.  If the surface is cement than use a quality cement primer.  Get a color or have your primer tinted to a color close to the GalaxyStone shade you are using.

"What about rolling GalaxyStone over other Faux Effects Products?"

Of course. One of the selling points for using the Faux Effects® is the versatility of the products for mixing and matching.  Setcoat® and Texture Coat ™ are obvious choices.  But Lustersuede® is also an option given the range of colors and the bit of texture it provides.

"How many coats do you recommend?"

This is a 2 coat application. You may roll both coats. Additional coats may be applied depending on the effect you want or the surface you are covering. Just make sure that each layer dries well before adding another coat.

"Can you trowel GalaxyStone?"

Sure! This is one of my favorite applications.  There is a small glitter that gives GalaxyStone it's twinkle. When you pull the material with the trowel blade you will get delicate lines in the direction of the pull.  You may mitigate this effect by pulling your blade one way and then pulling in the opposite direction.

Ancient Grey Lusterstone and GalaxyStone Tint Base

A trowled-on application works best over a plaster base. For the finish above I used the GalaxyStone Tint Base over Ancient Grey Lusterstone® and for the finish below:

Venetian Gem Black Onyx and GalaxyStone

GalaxyStone in Black and Tint Base is troweled over Black Onyx VenetianGem® Plaster.

The finish above is Black GalaxyStone and GalaxyStone Tint Base troweled over  NüVilla™ plaster in Pewter. The pretty gold is Rich Gold FauxMetal™ but now I would try the new Gold Galaxy Stone!

"Some of the videos of the ceilings are really sparkly! Is something added to the GalaxyStone?"

GalaxyStone has a gentle twinkle but if you want to up the sparkle then you may add Galaxy Glitter.

This is a larger glitter than what is in the GalaxyStone.  It looks like a thinly sliced shard which gives you maximum reflection.  You may add it into the GalaxyStone but if you want it to really shine, try this technique:
1. Roll out a section of GalaxyStone
2. Dip the tips of a Leon Neon Stippler brush in your wet GalaxyStone.
3. Shake the Galaxy Glitter on a plate and pounce the wet stippler into the glitter. The GalaxyStone         will help pick-up the glitter.
4. Then pounce the brush and glitter onto the wet surface.

And that's it! Thanks for your interest in this new product.

And don't forget it's on Sale now through the end of January.

Contact your regional FE distributor or order online from at: www.fauxstore.com

Can't wait to see what you do with GalaxyStone or any other Faux Effects Product. Remember you may send pictures of your projects to me at Rebecca@fauxfx.com. I will follow-up with the necessary photo releases. We want to feature your wonderful work in our magazine, Faux Effects World ®. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook @Faux EffectsInternationalInc and fauxeffectsinternationalinc on Instagram.

Rebecca 

GalaxyStone. Time to get your sparkle on!

What a way to open a post! This beautiful ceiling is by Houston Artists Cindy Howard and Dana DeBuck, owners of Decorative & Faux Finishes.  Nothing captures our product of the month
GalaxyStone better. Thanks ladies for the video!
Check out their work at: www.DecorativeAndFauxFinishes.com

GalaxyStone™ is the newest addition to the Faux Effects product line-up. So what is it?

This is a luminescent architectural coating formulated for interior and exterior use.  What makes it luminescent? A small sparkle additive that doesn't catch the product when you roll or brush it-this makes a difference if you want to trowel it as well.

GalaxyStone may be used for walls, ceilings, concrete structures, columns and accessories. It is extremely hard and water resistant with no topcoat. You may apply GalaxyStone over dry wall primer, primed cement, ordinary quality latex wall paint, SetCoat® and Texture Coat™.

This is an extremely easy to product to apply in 2 steps.

You will want to use Wooster Polar Bear® Rollers available at paint, hardware or home supply stores. These have a nice fluffy nap for off-loading the Galaxy Stone.  It is most efficient to roll the GalaxyStone over a paint base similar in color.  For the second coat, you may repeat with the roller.

I like to keep a Leon Neon brush handy to pounce any lap lines:

Photo of Leon Neon from www.fauxmarketplace.com

And that's it for a basic application! This is the process used for the ceiling video.

GalaxyStone comes in these colors plus a Tint Base:

I always try products in a real world project so for GalaxyStone I used it to create an Ombre effect on large wall at the FE Dallas Studio. The wall already had a pretty textured Palette Deco™ in Pearl.

I began the finish by rolling the wall 2/3 of the wall up with the GalaxyStone in Black.

The bottom 1/3 has a second coat of the black color. As I worked up the wall I rolled GalaxyStone in Charcoal.

As I got to the top 1/4 of the wall, I rolled in the Galaxy Stone Tint Base.  This layer I sprayed heavily with water to create runs and drips.

You may create more sparkle with GalaxyStone by using the Galaxy Glitter (you can really see it in the ceiling dome finish).

The Galaxy Glitter comes in Silver, Black and Clear.  I used some of the Silver for my project. I just added a bit to my Charcoal layer which I rolled and compressed with Leon Neon to lay the glitter flat.

I thinned my Charcoal and Tint Base GalaxyStone colors with water for this application.  My coverage was 200 square feet for a gallon and 75square feet for a quart (it comes in both sizes). And it took about 40 minutes to dry between layers. I would allow at least an hour between coats. 

One of my newest favorite 2-step applications is to apply GalaxyStone over 

NüVilla™ plaster.  I shape the plaster in Pewter with a trowel for interest. Dry. Then I trowel Galaxy Stone over the top. You will get tiny horizontal lines if you pull tightly-but I like them as it adds to the finish. To avoid them, just don't scrape the blade edge so tightly.  

I used GalaxyStone Black and added Rich Silver MetalGlow® to it as I worked my way up the wall  The bottom 1/3 has the Silver Galaxy Glitter. The version below uses GalaxyStone Black mixed with SetCoat Metallic­® in Bronze working it into the top 1/4 which is the GalaxyStone Tint Base. I admit I'm a bit obsessed with the Ombre Wall Trend!

And there you go! Super Easy and Super Flexible. And on Sale.

Visit www.fauxfx.com or check with your favorite studio for promotional participation

Sparkle On,

Rebecca 

The Decorative Artists Pantry: Some Cabinet Staples

What trend am I most excited about? The return of color to the kitchen! Interior Design Magazines and sites such as Houzz all list a return to wood look cabinets with tones from Greige to Ebony. And now we may mix metallic finishes such as silver metallic cabinets with brushed brass hardware.

The trend in painted finishes is rich, rich, rich...think Teal, Navy, and Green.  White looks fresh and always in style but it is nice to some diversity. And what great news for the finishing community!

As with walls, at Faux Effects International ™

 we have a range of cabinet and furniture products.

Since our Happy New Year Silver Label Sale is ending tomorrow, my suggestions are all Silver Label Cabinet products.  What's the difference between Silver and Gold Label?  Gold Label products have properties such as timing that are more easily understood by experiencing in a class. There is no difference in quality.

Setcoat® Metallics

 in Black and Gun Metal. 

These 2 colors are fantastic base colors for cabinets. For metallic paints, they both roll out well and offer opaque coverage. I use a small fuzzy roller (verses a foam one) to apply and pounce with a Leon Neon or Stippler Brush to minimize lap lines.  Both also spray well. In addition to cabinets, these metallic colors are useful for tinting wall products or using over stencils for patterns.

Setcoat®Metallic in Gun Metal with glazes in Alice Blue MetalGlow® and Ebony Stain & Seal ™

Black Metallic Setcoat™ with Vandyke Stain & Seal®

Setcoat® Metallic Navy

Want to give the deep jewel tone cabinetry trend a try?  Then check out this other Setcoat Metallic in Navy.  I recently mixed it with Black Setcoat for this traditional kitchen island.  The Navy gave a pretty glow and shade with the Black Setcoat setting the metallic back a bit. The finish is glazed with Ebony Stain & Seal.

The non-metallic Setcoat color I always keep in stock is Royal Taupe.   

Setcoat® in Royal Taupe

I have waxed poetic on my love of this color. It is the perfect mushroom tone with just the right notes of grey and brown.  It is wonderful on it's own as a base. The sample below has Silver and Van Dyke Stain & Seal colors over Royal Taupe.

 But it mixes especially well other Setcoat and Metallic Setcoat colors to get the most popular grey toned colors.  Need convincing? These samples all use Royal Taupe in the base mix!

With grey still trending strong, why not try the two new Setcoat colors of Charcoal and Gravel Grey?

Setcoat® Charcoal

Setcoat® Gravel Grey

Setcoat® Charcoal Base with Pickling White and American Walnut Stain & Seal™

Setcoat® Gravel Grey with Pickling White and American Walnut Stain & Seal™

Need to stock some Stain & Seal™ colors?  I've written in a previous blog about how much I love this palette of blues and Pickling White:

My other go-to colors are: 

Ebony Stain & Seal™

Rich Brown Stain & Seal™

With the trend toward natural looking stains on raw white Oak (my biggest request for cabinets last year), I use a lot of Honey Pine Stain & Seal:

Honey Pine Stain & Seal™

A first of the year sale is also a good time to stock up on glazing mediums.  I like FXThinner™ because it dries so hard and allows me to progress more quickly with my cabinet projects. Other people like the build of Aquacreme™

We have several topcoats for cabinetry and furniture with each having specific properties. But for overall appearance and ease of application, I like to use Varnish Plus™ in the Satin Finish.  This is a water-based pre-catalyzed conversion varnish that may be rolled, brushed or sprayed (thin up to 20% with water). Apply the 2nd coat within 4hours or wait 48 hours to recoat.  I let my 2coats dry well over-night before flipping doors to topcoat the other side.

Whew! This should get your cabinet product pantry stocked for the new year! 

Our Silver Label Sales ends at Midnight (EST) on January 10th. Don't forget to enter coupon code N2018Y at checkout. The sale excludes Tools, Foils, Stencils/Imprints, Books and Supplies. You may visit: www.fauxfx.com or Check with your favorite Faux Effects' studio for participation and product availability.

Rebecca