SPECIAL FINISHES
How to Choose a Limewash Paint Color for Your Home
By: Michael
·········· March 30th, 2017 ··········
People have been asking me for years “Michael, my brick is a consistent boring red color. If I use a white limewash, will my house look pink after we antique it by washing some off?” My answer is always, “No, not necessarily.”
ROMABIO Classico Limewash acts like a paint in coverage and finish and will not create a bleed through with the brick, however, after you wash some off, the brick is exposed. How much you wash off is up to you and the look you want to achieve — the more washed off, the older and more dramatic the look.
But, the dominant color for the home will be the color you pick for the Classico Limewash paint. It will not create a semi-transparent finish, but rather a flat finish. If this is the case, then how do you choose the right limewash color for your home?
It’s not about the brick color. In almost all situations, the way to choose a limewash color is to first look at the trim and roof color, then look at the brick color. We’ve created a new color palette that will work with most homes. Here are three color tone scenarios that are very common and what I recommend:
Faux Painting or Faux Finishing
Faux painting or faux finishing are terms used to describe decorative paint finishes that replicate the appearance of materials such as marble, wood or stone.
As these techniques started as a form of replicating materials such as marble and wood with paint, it has subsequently come to encompass many other decorative finishes for walls and furniture including simulating recognizable textures and surfaces.
In modern-day faux finishing, there are two major materials/processes used. Glaze work involves using a translucent mixture of paint and glaze applied with a brush, roller, rag, or sponge, and often mimics textures, but it is always smooth to the touch. Plaster work can be done with tinted plasters, or washed over with earth pigments, and is generally applied with a trowel or spatula. The finished result can be either flat to the touch or textured.
Gesso
Gesso is important to get your canvas ready for painting. Gesso is very similar to white acrylic paint, only thinner. It dries hard, making the surface more stiff. Gesso prepares (or "primes") the surface for painting, making the surface slightly textured and ready to accept acrylic paint. Without gesso, the paint would soak into the weave of the canvas.
The word gesso is a noun, but many artists also use it as a verb. For example: "You need to gesso your canvas before you paint."