1-3 Half-title/title; 4-5 Imprint/contents; 6-7 Introduction; 8-9 Decorating Materials; A look at the various commercially available decorating materials with guidance as to where they can and cannot be used. It also looks at the basic equipment and work area the home decorator needs, and the key system used to evaluate each solution is explained. 10-13 Paints; different types available, their uses and limitations. 14-15 Surface textures; different types available, their uses and limitations. 16-17 Wallpapers; different types available, their uses and limitations. 18-19 Tiles; different types available, their uses and limitations. 20-21 Flooring; different types available, their uses and limitations. 22-23 Basic equipment. 24 Preparing your work area. 25 Choosing the right solution; interpreting the key given with each solution; the extent of the problem; the extent of the solution; the finish; the time needed to complete the solution. 26-27 Core Techniques; In this chapter are the basic techniques that the decorator needs to master in order to successfully use many of the solutions in this book. Step-by-step pictures and detailed instructions plus professional tips demonstrate each core technique. 28-31 Painting; ceilings, walls and woodwork; where to begin; choosing and using the right brushes and rollers; masking off. 32-35 Surface texture; different methods of applying texture to plaster, plasterboard and ceilings. 36-39 Wallpapering; basic technique; corners; removing bubbles; patch repairs. 40-43 Tiling; basic technique; applying different tiles to different surfaces; applying mosaic tiles; tinting and applying grout. 44-45 Flooring; laying lino; laying cork. 46-47 Wood; preparing wood; stripping; cleaning. 48-51 Recipes; basic latex paint wash; basic woodwork wash; basic latex paint mist coat; the mixing rule. 52-53 Safety first; using tools and equipment safely; working safely. 54-55 Walls; This chapter deals with the problems encountered in the most commonly decorated part of a room; the walls. From basic problems with plasterwork to waterproofing areas, there are several solutions to each problem. 48 The problem: Uneven plaster walls; 56 Solution 1: Two-color roller effect; 57 Solution 2: Layered color washes; 58-59 Solution 3: Painted rectangles; 60 Solution 4: Textured wallpaper; 61 Solution 5: Fabric hangings; 62 The problem: Cracked or pitted plaster walls; 62 Solution 1: Heavy-grade lining paper; 63 Solution 2 A rough plaster effect; 64 Solution 3: A lightly textured top coat; 65-66 Solution 4: Spot-filling and skimming; 67 Solution 5: Faux panelling; 68 Solution 6: Canvas panels; 69 Solution 7: Picture panels; 70 The problem: Unattractive or plain tiles; 70 Solution 1: A mosaic border; 71 Solution 2: Tiles painted in translucent glazes; 72 Solution 3: Painted tiles and colored grout; 73 Solution 4: Tiles painted in a solid color; 74 The problem: Tiling on a low budget; 74 Solution 1: Added mosaic bands; 75 Solution 2: Broken-tile tiling; 76 The problem: An area needs waterproofing without using tiles; 76 Solution 1: A gloss varnished two-finish effect; 77 Solution 2: A frosted plastic splashback; 77 Solution 3: A metal panel splashback; 78 Solution 4: A faux-tiled splashback; 79 Solution 5: Enamelled walls; 80-81 Floors; Floors are one of the most expensive areas to decorate, so lots of low-budget solutions for giving new life to floors, from modern concrete to traditional wood, are included here. 82 The problem: A concrete floor and a low budget; 82 Solution 1: Checkered cork tiles; 83 Solution 2: Patterned lino tiles; 84 Solution 3: Broken tiles; 85 The problem: Uneven or flaking concrete floor; 85 Solution 1: Printed faux mosaic; 86-87 Solution 2: Painted faux terracotta tiles; 88 Solution 3: Painted faux slates; 89 Solution 4: Painted faux flagstones; 90 The problem: A worn or stained carpet; 90 Solution 1: Cleaned and covered; 91 Solution 2: Carpet tiles; 92 The problem: Old, miss-matched or stained floorboards; 92 Solution 1: Bleached or tinted with paint; 93 Solution 2: Limed with wax; 94-95 Solution 3: Faux parquet; 96 Solution 4: Varnished floorboards; 96 Solution 5: Stained floorboards; 97 Solution 6: A painted border; 98 The problem: Uneven skirting boards; 98 Solution 1: An aligned top edge; 99 Solution 2: A scarfed-in uneven board; 100-101Ceilings; Ceilings are often the most awkward part of a room to decorate, so the solutions in this chapter are easy to manage, as well as effective. 102 The problem: An uneven ceiling-to-wall join; 102 Solution 1: A painted ceiling line; 103 Solution 2: Paint walls and ceiling the same color; 104 The problem: A textured or papered ceiling; 104 Solution 1: A rough plaster effect; 105 Solution 2: Tented with fabric; 106 The problem: No cornices; 106 Solution 1: Fitted wooden moulding; 107 Solution 2: A painted plain band; 107 Solution 3: Painted colored rectangles; 108-109 Windows; Dressing windows traditionally can be expensive and requires sewing skills, so this chapter offers simple, low-cost solutions for window treatments.; 110 The problem: An unattractive view and little natural light; 111 Solution 1: Patterns with self-adhesive lead strip; 112 Solution 2: Patterns with glass outliner; 113 Solution 3: Patterns with silver leaf; 114 The problem: Lack of privacy; 115 Solution 1: Painted with glass paint; 115 Solution 2: Painted with spray enamels; 116 Solution 3: Frosted with film; 117 Solution 4: Frosted with varnish; 118 The problem: Windows to dress on a budget; 119 Solution 1: Simple voile panels; 120 Solution 2: No-sew blanket curtains; 121 Solution 3: Dyed dust-sheet curtains; 122-123 Solution 4: No-sew canvas blinds; 124 Solution 5: Frayed-edge linen curtains; 125 Solution 6: Rope tiebacks; 125 Solution 7: Leather belt tiebacks; 126-127 Doors; All too often doors are ignored in a decorating scheme. However, they as much a part of any room as the walls and floors, and present their own decorating problems. 128 The problem: A flat door with no panels or moulding; 129 Solution 1: A painted blackboard in a kitchen or utility room; 130-131 Solution 2: Faux leather covering; 132 Solution 3: Trompe l'oeil wooden panels; 133 Solution 4: Panels from upholstery studs and paint; 134 The problem: A short door once carpet has been removed; 134 Solution 1: A metal kick panel; 135 Solution 2: Wooden moulding to match skirting board; 136-137 Rooms; This chapter deals with transforming whole rooms. Whether your room is too small, too dark or just very plain, there is a decorative solution that will give it a new aspect. 138 The problem: A dark room; 139 Solution 1: Paint walls different shades of a color; 140 Solution 2: A reflective wall; 141 Solution 3: Mirrored alcoves; 142 The problem: A narrow room; 142 Solution 1: Painted bands of color; 143 Solution 2: Mirror tile stripes; 144 The problem: A tall room; 145 Solution 1: Walls divided with color; 146-147 Solution 2: Walls divided with picture and dado rails; 148 The problem: A low room; 148 Solution 1: Painted bands of color; 149 Solution 2: Silvered ceiling; 150 The problem: A small room; 150 Solution 1: Paint the walls and ceiling the same color; 151 Solution 2: Painted woodwork and floor; 152 The problem: A dark corridor; 153 Solution 1: A mirrored door; 154-155 Solution 2: Frosted perspex door panels; 156 The problem: A junction room with lots of doors; 156 Solution 1: Paint the walls and doors the same color; 157 Solution 2: Fabric hangings; 158 The problem: A plain room with no architectural detail; 159 Solution 1: A faux fireplace; 160-161 Solution 2: Painted panels; 162-163 Solution 3: A faux pebbled hearth; 164 Solution 4: A painted picture panel; 165 Solution 5: A projection-painted feature wall; 166-167 Solution 6: A papered feature panel; 168 The problem: Too many soft furnishings in different patterns in the same room; 169 Solution 1: Stamped and stencilled patterns; 170-171 Solution 2: Remnant cushions and trimmings; 172 The problem: Old wooden kitchen cupboard doors; 173 Solution 1: Stripped and limed doors; 174-175 Solution 2: A Scandinavian paint effect; 176-177 Solution 3: New England-style metal gauze panels; 178 The problem: Old melamine kitchen cupboard doors; 178 Solution 1: Painted melamine; 179 Solution 2: Added wooden beading; 180-181 Solution 3: Painted faux-wood effect; 182-183 Solution 4: Metal panels; 184 The problem: Missing or un-replaceable kitchen cupboard doors; 185 Solution 1: Canvas panels; 186 Solution 2: Fabric curtains; 187 Solution 3: Shelf edgings; 188 Suppliers; 190 Acknowledgements; 191-192 Index
