Faux Paint Finish, Kansas City, Missouri!

Faux paint finishes are very 'in' but they require a skilled or deft hand in application to avoid an amateurish look. The same textured effect can be achieved by using wallpapers. Some papers are actually textured. There are grass cloth, cork, and split bamboo papers, as well as 3D paintable papers and borders. One of my favorite rooms has a 36" high paintable border which looks like antique tooled leather wainscoting. It is elegant, unusual and was extremely easy to apply.

On the practical side, paper can be used to disguise a less than perfect wall surface, to cover patched cracks, and even old style paneling. Clever use of faux architectural borders can add height or interest to a room and give a charming trompe l'oeil effect.

You can mix paper and painted surfaces. Very clever walls can be done with a wallpaper frieze and columns framing a painted mural of the Greek countryside. Individually cut and pasted grapes climb the columns and a couple of pottery wine jars set in front complete the picture.