Jean
Hi Jean,
I love your idea for the bathroom! As you have probably noticed, I incorporate a lot of metallics into my finishes. I especially like to combine matte paints and earthy textures with metallics to mimic nature-like the inside and outside of an oyster shell. I would think of the finish you want to attempt in three stages: base-coat, pewter metallic, raised stencil application. You can get an infinite amount of variety by varying each stage only slightly. I always say that it's like cooking, and it's important to do a sample to refine the process before you start on the walls. If I were doing this finish, I would base-coat the walls a medium valued gray, such as Sherwin Williams 7066 Gray Matters, in satin. Then I would mix the pewter metallic paint with latex glaze (I use Modern Masters, Behr, or Benjamin Moore) and a little water to a workable consistency. How you apply the pewter glaze will create the overall textural look and feel of the finish.
For a mottled look try using a large sea sponge loaded with pewter glaze and then tapped off first on newsprint. Use your whole palm to hold it flush to the surface and working in small sections "walk" the glaze back and forth to get even coverage. Use a small brush to pounce in the corners and edges.
Metallic glazes applied with sponges.An easier technique is the strie-or dragged glaze. Use a large 4" brush ( I like the cheap "chip" brushed with the bare wood handles and blond hairs) dipped in glazed, dry-brushed onto newsprint and then dragged vertically onto the wall.
Strie finish. Gold metallic glaze dragged over golden-green base color.Or you could also try a product like Shimmer Stone, which is an acrylic "plaster" with metallic pigment in it which is applied using a trowel or bondo knife.
Shimmer stone finish with additional bronze metallic layers.As for the raised stencil, there are products out there designed for that purpose, or you can make your own with the gray base-coat color thickened with joint compound or spackle. Use a flexible trowel to skim the mix over the stencil. After the raised motifs are dry, use the stencil and add some pewter to each one.
Raised stencil motif and Shimmer Stone finish.If you want a staggered pattern, measure out the pattern placement using a level and tic-marks on pieces of blue tape. Center the stencil then remove the tape. I like the idea of a classic fluer di lis in a staggered pattern, but a swirl is more contemporary and could be "scattered" here and there.
"Scattered" bontanical motif.Best of luck Jean!
Tessa
