Country Living Country Paint: Traditional Decorative Paint Techniques [Hardcover]

Eleanor Levie (Author), Rhoda Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Series: Country Living | Publication Date: December 31, 2001

Concentrating on American style, "Country Living Country Paint" inspires and encourages the reader to try all sorts of techniques in order to achieve the maximum in decorative results. The simple-to-execute ideas are accompanied by practical how-to's; along with these are guides that show how different paint finishes might translate into a complete decorative scheme. (color choices are tremendous, and the uses of color--how colors work, how colors work together, sources of inspiration for color--are explained clearly and concisely.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rich, vibrant tones are showcased in combinations that will make you reconsider the "safe" whites and off-whites. Included are clear instructions for various techniques, such as sponging, antiquing, crackling and more. -- Ashbury Park Press, May 7, 1998

Sometimes the simplest way to transform a room is with paint, whether it's on the walls, the ceiling, the furniture or the floor.

You supply the motivation. Country Living Country Paint: Traditional Decorative Paint Techniques by Eleanor Levie and Rhoda Murphy will supply the inspiration. The book walks you through choosing colors and then gives ideas for what to do with them.

Paint techniques covered include color washing, aging walls, sponging, ragging, striping, stenciling and even doing murals. But you might skip all this and read the last chapter first-preparing to paint. -- Orlando Sentinel, April 25, 1998

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

What could be more simple than bunching up an old rag and dabbing it over a freshly painted wall? That's all ragging really is. Perhaps it began as a poor man's marbling, to imitate fabric wallcoverings, or maybe a painter trying to correct a mistake discovered a charming new texture--regardless of its development, ragging is undeniably pleasing. Its telltale blurred appearance gently injects pattern into a decor.

There are many versions of ragging--in the first, which is similar to sponging, the paint is pounced onto the wall with a balled-up rag. In the second, wet paint brushed onto the wall, then blotted off with a wadded rag. Then there is rag-rolling, where a twisted rag is used either to roll paint onto the wall, or to roll wet paint off. In each of these variations the effect is obvious, and so ragging always looks its best if the basecoat and topcoat are tonally similar.

When you are selecting a rag to apply or remove the paint, it's wise to experiment on pieces of basecoated cardboard until you find a texture that will give you the effect you are looking for. Try old sheets, cotton T-shirts, chamois cloths, etc. But don't confine yourself solely to textiles: try paper bags, paper towels, or plastic wrap. The possibilities are almost endless. Obviously, you should use the same type of material for a whole project, otherwise your ragged walls won't have a consistent appearance. One word of warning: rags soaked in oil-based paints are a fire hazard, so don't throw them out until they are thoroughly dry.

Copyright 1998 by The Hearst Corporation

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hearst; 1st edition (December 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688150993
• ISBN-13: 978-0688150990
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,142 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Painting & Wallpapering

More About the Author

Though born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Eleanor Levie's persona is less Baltimore Album and more Crazy Quilt. Since 1978, she has worked as a needlework and crafts editor, author, and book producer, with quilting as a specialty. Elly's best-seller, Skinny Quilts & Table Runners, features the signature styles of 15 of today's top quilt designers; the stunning sequel, Skinny Quilts & Table Runners II, comes out October '09. At the same time, the first of a green series will be available--a book of tote bags, also full of great designs from diverse and well-known quilting talents. Previously, Elly produced eight volumes of the Rodale's Successful Quilting Library series, authored Great Little Quilts, Country Living's Country Quilts, and American Quiltmaking: 1970-2000, among many other books and magazines.

A resident of Bucks County, PA, Elly edits books by other authors and presents lectures and workshops to quilt guilds and groups. She proudly shows her own quilts--eclectic, eccentric, artsy, and fun; shares her exciting collection of antique, vintage, and Skinny quilts; and inspires quilters to push the envelope, and stretch beyond their comfort zones. Visit her at www.EleanorLevie.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for inspiration, September 6, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Vallejo, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Country Living Country Paint: Traditional Decorative Paint Techniques (Hardcover)

Nicely laid out with 2-3 pictures of each technique to inspire you, a little history on the techniques, and then materials and how-to do it in the last chapters.