Gilding, silver leaf.

The customer want to give this gilded gold mirror frame a facelift. Firstly the mirror is removed and the frame is gently cleaned.

Size is applied to the frame and allowed to come to tack ready to receive the genuine silver leaf.

The leaf is applied using a badger hair gilders tip. Once sufficiently dried the loose bits of silver, the skewings,  are brushed off. Then the frame is faulted. Any missed areas known as holidays are gilded. 

If left to it's own devices the silver will tarnish so it needs to be sealed. In this instance a shellac varnish was applied, imparting a warmer tone.

The mirror is refitted in the frame and hung. Longer screws than normal  were required to get through the lath and plaster and into the brickwork on the old chimney breast.

Sanderson Wallpaper, Courting Toile

Sanderson Courting Toile in blue

Width:  68.5cms Length:  8.2m Design Repeat:  Offset  Pattern Match:  42cms, Spongeable

Designed and manufactured by a printing firm based in the French region of Mulhouse. The toile originally named Adam Toile was inspired by the Renaissance work of Michael Angelo. Depicting floral trails and rinceaux with angelic cherubs around a floral urn.

 Nice to hang, as always use the Sanderson Elite ready mixed paste for the lining paper as well the wallpaper. The paste has a shorter working time than most, but is still nice to use.

Hand painted bedroom furniture

Newly built hand painted wardrobes in Teynham near Faversham.. I applied the primer and undercoat in the joinery shop. After installation they were finished with two topcoats of Sikkens Satura BL. Although not the easiest to apply, this paint was specified for its low odour, quick drying and exceptional finish. The door handles are from Bombay Duck.

Gilding - Silver Leaf Mirror Frame

This mirror was originally gold. Re-gilded in genuine silver leaf. Silver will tarnish so a protective varnish with some pigment in was applied to protect and give an aged look.

Greenlight or Greenwash part 2

I had two rooms to emulsion today. So I went for the 2.5" AS Eco-Ezee. My initial opinion of the brush when tried at the National Painting and Decorating show was positive, but how did it perform in the real world?
In a word - badly!
1. The bristles are too soft resulting in a floppy/wobbly feeling when applying. This 'give' slowed down cutting in as the connection between the hand and paint on the wall was less than affirmative, undermining confidence that the paint will go where you want it.
2. The angle of the bristles is too slight - in pointless a no man's land between a straight and angled brush.
To conclude the brush can be firmed up but cutting in reverse ie. having the point as the leading instead of trailing edge.
The brush does wash out well, but only because you wont put much paint on it before switching to something better.
Eco-Ezee 2.5" AS = Greenwash.

Greenlight or Greenwash? Part 1

Just back from the National Painting and Decorating Show, you couldn't help but notice the range of eco/green decorating products. Everyone seems to playing the environmentally-sound card, but who is for real and who is on the bandwagon?
Over the next few weeks I'll be testing a few eco decorating products to see whats what.

                                                   First up: The Envirosolutions Roller cleaner

A garden hose is connected to the pointy end, insert a roller into the other, turn on the tap, job done.

According to the manufacturer a roller can be cleaned with 8ltrs vs 40ltrs the old fashioned way.

I haven't used it yet but if it works as promised it will save time and water. On the downside its imported from Dulux Australia, so who knows how many ltrs you need to save to offset the carbon cost of importing it from the other side of the world.

Next in: Eco Ezee Brushes

'Sustainability without compromise' is the tag line. The bristles are 80% solid round tapered recycled synthetic fillaments with a 20% natural bristle blend. The use of natural bristles reduces the amount of plastic. Although natural bristles are out of favour for most paints now the brush performs well, I tested one in the afternoon which had been used for demos all day and was impressed how well it cut.

 The handle is bamboo, which is quick growing and lightweight. It feels nice in the hand and looks good too. The ferrule is recycled stainless steel. 

So far it ticks all the boxes - too good to be true perhaps? Well its made in China, then shipped to the USA before being imported to good old Blighty! 

Now that nice bamboo handle - in theory bamboo is sustainable but it needs to be replanted when harvested. It may be quick growing but some species dont flower for 120 years, so seeds can be hard to come by.

Since bamboo is marketed as a green material demand has soared putting pressure on plant populations.

That's all for now, if you have used these products or have an opinion you'd like to share, do comment!

This hall, stairs and landing undergoing a colour change from a salmon/orange colour to Charlston Grey from the Farrow and Ball range. This colour was popular with the Bloomsbury group. The ceiling was painted with Dulux Trade Flat Matt.
The existing decoration was in quite good condition, but there is always room for improvement!
The caulking between the top of the skirting and the wall was messy, so it was raked out and re-caulked to enable a finer line to be cut in.

Floating shelf

The shelf is made from 2"x1" batten sandwiched between two pieces of mdf ...

Another length of 2"x1" battening is then fixed to the wall ...

The shelf simply slots onto the battening and screwed on securely. now the only things left to do are fill the screw holes and coat up.

Just one more ...

Just one more exterior to finish before autumn sets in. I usually undertake exterior work between Easter and September. Painting when its cold and wet is a recipe for paint failure.
Fillers and paints for outsides need to have more flexibility than harder interior products to cope with the natural movement of timber substrates. Exterior coatings often contain biocides to inhibit mould growth on the paint film, and should not be used inside the home.
Where rot is present it is mechanically removed back to a sound surface, then a penetrating epoxy stabaliser applied, followed by a specialist two part filler. If the rot is not too far advanced this is a cost effective and durable repair. The system I use has been tried and tested by the UK's leading timber and specialist window repair companies for over 15 years.

This loft conversion was freshly plastered. It is important that paint with a low vinyl content is used for new work. On this job Dulux Trade Supermatt was specified. It is ideal for new plasterwork which is still drying out.

Lamp Room Grey

This living room had Dulux Trade Flat Matt on the ceiling, Farrow and Ball Lamp Room Grey on the walls and the superb Sikkens Satura BL on the woodwork. The dead flat emulsion finishes on the walls and ceiling have a luxurious feel whilst the trim paint, although being waterbased, has a finish very similar to traditional oil eggshells but with the benefit of non-yellowing.

Quartz Grey living room

This was the last job before Christmas. The photo really doesnt do the Dulux quartz grey wall colour justice, it is a really warm but neutral grey that creates a relaxing atmosphere. The trim was finished in a mid sheen waterbased topcoat. The quartz grey comes from the Dulux Trade Heritage colour collection.

Living room, Herne Bay

This living was painted in magnolia, the owner was tidying up the property prior to selleing. Neutral coulours a favourite with property developers.

Painted country style kitchen

The kitchen was made by a local carpenter. Solid wood work tops finished in tung oil. Tung oil has a much nicer feel than danish oil which can leave the worktop feeling sticky even when dry.

Dining room, Faversham

A dining room redecorated in Faversham. The walls are painted in a monochrome or tonal colour scheme. One colour is used but in differing shades or tones. The main wall colour blue is complemented with the slightly lighter blue on the frieze above the picture rail. A flat matt finish emulsion paint was used on walls and ceilings, and eggshell for the trim. Flat finishes complement period properties well but are equally at home in more contemporary setting.

A bedroom painted by Andrews Decorating in Court Street, Faversham. A pretty straight forward job, walls, ceilings, doors, windows and trim. The age of the property could have led to problems with dodgy substrates but fortunatley the building has been looked after over the years.