Living room paint help

[crz4mm2]

I am going to redo our living/dining room. I have always wanted to do a terra cotta color (similar to what Frank used in a kitchen on trading spaces) for the walls and maybe ceiling too. I wanted to do venetian plaster because the walls are old and patched and it shows. The people who owned the house before us used some of that texturizing stuff on the walls and ceiling so it would have to be covered or (shudder!) sanded off.
There is currently wallpaper on the bottom half of all walls except one in the dining room which is all wallpaper. The woodwork is painted as well. RIght now the woodwork is a dark mauve color so will need to be able to cover it (and no, I do NOT want to strip it or sand it off).
I found some colors that I like. THe venetian plaster will be plenty expensive so was thinking of doing the sponge/rag roll or whatever technique like Frank did on that kitchen, but I don't know how to do it. AND am not sure what to do about the texturizing that is already there.
Any ideas?
Oh yeah, and I will "need" new window treatments too. Currently have mini blinds and toppers. One window (the big one in front) has cafe type windows and topper.
THanks.

 

[crz4mm2]

bump.

 

[Jeafl]

I would suggest bagging, using plastic grocery or Walmart-type bags. It works great over textured or messed up walls.

First decide if you want light over dark or dark over light. Pick 2 colors no more than 2 or 3 shades apart on a paint strip (it always works best if you stay in the same color family). If you choose say, green and gold, or blue and red, it is MUCH more difficult and mistakes are more noticeable.

Paint your walls whatever base color you've chosen. Give it several hours to dry before you start the bagging. Get 2 foil pie plates and put a little of your base coat in one and your accent coat in another. Scrunch up your plastic bags (make sure if there is a printed logo on the bag that you turn it inside out before you scrunch the bag--otherwise you may get ink on your walls!) Dip the scrunched up bag in the accent color, then blot on paper towels so you don't have too much paint. Start patting the walls with the bag, moving your wrist in different directions. You can put on as little or as much as you want, but make sure you overlap a little so you avoid the polkadot look. If you get too much in one area, use another bag and go over it with the base coat. I like to work with the accent color in my right hand and the base in my left hand. If you overlap with both colors it gives it depth.

I know this sounds complicated, but it's VERY easy. I did my several rooms in my home and everyone thinks I had it done professionally, and I am the least artistic person I know!

If you have any questions, let me know.

 

[crz4mm2]

Thanks for the suggestions Jill.
Do you watch Trading Spaces? And if so, do you remember the room I am talking about? I love that spanish/Mexican look and plan to do it in the kitchen as well. I THINK that Frank used sponge or rag technique when he did the room, but it has been so long I really don't remember for sure. I think the bag thing would work pretty well and would sure be cheaper than the venetian plaster (and quicker too I think!).
Which looks better: light over dark or dark over light?
THanks so much for the help. Need to strip the wallpaper first

 

[damo]

You might want to just use one colour and then just bag varathane over the top to give the two tone effect. It works very well and you don't have to decide on two colours. It is similar to the way they often do stripes on Trading Spaces but much easier. I did it in our family room/pool room that gets lots of wear and tear and it works very well in covering marks from pool cues, etc.

 

[Jeafl]

I think I know the episode you are talking about. Did it have an arched window with a beautiful fabric on it? It think the room was designed around a pear plate the homeowner loved?

Or was it the room where he painted a serape on the ceiling? Both of those had the terra cotta color I believe. In any case, Venetian plaster is VERY difficult to do, and it involves a lot of steps. The owner of the paint store where I go does faux finishing for a living and he said he Venetian plaster is the hardest technique to do, and that if you ever want to change it, you have to sand the entire wall down. I wanted it in my kitchen and he pretty much talked me out of it.


My sister used the terra cotta in her family room and she did light over dark and it looks great. If you like a lighter look, go with the light over dark, if you don't mind darker walls, you can do dark over light.. My suggestion is to get a couple of poster boards and try it both ways. That way you can see which you like better.

 

[ahutton]

My only contribution having just finished my girls room re-do is to use a good, high quality primer and take your time. The finished product will only come out as good as the foundation it goes on, or you'll end up doing many, many coats to get the look right. I believe in the kitchen you are referring to Frank did light over dark, and did it with a square sponge to get a soft, adobe type brick look.

As for picking colors, I've found I have my best luck if I pick the color I like, and then buy it one shade darker. Once the paint is in the room it is always lighter than you would expect unless everything else in the room is very dark. In my case the floors are light beige, and there is decent window light, so darker was better.