Rustic
Furniture Information
Rustic Wall Texture
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Re-create the look of a rustic hand-plastered
wall with this innovative technique.
Throughout history, average homeowners have adopted the "do-it-yourself"
motto, often with less than picture-perfect results. Today, these
"mistakes" are appreciated for their charm and lack of
sophistication.
It is just this charm that is re-created in this living room. The
textured walls are designed to simulate the feeling of a rustic
farmhouse. Much of the texture arises from straw embedded in the
finish, just as it might have been when European peasants built
mud and straw walls for their cottages.
Skill Level: Intermediate Time Required: 3-4 days
What You Need: For an 18 x 21-foot room:
5-gallon bucket premixed drywall compound
5 gallons fresh straw
5-inch-wide putty knife
Powdered tempera paint
Glaze (optional)
Instructions:
Note: Before you begin, practice your technique on small squares
of primed plywood. This will help you get the look you want and
let you experiment with combinations of color.
1. Break fresh, clean straw into 6- to 7-inch bunches
and add to the bucket of drywall compound. Do not buy treated straw
from a crafts store as it may change colors when added to the drywall.
Mix by hand or with an electric drywall paddle. Optional step: If
you want to have colored drywall compound, add powdered tempera
paint to the compound.
2. Apply the mixture to the wall with a putty
knife in various directions. Optional step: After the walls have
dried, a glaze can be added to create an aged look. If you leave
the walls natural, the drywall color will be a warm white accented
by the honey-colored straw.
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