Faux Finishing & Cabinet Make-overs

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. The most common type of job is a colorwash or glazing technique. It is recommended for large rooms and entire houses. It gives an old world or aged feel. This finish is the least expensive per square foot and makes a huge impact when done correctly.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Clients should make appointments to see sample boards and have the finisher come view the space. It is not a good idea to request pricing over the phone. It can create a very awkward situation as there may be situations or finishes that require extra work to do a high quality job that the finisher may not have known about in the phone call.

You always want to see sample boards and/or photos.
Even if someone is new to the industry they should still have samples.

The samples will show you the talent and skill of the finisher in their application, technique, and choice of color combinations.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Customers need to be aware that to do most faux finishes correctly the base paint must be an eggshell sheen finish and if looking to add texture any original texture needs to be skim coated in many cases.

If building a custom home it is best to leave areas where you want faux finishing or plaster techniques smooth - wallpaper ready - or slick as it is referred to by drywallers.

If in construction get the faux finisher involved prior to starting the drywall. This will save the homeowner loads of money.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. When people call they should be prepared to answer questions reguarding the room size, ceiling height, any obstacle like stairs, is there flat paint on the wall, what type of texture do they have now, timing, and budget.

I realize many buyers do not want to give a budget.
Providing the finisher with a budget will allow them to
create a finish that is within the budget without tempting you with finishes that are not affordable.
Providing a budget range will save time and frustration for both parties.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Our work is often described as elegant and sophisticated even when we are doing a rustic type finish. Our clients tell us they recognize our work by the high quality and care that goes into every implementation. Every project we do is customized to your tastes and designed to compliment and enhance your current decor. Often times our finishes are what pull the room together creating the ambiance and warmth that our clients are expecting.

We listen to our clients ideas and review the space paying special attention to other colors and textures already in place. By going through the sample board review we can tell which types of finishes would work best as clients often select several finishes that are very similar in either color or texture.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I enjoy creating new finishes, learning about new products, sharing my expertise with clients and other faux finishers.

Every day is different. I meet a variety of people, many who become more than just clients. The satisfaction of achieving that WOW factor and seeing the amazement on their faces when I am finished gives me great satisfaction.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Many ask if faux finishing is going out of style or just a fad. The art of faux finishing has been around since before the days of Pompeii and it will be around forever.

The art is always evolving as new products are developed, new finishers join the industry, and many of us become more creative thinking of all the surfaces that can be painted and decorated. Who said it was just for walls anyway!

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I was hired to paint kitchen cabinets in a home that was for sale for 3 years. The cabinets were the only thing white in the entire house. Within 3 weeks after completing the job the house sold.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. Faux finishing has evolved a great deal since the sponge and ragging days of the 80's. It is much more sophisticated and complicated than in the past. Designs are limitless. New products are released constantly and many of the techniques and even products used today go back to ancient times.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I was laid off from a high tech company and having time I started painting my own home. I learned about a week long school in the area and took the class. It started out being something to supplement income while looking for high tech work and quickly turned into a passion and permanent career.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I'm excited when I see the finished product of all my jobs.
The joy on the client's face when they see the WOW factor is very gratifying. I cannot say that I have ever done a job I was not proud of.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I certainly do. New products are coming out all the time and I try to stay informed. It is my goal to take at least one professional class each year. There are many options. Studios offer classes, there is training online, and I belong to two faux finishing websites where people all over the country share ideas, experiences, and techniques.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. In the past few years there have been many new developments. It's funny because many are actually really really old. Such as lime plasters and paint. One might say lime plasters and paint are the original paints as they were used on exterior and interior buildings in Europe for many centuries. Yet, in marketing today these products are now designated as "green" because they are natural and have low or no VOCs. What's old is new again!

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. Our most popular finish is the Autumn Leaves which is very detailed, labor intensive, and therefore time consuming making it a pricey choice. However there are many ways to reduct the cost. The finish can be done with fewer leaves placed randomly and/or with one type of leaf. I have also done stripes, borders or accent walls with adjacent areas done in a simple colorwash. Results are incredible.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I offer a project price based on room size, ceiling height, prepwork, scaffolding requirements, product and technique requested and product costs. It is difficult to charge by square foot because a small room would not be enough money and a large room would be too expensive in many cases. We do our best to work with clients on creating a faux finish that will fit within their budget.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. I think it would be good to have some professional training to learn about products, get inspired, and stand out from the crowd. There are many "self-taught" faux finishers that just don't have the product knowledge and advanced skills that a professionally trained artisan can provide.

Good business sense and marketing skills are critical.

Q. What is your greatest strength?

A. I have a gift for working with color that allows me to look at the space and select colors and finishes that tie the space together making a cohesive design.