Exotic Metal Leaf Motifs Wall Finish
Here is an exotic wall finish inspired by Eastern treasures! Turkish Modello® stencil patterns are treated with layers of metal leaf over background of gilding and metallic plaster. Change the colors and patterns to customize the look multiple ways.
- EasMot118b, EasMot119b: Contact Modello® Stencils customer service to order this design.
- Faux Effects, International Products:
- Lusterstone Brown Suede, Eggplant, Green Onyx, Frosted Denim
- Stain and Seal Rich Brown
- Aquacreme/Mastercreme
- So Slow Super Extender
Tools: Order via Royal Design Studio Here
- Celestial Leaf in Dawn, Twilight and Moonbeam
- Wundasize
- Sea Sponge
- Japanese Trowel
- Cheesecloth
- Foam Brush or Roller
- Lambswool
Basecoat: Dark Brown or Black
“Slo Crème” Recipe:
- 3x Slo Crème/1x Aquacreme/Mastercreme
Step 1: Use a damp Sea Sponge to apply size in random “drifty” areas over the surface. Allow the size to come “to tack”, approximately 20 minutes.
Step 2: Apply the three colors of Celestial Leaf randomly over the sponged size areas. The leaf will ONLY stick where there is size, so you will end up with irregular shapes of leaf that match the sponged-on size areas. Burnish the leaf with a small piece of lambswool.
Step 3: Use a Japanese Trowel to trowel Brown Suede Lusterstone randomly over the surface, leaving about 25% of the background open to expose some of the black basecoat and the areas that have Celestial leaf on them. Allow this to dry.
Step 4: Mix about 10% Aquacreme into all 4 colors of Lusterstone in separate containers. The addition of the Aquacreme will increase the “open time” of the product, allowing you to work wet-on-wet.
Step 5: Working in small, irregular patches first apply a thin, random layer of Brown Suede. Follow this immediately with random applications of Eggplant and Green Onyx here and there, blending these colors slightly into the Brown Suede with the trowel. Drop in even smaller amounts of Frosted Denim here and there with the trowel. For all of this, use the trowel in a way that shows the effect of vertical movement. Allow this layer to dry completely.
Step 6: Place the first “silhouette” layer of the Modello® stencils in a random pattern over the surface. Use a foam brush or small roller to apply a layer of size through the pattern. Allow this to come “to tack”, approximately 20 minutes.
Step 7: Working with the three different colors of Celestial leaf, apply the leaf by varying the different colors in separate elements. In other words, some will be all Dawn, all Twilight and all Moonbeam. Burnish again with the lambswool. When finished, let this dry overnight if possible, but a minimum of a few hours so the size has time to set up more.
Step 8: Leaving the first Modello® stencil layer in place, apply the second layer matching the outer edges of the pattern up with the first layer. Note: it is OK and even desirable to have this match up a little “off” by shifting the second layer up and to the right about 1/16”-1/8”.
Step 9: Apply size through the open areas of the second design layer allow this to come “to tack”. Use a different color of leaf now to contrast with the underlying leaf color. For instance, if you used Dawn on the first layer, use Moonbeam or Twilight now. TIP: to identify the underlying leaf colors, put small pieces of blue tape nearby with a D, T or M on them so you will know what color of leaf NOT to use for the second layer. Burnish again with lambswool and remove all Modello® patterns.
Step 10: To further tone and also seal the leaf mix Rich Brown Stain and Seal 1:1 with “Slo Crème”. Brush this on to your surface in small areas and use cheesecloth to rouge it thinly over the background.
