Author and designer Cheryl MacLachlan explains how to paint a Swedish diamond pattern on a hardwood floor. From the pearly Scandinavian color palette, which includes light greens, blues and grays, she chose a soft blue and white for the large diamonds on a bedroom floor. The bigger the diamond the better, especially for a bedroom, as big diamonds are more relaxing than a clutter of little ones. Materials: Latex paint in two colors -- a creamy white and a soft blue-gray
Primer
Fine sandpaper
Painter's tape or 1"-wide heavy-duty masking tape
Chalk line
Measuring tape
Bristle brush, 4" wide
Water-based matte-finish polyurethane
- Prepare the floor for painting. Clean thoroughly, and prime the floor if it's in rough condition.
- Using a 4"-wide bristle brush, paint the entire floor with two coats of white paint, making sure to follow the grain of the wood. Allow the paint to dry completely, according to the manufacturer's directions, and sand lightly between coats to prevent peeling or flaking.
Use a good-quality bristle brush. Inexpensive brushes shed bristles into the wet paint, making a high-quality brush well worth the expense. - To design the diamond grid, first measure the length and width of the room and determine the number of diamonds to include in the pattern. For the purpose of illustration, a well-proportioned pattern for a floor 12' long by 10' wide would be four diamonds across and four diamonds lengthwise. Double the number of diamonds on each side (this will determine placement of the end and mid-point of each diamond), and divide the length and width of the floor by that number. In this example, 12' divided by 8 is 18", and 10' divided by 8 is 15". Make a pencil mark every 18" at the edge of the floor along the 12' side of the room and every 15" along the 10' side.
- The diamond pattern may be marked on the floor as soon as the base coat is completely dry. Working with a partner will make this job go faster. Using a chalk line, start in one corner of the room, and locate the first mark out from the corner in each direction. Connect the first two marks with the chalk line, and snap a line on the floor (figure A). Skip the second mark, move out to the third mark in each direction, connect them with the chalk line, and snap a line on the floor (figure B). Continue to connect every other mark until the entire floor is marked out in parallel lines.
- Repeat the process in the other direction, connecting the marks on the other two walls to create a second set of parallel lines that intersect the first set, creating a diamond pattern.
- With painter's tape or 1"-wide heavy-duty masking tape, tape off the outlines of the diamonds to be painted (figure C). Press the tape firmly so paint won't bleed under the edges.
- Using a 4"-wide bristle brush, work in the direction of the grain, and apply two coats of the darker paint to the inside of the diamond patterns (figure D). Allow the paint to dry thoroughly between coats. Remove the tape carefully.
- If you want your floor to attain a weathered look, leave the painted finish unprotected so scuff marks will build up over time. For a protected finish, seal the painted floor with two coats of water-based matte-finish polyurethane.
GUESTS :
Cheryl MacLachlan
Box 3066
Stony Creek, CT 06405
Fax: 203-481-9414
Email: cmaclachlan@bringingithome.com
Website: www.bringingithome.com
Bringing It Home
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