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How to Paint a Plaid
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7
Photo 8
Photo 9
Photo 10
Instructions for Plaid, Day 1
Making the vertical stripes
1. Measure 8" (20 cm) from the corner, and mark the wall with chalk
2. Continue marking the wall, measuring 8" (20 cm) between each mark (Photo 1). Because the wall space here is in a small dormer, we used 8" (20 cm) stripes. To replicate the same idea on a larger wall, mark off 12" (30.5 cm) stripes.
3. If the last stripe is too wide or too narrow, offset the irregular width by combining the width of the last stripe and the stripe beside it, dividing that total in half, and using one-half for each stripe. Once the room is complete, you won't notice the off-size width.
4. Using the level, draw vertical lines with chalk all along the wall, at the chalk marks (Photo 2).
5. Place a small section of brown tape on the stripes that are not being painted to help you remember which stripes to avoid.
6. If a painted stripe would butt up at the corner of the room with another painted stripe or if an unpainted stripe would butt up to another unpainted stripe, divide the last stripe in half, in effect creating two narrow stripes in its place. Otherwise, take a few inches (5 to 7 cm) off the last few stripes. You will never notice the difference in spacing, especially when the stripes meet in an inconspicuous corner.
Taping the vertical stripes
1. Tape off the trim surrounding the area being painted, using blue tape, to protect it.
2. Define the sides of a few stripes at a time with tape, using brown paper tape (Photo 3 ).
3. Lay the drop cloth out under the first wall you plan on painting.
Painting the vertical stripes
1. Apply the glaze with a brush, using up-and-down or vertical strokes (Photo 4) as shown.
2. Pull off the brown tape after each stripe is painted, or after a few are painted (Photo 5).
3. Finish each wall in the same manner.
Day 2
Marking the horizontal stripes
1. Begin in a corner. Starting at the ceiling, measure down 8" (20 cm) or 12" (30.5 cm) if you are painting a larger wall, and mark with chalk (Photo 6).
2. Continue measuring and marking until you reach the bottom of the wall.
3. Using the level, draw the lines with chalk horizontally across the wall (Photo 7).
4. Place a small section of brown tape on the stripe that is not being painted to help you remember which areas to paint.
Taping off and glazing the horizontal stripes
1. Lay the drop cloth out under the first wall you plan to paint.
2. Using the brown paper tape, tape off the first few striipes at the top of the wall (Photo 8).
3. Apply the glaze with a brush to the first stripe down, painting in a horizontal direction between the tape edges (Photo 9).
4. Pull off the brown tape after a few stripes have been painted (Photo 10).
5. Continue taping off and painting stripes, as you did with the vertical stripes.
6. Pull off the blue tape that is protecting the trim after one whole wall is complete.