Our India Stencils Collection takes center stage in this colorful stencil tutorial. Learn how to transform a pretty but plain wooden table (we found ours at Home Goods!) into one that looks like intricate etched metal. We've paired it with a pretty pink stenciled wall treatment that uses Chalk Paint® decorative paint to create a faux fresco effect. Read on to learn how to create this exotic retreat space for yourself!
Stencil Supplies for this Project:
- India Stencils: Anisa Embroidery Damask Furniture Stencil, Kamal Lotus Flower Stencil, Sari Border Series Stencil
- Black Royal Stencil Size
- Paris Grey Chalk Paint®
- ¾”Stencil Brush
- Van Dyke Brown Stain and Seal, SoSlow Super Extender from Faux Effects®.
- Silver Leaf
- 3” ColorShaper Tool
- Black Setcoat or good quality Black Eggshell sheen Latex Paint
- Foam Roller and Roller Tray
- Misc: Painters Tape, Paper Towels, Ruler or Measuring Tape, Chip Brush, Foam Brush, Lamb’s Wool.
Start by base coating your table with Black SetCoat or a good quality black latex paint using a foam roller and brush. Apply two coats of paint and allow drying between coats and after last coat.
To create this slightly embossed stencil finish it is best to use paint that is slightly thick. To get the paint to the right consistency, pour some paint in a shallow container and let it sit for an hour or so. This will allow the Chalk Paint® to thicken and will build up the paint a bit more as you stencil with it. For this project any color Chalk Paint® will work since it will be covered on future steps.
Use painter’s tape to mask off the outer beveled lip of the table top, as this will remain black. Center the Anisa Embroidery Damask Stencil on the table top and secure it with a tape. Stencil the pattern allover using a ¾” stencil brush with Chalk Paint®. The Chalk Paint® will dry VERY quickly. In order to build up a higher edge to the design, stencil each area twice.
Stencil just the Kamal Lotus Flower element, and the chevron pattern from the Sari Border Stencil Series on the sides of the table using a ¾” stencil brush. To cleanly stencil the design on the angles on the side panels of the table stencil only one side at a time. Use painter's tape to mask off the areas of the stencil your don't want to transfer the pattern through.
Use a small foam roller to cover the table top and sides of the table with two layers of Black Stencil Size. Allow 10 to 15 min of drying time between coats and before moving on to the next step.
Cover your table with a layer of silver leaf. You can use a chip brush to help you lay the leaf in place and use a small piece lamb’s wool or a soft cloth to buff the leaf and remove any loose flakes. Do this on the table top and sides of the table.
Use a small piece of fine sand paper to get rid of any hard to remove flakes on the edges of your table and use a small paint brush to retouch with black set coat if necessary.
Mix Van Dyke Brown Stain and Seal 1:1 with Slo Creme Extender to create a glaze and give you more working time. Use a chip brush to apply the stain mix in small, workable areas. Remove the excess stain and soften any obvious brush strokes out by blotting is softly with cheesecloth. Repeat on the table sides and allow to dry. This will protect and stain the leaf to give it an aged look and will highlight the embossed effect.
To further accentuate the raised stencil areas, use a 3” Colour Shaper tool to apply a second layer of stain.
Use a piece of cheesecloth to evenly distribute the stain and get rid of any lines. Re-place the stencil and remove the excess stain from the stenciled areas by wiping over the pattern with clean cheesecloth. This will leave your raised stencil patterns to show lighter against the darker background. Repeat on all the stenciled areas.
We decided to add an arch detail to the sides by drawing and cutting a template out of heavy paper. Position the paper and use a stencil brush to stencil in the arch shape, then fill in the rest of the area with black paint.
We also replaced the small chevron stencil pattern on the legs and re-stenciled it with black paint to give the legs more "weight" and create a more balanced look for the black overall. For added protection, seal the table with Clear Wax or your favorite water-based topcoat.
We thought the black and silver stenciled table would look even MORE stunning against a pretty pink background, but wanted to create a mottled "fresco" effect on the wall rather than just using flat paint. Here's how....
Create 3 custom Chalk Paint® color mixes using the following colors and paint ratios:
- Light Pink: 1 part Pure White Chalk Paint/.75 parts Scandinavian Pink Chalk Paint
- Medium Pink: 1 part Burgundy Chalk Paint/1 part Barcelona Orange Chalk Paint/ 1 part Pure White Chalk Paint
- Dark Pink: 1 part Burgundy Chalk Paint/.5 parts Barcelona Orange Chalk Paint/ 1 part Pure White Chalk Paint
Base coat your wall with the Medium Pink Color and allow to dry.
Use a nylon roller to randomly apply the lightest color in a small, workable area. Remove excess paint on a piece of contractors paper before painting the wall, and roll randomly using a cross-hatching motion.
Before the paint dries repeat this process using both the Medium and Dark Pink colors. Apply less of these colors.
While the paint in your working area is still wet use a damp foam roller to further blend the colors together. Use a varying amount of pressure on the roller, and roll in different directions to create a random pattern.
Continue working in small areas across your wall, then repeat to emphasize the effect. This actually goes much quicker than it sounds....promise!
For the wall stenciling, combine the Kamal Lotus Flower with the graceful Raj Trellis Stencil (also available as a stencil set!)
We used Flat Black Stencil Creme for the trellis and Chalk Paint® in Provence and a Chalk Paint® mixture of 1 part English Yellow and .5 part of Barcelona Orange for the Kamal Lotus Flower.
Now, go make yourself a cup of tea, pull up some colorful pillows and relax and enjoy your exotic India Retreat Space!!
