Window shutters

Choose painted shutters to add extra privacy to a bathroom without losing any precious daytime light. They also make a stylish feature out of a plain window and add a nostalgic feel.

You will need:
Pair of linen-fold, solid pine cabinet doors
Multi-surface primer
Paintbrush
Acrylic paint in three colours
Crackle glaze
Wooden seahorse and shell motifs
Matt acrylic varnish
Hinges
Screwdriver and screws


Here's how:
1. Start by painting the doors all over with multi-surface primer and allow to dry.

2. Next, paint the panels with a coat of purple acrylic. Apply a coat of crackle glaze to the panels, brushing it in the opposite direction to the acrylic paint, and allow to dry for three hours.

3. Apply a coat of lilac acrylic - brushing in the opposite direction to the crackle glaze - taking care not to overbrush. As the top-coat dries it will react with the glaze, shrinking back to leave cracks through which the base colour is visible. Paint the door frames with a coat of acrylic in a contrasting shade and allow to dry.

4. Give the wooden seahorses and seashells a matching crackle finish and glue them to the frame.

5. Finish the shutters by applying a coat of matt acrylic varnish to protect the paintwork.

6. Choose hinges suited to your type of window and attach the shutters to the wall.

  source: By rose kennedy - scripps networks interactive - images: la gio bella