Moroccan Magic

Like clouds stirring in the sky on an overcast day, colour-washed walls bring movement and drama to a room's vertical surfaces. Because the pattern is subtle, it is the perfect complement for a stencilled design. The technique is simple to master and you can layer on as many tones as you like; the more layers you add, the more interesting the finish.

You will need:
- Wide masking tape
- Satin paint: White (WH), Peach Sand (PS), Burnt Honey   (BH), Pumpkin Seed (SE)
- Paint roller
- Bucket
- Clean, lint-free rags
- Low-tack spray adhesive
- Stencil
- Spirit level
- Medium-size stencil brush trim brush
- Plastic-foam or plastic plates

Here’s how:
1. Use wide masking tape to mask around doors, windows, the ceiling, and the floor.

2. Using a paint roller, base-coat a clean, dry wall with WH; let dry.

3. To make the red wash, mix equal parts water and PS in a bucket.

4. Working quickly, ball up a clean, lint-free rag in your hand, and dip it into the wash. Next, rub the "loaded" rag onto the wall using a circular motion, top left. Continue dipping and rubbing until you have finished an entire wall, then move to the opposite wall, and finally, to the walls in between.

5. Repeat the ragging process with a second coat of the red wash; let dry overnight.

6. To make the curry-colour wash, mix equal parts of water and BH in a bucket. Repeat the ragging process using the colour wash; let dry overnight.

7. Spray adhesive onto the back of the stencil and, using a level, press the stencil into place on the wall.

8. Using a stencil brush and a gentle pouncing motion, apply (SE) to the stencil cutouts using varying amounts of paint to create an aged effect. Move the stencil down and repeat the process as many times as necessary to complete each of the walls. To achieve the double border shown, repeat the stencilling process about an inch above the first border.

  source: meredith publishing