AboutCyndie Stefanik Expertise Co-Developer/author of the patent pending "Color with No Regrets" Selection System. Just recently her Color Program was featured in Faux Effects World Magazine and a separate featured article for her virtual consultations in House Trends Magazine. Her Color with No Regrets online video Color Class is the first to earn IACET Certification with the Society of Decorating Professionals. Her specialty is the $199 whole house virtual consultation which is especially popular for new construction and remodeling projects all over the country. As a retired award winning decorative artist, she now donates her services on a regular basis to the Make a Wish Foundation.
Experience I began as a decorative painter/artist 15 years ago. My work has appeared in magazines from award winning designer show houses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Architectural Digest. Most recently I have spent the last 3 years creating, developing and patenting a numerical color selection system that takes the subjective nature out of color. Since it is numerically based, color can be chosen quickly and accurately. For the past year, I have conducted training seminars for the "Color with No Regrets" System to decorating professionals around the United States. My background in decorative painting/art, has given me real life experience of how color works but more importantly why it works based on sound color principles. I am also an authorized Aqua Finishing Solutions Distributor and a certified training instructor for the Society of Decorating Professionals.
Organizations The Society of Decorating Professionals
Publications Recent articles and showcase projects appear in Faux Effects World Magazine, House Trends Magazine, WJET-TV for decorative painting set design, as well as local publications in Western Pennsylvania such as Today's Home. I am a regular guest on Good Morning Erie, WJET-TV, an ABC affliate as the Princess of Paint, where I provide decorating, painting techniques and problem solving for viewers.
Question I have a 15 X 25 livingroom with a full wall of black and grey granite. The previous owner had chocolate colored ceiling beams in the vaulted ceiling. I have since made the walls a deep venetian plaster style to cover poor areas. I have primed the beams and done one light coat of gray pain on them. What technique can I use to add dimension to them but still keep them in a color that works with the green undertones of the granite? The 25 ft walls are almost all glass doors and windows, draperies are cream, ceiling between the beams is freshly painted cream. Any help would be wonderful! Thank you.
Answer Hi Lisa,
To give the beam some dimension, I generally use a deep colored stain or paint to just give it some texture.
1. Mix a little glaze or water with some deep colored paint. I am assuming your base coat is a water based product.
2. Take just a small amount of mixed glaze/paint on a dry brush and brush into the corners and randomly and sporadically add touches to your beams. Then,you really want to softly blend this with the base coat to avoid a harsh looking end product using a dry blending brush. You should end up with a soft random pattern. It can be heavier in the corners and on the edges. If necessary, wipe some off with a rag.
One of the blending brushes that I like to use is a decking brush with natural bristles. Because they are soft, they really get into the corners nicely.
I always recommend doing a sample board or a small are first. I use gel stains (water based) that are sold on my website (copingwithcolor.com under the Faux Effects Logo on the home page, but you don't really have to do this. You can use a deep acrylic from the craft store or purchase a small container from the paint store. This procedure doesn't require a lot of product since this is a very thin coat.
I hope this helps you. Good Luck with your project.
Thanks for asking.
Cyndie Stefanik
Co-Founder/Developer
Color with No Regrets Numerical Selection System
www.copingwithcolor.com
