| If you are a lover of true Victorian decorating, then a | | | | repeat of the same design. A "wallpaper" effect. |
| beautiful damask pattern antiqued with gold metallic | | | | A great idea for truly elegant walls, a stenciled damask |
| paint is your "end all" wall treatment. It's easy and fun | | | | pattern offers the same regal effect but you can do it |
| to do, then step back and fall to your knees over its | | | | yourself. Here's how: |
| beauty and authentic appeal. | | | | Paint your walls a deep color. Now you will stencil the |
| In my research on the history of damask, I found that | | | | design in a paler version of the same color. For |
| Damask patterns and weaving actually began in | | | | instance, deep gold walls with pale gold stenciling. |
| Florence, Italy in the early 1400's. The methods for | | | | Use a level and create a pencil line for your first row |
| weaving such intricate silk designs which showed a | | | | of the damask pattern. |
| reversal of the design in satin on the opposite side, | | | | Repeat the design across the wall in a straight line, |
| was such a closely guarded secret that anyone | | | | leaving a gap as wide as the stencil design between |
| caught immigrating to share the secret would surely be | | | | each repeat. |
| beheaded. | | | | Drop the stencil down to the next row (again use the |
| Well, history being history, wars were fought, plagues | | | | level to make sure you are getting it straight) and |
| were battled, times changed and the secret spread | | | | stencil the same design "between" the repeats above. |
| across Europe, making the damask pattern and | | | | Cover the entire wall. |
| technique quite commonplace. | | | | Once the design is dry, add gold metallic paint to |
| Damask patterns started within the linens textile | | | | translucent wall glaze and apply with a brush over the |
| industry but its popularity caused it to spread to other | | | | entire wall. You will watch the colors deepen slightly |
| parts of the home decor scene to include furniture, | | | | and see a sheen develop that gives the entire wall a |
| wallpapers, with pillows and drapery items as well. | | | | regal feel. |
| By the turn of the 20th century, damask patterns | | | | If a deeper antiquing is desired, rather than to use the |
| were a staple in Victorian decorating and have stayed | | | | metallic paint, mix brown "tint" with your glaze. Tints are |
| a popular decorating theme within the Traditional | | | | typically available on line or in specialty paint stores and |
| decorating style ever since. With today's new interest | | | | are more sheer than wall or craft paint. |
| in Italian decorating, the damask pattern is simply a | | | | Mix just a slight amount of brown tint with the |
| natural since it originated in Italy. | | | | translucent glaze then wipe on to the wall with a rag, |
| Typically, in wall decor, damask describes an all over | | | | wiping it off as you go. This will deepen the pattern |
| pattern that completely covers the wall with an offset | | | | and give the wall a more aged appearance. |