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