| I once had a neighbor who faced brilliant orange | | | | you the best adhesion and durability. |
| Formica counter tops in her home. Raising little | | | | Step 5) Once the primer is completely dry, you |
| ones on a single mother's salary didn't allow her | | | | can now use water based paints to do your |
| the budget to replace those counter tops. To her, | | | | project. Paint the base color over the entire |
| (as it would be to me), living with those counter | | | | surface and allow to dry. |
| tops would be nearly unbearable! She tried | | | | Step 6) with a brush, blot on your main |
| everything she could to cover them to no avail. | | | | secondary color (the one that seems to stand |
| They were still orange, they were still an eyesore. | | | | out the most in your printed sample) allowing the |
| If you face the same sort of dilemma with | | | | background color to show through. You can either |
| Formica, or even with ceramic tile, there is a | | | | use an old towel, wall paint brush or flat end |
| great solution and not at all difficult. Faux finish | | | | stencil brush with great results. |
| them! The technique is the same for both | | | | Depending on the look of your sample (a very |
| surfaces. | | | | blotchy look or smoother, softer colors) you may |
| The counter tops in our Everett, Washington | | | | want to blend as you go. My sample showed |
| home were white and very poorly done. We will | | | | smoother, more blended colors. Yours might be |
| replace them before we sell the house in 2009 to | | | | quite spotty with definite "dots" of color. In that |
| move to our home in Idaho, but I didn't want to | | | | case, don't blend. |
| do that until we were ready to put it on the | | | | Step 7) Spatter on 2nd color either by blotting |
| market. | | | | larger dots as with the first color, or by dipping a |
| Could I stand the poor glue job one more day? | | | | toothbrush in to the paint color then flicking the |
| Not a chance. So while friend husband was on a | | | | bristles with your fingers (Protect the floor and |
| business trip to Italy, I faux finished them to pale, | | | | back splash or walls when performing this |
| but rich looking granite. The difference it made | | | | technique). Repeat the above processes with any |
| was incredible! | | | | further colors needed to complete the look. |
| Here's how: | | | | Step 8) Allow the surface to dry completely then |
| Step 1) Go on the Internet and find photos of | | | | seal with 3 coats of water based Polyurethane |
| granite that appeal to you and match your decor | | | | sealer in "gloss" finish. The gloss gives you the |
| colors. Print out a sample sheet as your working | | | | appearance of shiny, polished granite. DO follow |
| example. | | | | manufacturer's directions when using all products. |
| Step 2) Examine the photo closely. Real granite | | | | There are many styles of granite to choose from |
| typically consists of a main, over-all color with | | | | and with just a bit of practice on a sample board |
| "blotches" or dots of secondary colors. Decide | | | | before beginning, you can achieve basically the |
| what would be the base (background color) would | | | | same look with just a paint brush and these |
| be and the two or three secondary colors. For | | | | techniques. |
| instance, my granite choice required a deep gold | | | | Granite color examples: |
| background and dark brown, white and gold as | | | | Deep Green Granite: Background dark Olive green, |
| secondary colors. Ask your local paint store | | | | light olive green and black as secondary colors. |
| employee to help you with choices if need be. | | | | Gray Granite: Pale Gray background color with |
| Step 3) Clean the surface well then wipe with | | | | dark gray, brown and white as secondary colors. |
| pure white vinegar to give it a bit more "tooth". | | | | Light brown granite: Light brown background with |
| On Formica, a very light sanding helps to make | | | | secondary colors of dark brown and cream. |
| your primer adhere. | | | | Now you can venture out to find just the right |
| Step 4) Prime the surface with oil based primer | | | | granite color choice for your project. |
| such as "BIN" or "KILZ". Oil based primers give | | | | |