Time to shine!!
Summertime and the living was easy...
It goes without saying that 2013 has been a pretty epic summer, a heatwave to rival the Mediterranean, Great British sporting achievements that have seen Andy Murray win the Wimbledon title, The British and Irish Lions and the England cricket team beat Australia and Chris Froome win the Tour de France. Oh and let’s not forget the Royal icing on the cake! Alas, as our alfresco days draw to a close and we think about migrating back indoors it has got me thinking, with spirits so high how do we keep this new found British optimism going through the winter months? With the party season just a stone’s throw away it is definitely time to start thinking about adding a little gloss and sparkle back into the home. I’m certainly not talking about a full redesign but working with what we already have, enhancing rooms enough to give a new lease of life and a new found energy, a new dimension even. You might even call it a bit of interior design Botox. For far too long we have been merrily painting our walls and ceilings with emulsion paint and applying lashings of eggshell finish to our woodwork, don’t get me wrong, this is fine but whatever happened to good old gloss paint? It seems our love for all things shiny has wained over the past few years. However, I think times are a changing once again and as a nation of winners we are through with mediocrity and are ready to embrace a little bit of fantasticness. It’s time to shine, literally! Recently I have been obsessing over lacquered decorative finishes and even incorporating them in to some of my own designs. This high luxe finish may not suit the feint hearted but there is a magnificent quality about it that brings depth, warmth, light and added dimension to any space. Of course this concept is nothing new, this lustrous aesthetic has been embraced for millennia with the Shang Dynasty developing sophisticated techniques in 1600 BC and the oldest extant lacquered object being unearthed in Zheijang china and dated to some 5th Millennia BC. The great thing about this look is that it can be applied as sparingly or liberally as the mood takes you. Whether you lacquer your complete walls or just your front door, whether creating horizontal stripes paired with matte stripes or simply creating feature alcoves that shine, the look is boundless in its possibilities. If you really want to make a statement then where better to start than the hallway. Often a space which is lacking in natural daylight a lacquered finish will certainly enhance and bounce the available light. The reflective effect will also push the walls outwards creating an increased sense of space. For a brilliantly rich lustre darker colours such as black, navy and charcoals work best creating stronger contrasts and a beguiling liquid like quality that oozes glamour. Of course if you are a true design maverick then you can push this effect to the limit by lacquering the ceiling as well. This is a fabulous interior design trick that magically heightens a room by grabbing the artwork, curtains and lighting and reflecting them upwards drawing the eye beyond the ceiling. Take heed though, it is important to carefully consider where you will use this effect as it is a vibrant and energetic aesthetic. It may be best to steer clear of areas of rest and relaxation such as the bedroom where a calmer atmosphere is required. However the look can be softened with lighter shades which still produce luxurious results. So how easily can such glamour be achieved? Well it has to be said that this is hardly a DIY job. For a start you need to make sure that your current walls are completely blemish free otherwise the lacquer will amplify every little imperfection. To create a glass quality finish then ideally it needs to be sprayed on several times and rubbed down in between each coat as brushing and rollers will just leave nibs. Also the cost can seem rather prohibitive as good quality lacquer is not exactly cheap coupled with the cost of the intensive labour required. On top of this the room needs to be well ventilated as the lacquers can be highly toxic. An alternative option to create the lacquer finish and to avoid the rigours of spraying is to use the Hollandlac lacquer finish paint from Fine Paints of Europe. Although not cheap this can be painted on with a brush and will cover in two coats saving a lot of time and labour.
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