From the window, to the wall: DIY Window Frame Art

   Painted window frames are quick and easy to do and look great after they're done. They add a rustic touch to any room without burning a hole in your wallet. To add a more glamorous touch, I've added a panel of wallpaper onto the back. Pictures and artwork can easily be added as well to add a more personal touch. Now lets get started!

What You Need:
- Window frame
- Paint (your colour of choice)
- Paint brush
- Wallpaper (enough to cover the back of frame)
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Staple gun, wallpaper adhesive, or tape

• Paint the window frame in the colour you chose. Test pots from paint stores are the perfect size for this project. Apply two coats for best results.

• When the frame is completely dry place it on the wallpaper and find a spot where the pattern looks best through the frame. Once found, trace the outside of the window frame onto the wallpaper. This is your template for where to cut.

• Cut the wallpaper and place onto the back of the window frame to make sure it fits. If it is too large, trim the paper down a bit. 

• To attach the wallpaper to the window frame there are three different options. You can either use a staple gun, wallpaper adhesive, or tape. The staple gun and wallpaper adhesive are the more secure and durable options. If you are planning on switching the background paper often, tape might be a better option for you as it is easier to remove. 

• When securing the wallpaper onto the back of the window frame make sure it is smooth and tight so there are no waves or wrinkles. Once all of the edges are secured down, your window frame is ready to be put on display in your home!

Window Frame Colour: CC-10 Ultra White by Benjamin Moore

Damask Wallpaper: Design By Colour Black & White

Setting the Tone: 10 Front Door Colours

Door Colour: Oregano 2147-10 (Benjamin Moore)

     The front door may seem a small detail when looking at the exterior of your house, but it is more important then you think. It greets your guests before they step into your home and sets the tone on what to expect once inside. You want it to be a reflection of yourself, as well as compliment the rest of your houses exterior. It can be a tricky task trying to find the right balance of personality and functionality, so here are 10 of my favourite Benjamin Moore colours that look great on front doors:

Yellow Marigold 2155-30, Navajo Red 2171-10, Gentleman's Gray 2062-20, 

Newburyport Blue HC-155, Iron Mountain 2134-30, Oregano 2147-10, 

Plum Royale 2070-20, Caliente AF-290, Polar Jade CC-754, Black Bean Soup 2130-10

              *All these colours are available in paint chips at any Benjamin Moore store

   Benjamin Moore has a great tool on their website called the Personal Colour Viewer. It allows you to pick a sample home and play around with different colours. The image used at the top of this post is an example of what the Personal Colour Viewer can do. Keep in mind that colours will appear slightly different on a computer screen then in real life. Colour samples (test pots) are always the best way to go for real colour representation.

   

What colour is your front door? How does it represent you? 

MY TOP 5: Painting Supplies & Tricks

1. Microfiber Rollers- These rollers give a great smooth almost sprayed on finish. This means no more orange peel texture on your walls like the general purpose rollers leave. With paints drying faster than ever, the microfiber rollers hold enough paint in them to keep the paint from drying on the roller. Once washed out, they can be used over and over again making it well worth the extra money. 

2. Artist Brushes- I always revert back to artist brushes. Whether it's the artist in me, or the perfectionist, artist brushes are perfect for those tricky areas where a paint brush is just too big or not precise enough to do the job. 

3. Wet Cloth- It took me a few painting projects to finally realize that having a wet cloth handy is a must! Especially for those of us who aren't the most graceful. Whatever you are painting, big or small, it only takes a second of distraction for a drop of paint to fall or for a roller to hit the ceiling. This is when the trusty wet cloth comes in hand. It is much easier to quickly wipe up the mess while it's wet then having to touch things up later.

4. Wire Brush- I don't know if you've ever tried cleaning out a paint brush after a day of painting before, but all I can say is it's frustrating and takes for-EVER to get completely clean. I can understand why people throw them out after one use. Fret no more- those days are over! Using a wire brush while cleaning will take off all the pesky dried up paint that sticks to the bristles and push out all the paint. 

5. Glass Cleaner- Like the father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding (If you haven't seen it, you really should) says, “Windex fixes everything”.  Believe me, he really was onto something. For the spots of dry paint on the floor, glass, counter, furniture, or anywhere else that you didn't catch while painting, spray some glass cleaner on it and it will help loosen the paint. Depending on how long the paint has been settled there, you may need to gently scrape at it.

  There you have it! Those are a few of my trusty top painting supplies and tricks that I've gathered over the years. 

What are your favourite tricks and go-to supplies when it comes to painting?