Left: A ragged effect using Resene Moby over Resene Zumthor. Right: A sponged effect using Resene Double Drought over Resene Biscotti. These effects are similar in regards to technique but give different looks. These can look as bold or as subtle as you like depending on the variation in colour between the basecoat and the topcoat. Pastel colours used together give a soft, marble or crushed velvet finish while off- whites and creams are versatile bases to start from. Stronger colours work well together as long as they are close in value. Test your colour combinations on card first to make sure they work together. Ragging can also be soft or dramatic depending on the cloth you use. Old sheets will give a more subtle look and crisper fabrics, a harder edge. Cheesecloth will leave imprints of the weave and chamois leather will give a velvet finish. Ragging may help to disguise imperfections in the wall, such as uneven walls, odd angles and less than perfect plastering jobs. The same principle applies for sponging – you can use a holey sea sponge, or a denser man-made sponge. Sponging can be used all over the walls or used to create the sense of clouds on a ceiling. Resene Biscotti Resene Double Drought sponging and ragging ... and vertical too For a more contemporary look, use the roller vertically. Paint the wall in Resene Point Break (use two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen). Then, using a roller sleeve, load the second colour (Resene Ruby Tuesday) and working from the bottom up, roll the paint onto the wall then release the pressure and pull the roller off the wall at the desired height – this is called ‘laying off’. If you haven’t painted with a roller before, have a few practice runs. You will need to do a couple of coats of your second colour for good coverage on the lower part of the wall but be careful to 'lay off' as before and/or stay away from scumbled areas you have already created and like. You could also run the roller horizontally, one-third of the way up the wall, to give a contemporary take on the classic dado look. easy roller effects These simple two-tone walls (left and right) are achieved by using a paint roller. At left, it adds a quirky take on the traditional dado effect, with a broken line. It was created by James Dunlop Textiles to showcase their Kyoto range of fabrics. The wall colour on the top is Resene Merino, with Resene Madison below. Resene Point Break Resene Ruby Tuesday Resene Madison Resene Merino Resene Zumthor Resene Moby Resene Quarter Rice Cake | 13 12 |