I have mentioned several times in this blog how much I like the diversity of the projects I get to do with BlackBeak Studios – but I also thoroughly enjoyed two very similar back-to back jobs that tested my faux painting and matching skills!
The most recent of these projects was part of a redesign of a unique space in Wellesley. The room started as a partially finished garage, and it was being transformed into a game room with a golf simulator. The homeowner worked closely with their contractor Tim to come up with a look for the room that included reclaimed barn board paneling on all of the walls – which looked fantastic. The problem they encountered was with the windows (and the door frame!). Once the barn board was installed, the plain, stark white of the windows and door frame looked completely out of place (the door itself will have a unique tin treatment). They considered painting them a single color that would match the barn board as close as possible – but what they really wanted was for the windows to look like they were also made from the same old wood…. Which is where I came in!
I have worked with Tim in the past (matching wallpaper, matching damaged faux finishes), so he had an idea that I may be able to also match the barn board. I first visited the space to get a sense of what was needed, and Tim sent me home with samples of the wood to help collect the perfect paint colors.
Once on site, I was able to dive right in. I started by painting the windows in flat colors that I mixed to match the “general” look of the surrounding wood. I then approached each section of wood as a separate painting to make it look like the windows, like the walls around them, were made from different pieces of previously distressed wood. As a reference, all I needed to do was look around me! In addition to the striated texture, I incorporated what I saw in the paneling – from knotholes, to water damage, to cracks, chips and even bullet holes!
For projects like this, just seeing that match come to life is extremely rewarding – but nothing is better than a happy customer. Both the contractor and the homeowner were enthusiastic about the results! Below are some of the pictures – enjoy!
Window 1 before
Window 1 after
Window 1 detail
Window 2 before
Window 2 after
Window 2 detail
Door frame before
Door frame after