Regal Round Up – September: Fireplaces & Watching Paint Dry

Introduction

Whether you’re an old hand in search or some new tricks or a complete decorating novice, our monthly collection of blogs and online resources contain useful advice for everyone.

This month: How can you give a bland, dated hearth and fireplace a chic makeover? What effects can you achieve with tinted wax and what can you learn from watching paint dry?

How to: Makeover a Fireplace

The Painted Hive is a treasure trove of how tos and tutorials for giving virtually any corner of the home a makeover, with helpful step by step advice to help you get it just right, whatever your skill level. If your heart and fireplace are looking a little dated, this excellent how to will help you give it a chic, modern update. After all, this is often the focal point in a living area.

But did this classy marble and brass refurbishment cost the earth? Absolutely not. That’s because it was achieved using some very simple, affordable ingredients and some good old fashioned “know how”. Using plywood, some marble contact paper and a few brass box corners, this affordable update looks a million dollars but costs next to nothing. Thanks to Kristineof The Painted Hive for her cracking ideas and inspiring execution!

How to: Paint Furniture with Tinted Wax

We’re big fans of the kinds of finishes paint maven Shaunna of Perfectly Imperfect achieves with her products and projects over the pond. They may be at the more artistic end of the spectrum compared to the Regal Paints collection, but it’s great to have options and inspiration! That’s why we’re sharing one of Shaunna‘s recent posts all about using tinted wax to give furniture a dramatic update. The queen of shabby chic furniture refurbs, this is a great tutorial for DIYers keen to try something different.

The Art of Watching Paint Dry

It’s not the most interesting part of a painting job, but at the end of every brush-oriented task there will come a time when there’s nothing for it but to watch paint dry. But this doesn’t have to be a dull experience, instead it can help you make smarter decisions about which paints and techniques to use in future to get the fastest and finest finish simultaneously.

This is the goal that seasoned painting and decorating expert Charles Budd discusses in his informative and illuminating blogon the MJ Guest Ltd website. If you’re keen to really hone your craft and learn more about your materials, Charles‘ post will help you get thinking about how you paint. Good stuff!

Do you have any great how tos or painting and decorating advice to share? Let us know in the comments section below.