Rich and Modern Orchid

The Color of the Year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid, a warm red-based purple. Here are two ways to bring the color into your samples. The first is a rich and modern take on Orchid using Seagrape StucoLux™. The second is a soft and vintage look using Orchid Ice LusterStone®.

Materials for Rich and Modern Orchid:

Royal Taupe SetCoat®
Seagrape StucoLux™
StucoLux™ Seal
Old Bronze MetalGlow®
Bisque Plum MetalGlow®

Tools & Supplies:

Trowel
Roller
Japan Scraper
Painter’s Tape
Drill Brush

Step 1: Roll 1-2 coats of Royal Taupe SetCoat® allowing each layer to dry at least 2 hours between coats. Let your base cure overnight.

Step 2: Butter a steel trowel with Seagrape StucoLux™ in a medium-thick coat spreading it over the blade. Pop this on the surface.

Step 3: Clean your blade surface with a small Japan Scraper. As you spread your plaster, lift your blade on the edge. Press and pull horizontally. Pick up your blade and repeat pressing and pulling the blade vertically. You are creating randomly spaced raised edges across the finish. Let this layer dry well (StucoLux™ will lighten as it dries). One gallon of StucoLux™ will cover 200-250 square feet with 10% of the base color showing.

Step 4: Sand the tips of the dried plaster. Mix 1 quart StucoLux™Seal with 1 cup Old Bronze MetalGlow®. Mix another quart of StucoLux™ Seal with 1 cup Bisque Plum MetalGlow®. Use a Japan Scraper to tightly pull the tinted sealer over the base. Alternate the colors covering the base 100%. one quart of tinted StucoLux™ Seal should cover 150 square feet.

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Step 5: When the sealer is dry, use a drill brush to polish the finish to desired shine.

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Soft and Vintage Orchid

Materials for Soft and Vintage Orchid:

Gun Metal SetCoat® Metallic
Orchid Ice LusterStone®
Queen Ann's Lace LusterStone®

Tools & Supplies:

Trowel
Roller
Japan Scraper
Painter’s Tape

Step 1: Roll 1-2 coats of Gun Metal SetCoat® Metallic allowing at least 2 hours between coats. Let the base cure overnight.

Step 2: Butter your trowel blade with a medium-thick layer of Orchid Ice LusterStone®. Pop this on the surface. Use a Japan Scraper to clean your trowel and redistribute LusterStone® as you work a 2’x 2’ section. While the Orchid Ice is wet, repeat the process with Queen Ann's Lace LusterStone®. Colors will over lap.

Step 3: Gently pull across the tips of the colors both vertically and horizontally to blend the colors. Keep your blade clean as you work. 10-20% of the metallic base should peek through. Dry well.

Step 4: When the base is dry, select one or both of the LusterStone® colors to pull tightly across the finish. Use a damp cloth to soften areas where you want more of the base metallic to show.

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*Always do a sample board to ensure desired results on a large surface.

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Finish Courtesy of: Rebecca Slaton

Surfaces Fine Paint & Decorative Arts Studio

Lenexa, Kansas

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