Restaurant Review: Mr White’s, Leicester Square, London
Marco Pierre White’s new restaurant offers gastro food at accessible prices.
The post Restaurant Review: Mr White’s, Leicester Square, London appeared first on The Travel Magazine.
How to paint skirting boards- a step-by-step guide
Freshly painted skirting boards can make a big impact in any room, but if you’re not sure how to paint skirting boards, then you’ve come to the right place.
While it’s fairly traditional to paint skirting boards a fresh, bright white, the new norm is to banish boring white and opt for something different, by painting your skirting boards either the same as your wall for immersive colour, or a different shade entirely!
And with plenty of paint ideas to inspire your next decorating project, knowing how to complete your look and frame your room perfectly, will be worth its weight in gold.
Because of their positioning in a room, skirting boards are often the first element of a room to look a little tired. Constant scuffs, kicks and the gathering of dirt and dust, can mean they can get battered from every day wear and tear, while your walls and ceiling still look pristine. But that just means they are doing their job- protecting your walls from taking a hammering, as well as neatly finishing off your space. And the good thing is, that an afternoons work can soon turn things around…
How to paint skirting boards
Image credit: Fenwick & Tilebrook
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As with any DIY project, it’s all in the preparation to ensure the best job, so while it can seem time consuming and boring, we fully recommend you follow each of our below steps for the best outcome.
What finish paint to choose it totally up to you. A gloss paint is the most durable, but can look dated in some spaces (or fantastic in others!).
If you’re not a fan of the high-shine finish, a satin finish might suit you better as it still has good durability, but a less subtle shine to it. An eggshell paint will give a wonderfully soft, matt appearance to match your walls, but it will show scuffs and marks easily, so perhaps not the best option if you have small children or large pegs.
What you’ll need
- Newspaper, dust sheets or plastic sheeting to protect your floors
- A damp cloth
- A medium coarse sand paper
- Decorators tape (or masking tape)
- A good quality paint brush
- Your chosen paint colour and a pot to decant in to
1. Protect your floors
Using masking tape, stick down the edge of your newspaper or sheeting, as close to the skirting boards as possible so there is no gap between the floor and the board. This way any drips or slips of the paint brush won’t damage your flooring. If this happens, be sure to clear it up as quickly as possible, as you don’t want to step in it and trudge footprints through your house!
2. Prep your skirting boards
Yup, even your skirting boards way down at the bottom of your wall need to be prepared before you get all gung-ho about things. The level of prep they will need depends on their state. For old, previously painted boards, make sure any holes or dents are filed, dust and dirt is removed and you give them a good wipe down with a damp cloth. Then give them a light sand with a medium coarse sand paper. Alternatively, you could use an electric sander. This is especially important for boards previously painted in a gloss paint.
Following this, give them another quick wipe to remove the dust.
For new, bare skirting boards that should be dent-free and smooth to start with, give these a quick sanding too, so provide a suitable key for the paint to stick to.
Image credit: Valspar
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3. Stick tape to the walls
Next apply decorators tape along the base of the wall, where it meets the top of the skirting board. This will ensure a crisp, clean line and protect your walls from getting marked with the paint.
TOP TIP: We’d still recommend this step, even if you are painting your skirting boards the same colour as your walls, as you might want to use a paint with a more durable finish, than the paint you have used on your wall.
4. Apply your paint
Depending on your chosen paint, you might need to use a primer first. We’d always recommend this step if your boards are bare, as it gives a much better finish, but some paints do have primer built in, so you might be able to get away with this step. If not, apply your primer with a good quality brush, leave to dry, give a light sand and then wipe, followed by a second coat. Then, before starting with the first layer of your chosen paint, give it a light sand and wipe again.
If your paint is water-based, opt for a synthetic bristled brush, as natural bristles can sometimes soak up too much for the paint and will leave a streaky look.
Apply at least 2 coats of your chosen colour, sanding and cleaning in between each coat, then once completely dry, carefully remove the tape from the wall.
Image credit: Dulux
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What’s the easiest way to paint skirting boards?
The easiest way to paint skirting boards is with a good quality paint, that has a primer already mixed in. This will save you from having to paint a primer layer before you start with your chosen paint colour. Use a wide brush so that you don’t have to keep going over the same bits with a smaller brush and apply the paint in long, steady strokes. Try not to go over the same area too many times or it will start to get sticky. Allow the recommended time to dry between each coat and make sure to clean and dry your brush in this time too.
Do you paint walls or skirting boards first?
We’d recommend painting walls first, and skirting boards second. As a general rule of thumb when decorating, start from the top and work your way down. For example, when painting a room, start with the ceiling, next the walls, then lastly the woodwork, including skirting boards, window frames and door frames. That way, you won’t risk getting any drip marks on parts of the wall further down.
Can you paint straight over skirting boards?
You can paint straight over skirting boards without prepping or sanding them, but you’ll always get a better finish if you put the effort in. Without properly sanding and preparing wood before painting it, means it can easily chip or peel away as there is no key for it to adhere to. While it’s a quick and easy fix, in the long run, you are better off spending the time prepping your boards before painting them.
In terms of whether you can paint straight over skirting boards to continue the same colour on the wall, then yes, you can absolutely do this! It’s a good trick to make a space seem larger and will immerse you in colour.
The post How to paint skirting boards- a step-by-step guide appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 6 min
Black bathroom ideas: 10 ways to use this on-trend colour
Thinking about a bathroom update? If you are, you’ll have noticed that black bathroom ideas are on the increase. In fact dark colours are a big trend for most rooms in the house. There are a number of different looks you can go for, so decide in advance what you’re drawn to. Knowing whether you prefer a moody gothic style, something more glamorous or a cleaner contemporary feel will guide you to the right fittings, finishes, tiles and paint tones.
Black bathroom ideas
Once you’ve narrowed down the basics, like who’ll be using the bathroom, you’ll be drawn to certain surface materials to create your bold bathroom colour scheme. For example if it’s where you’ll be bathing the kids, tiled walls will be a good option. Alternatively consider half painted half tiled and current bathroom splashback ideas. If splashes are less of a concern, start looking at the best black paint for your project.
Armed with this information, you’ll have a better idea which of these beautiful black bathroom ideas will suit your lifestyle and the look you want to achieve.
1. Paint walls, window frames and skirting the same shade
Image credit: Future PLC/ Lisa Cohen
Consider a bold bathroom paint idea by cocooning with colour! f you fancy a gorgeous shade of matt black paint for your walls, increase the impact by painting the skirtings and window frames in an eggshell version too. Leaving them white creates an entirely different look and can lessen the impact if dark and moody is your thing. Colour matching a linen blind will complete the leaden backdrop for cosy candle-lit soaks.
Here the dark shades look stylish rather than sombre, thanks to the steel bateau tub, floor-standing bath filler and burst of light from the sun ray mirror.
2. Make it monochrome
Image credit: Future PLC/ Rachael Smith
Like the idea of a black bathroom but not sure you could actually live with it? It pays to consider this properly, as a new bathroom doesn’t come cheap. Ideally, it’s going to last you for around fifteen or more years. So it makes sense to work out what you genuinely like rather than choose what’s currently on trend.
Going for a monochrome black and white bathroom look with a mix of black and white surfaces, gives you the freedom to change the paint colour and tiles at a later date. Sticking with white on the more permanent fittings such as the bath and vanity unit can be a wise choice.
3. Go for spa-like style with marble
Image credit: Future PLC/ Fraser Marr
Marble is a desirable choice in bathrooms and walk-in showers – and it’s easy to see why. Marble signals luxury and it’s for this reason it’s the material of choice for high-end hotels and spas. It’s an expensive option though and it takes looking after. An alternative option that is popular with homeowners is marble-effect porcelain tiles, as they’re so practical and easy to maintain.
Many porcelain floor tiles have a slip rating too, so check with the manufacturer. ‘We recommend a resistance rating of R13 for wet areas such as showers,’ says Louisa Swannell, Head of Creative Design at Walls and Floors.
4. Light the ledge
Image credit: Future PLC/ Tamra Cave
Many bathroom renovations often entail building a false wall to hide plumbing and pipes behind. Depending how deep it is, this often presents an opportunity to create a cupboard or a shelf above.
In an all-black bathroom like this one, including a strip of LED lighting along a shelf or ledge, makes a worthwhile feature. It not only helps illuminate the space, it means the main light can be off if you want a relaxing soak. Remember, water and electricity are not a good mix, so ensure any lighting has the correct IP rating, which varies depending on the distance from the water source.
5. Include a gallery wall
Image credit: Future PLC
It’s become popular to make the bathroom feel less like a functional space and more like a comfortable room you’d like to spend time in. One way to enhance this is with a gallery wall idea.
In this bathroom, black tiles on the floor and shower walls, along with the dark countertop, create a striking contrast with the white walls. Against this, the black frames around the monochrome artwork and photography really stand out. This thin black border near the ceiling is a nice finishing touch.
6. Tie the look together with tiles
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
To prevent a black bathroom from looking gloomy – and dating too soon – it’s wise to keep the more permanent fittings such as the bath and basin white. After all, noone wants to end up with the 2020s equivalent of the avocado suite.
Patterned tiles are big news in both bathroom and kitchen schemes and choosing a black and white geometric motif for your flooring makes uniting these two shades easy. Mixing a patterned floor with brick-style tiles for the splashback is another popular look, made even more stylish with dark grey grout.
7. Mix black walls with marble finishes
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
The owners of this bathroom not only went for patterned tiles on the floor to tie the matt black walls and glossy white fittings together, they’ve gone for carrara-style porcelain tiles in the walk-in shower too. The dark grey veining works perfectly and gives a luxurious lift to the room, while the traditional brass taps and shower head add warmth to the cool colour scheme.
It goes without saying, when choosing the best black paint and patterned tiles for your project, gather swatches and look at them in the room you’re decorating, and at different times of the day, so you can tell whether you still like them as the light changes.
8. Bring in some bling with a brass vanity unit
Image credit: Future PLC/ Colin Poole
For blogger Jess Hurrell of Gold is a Neutral, the shimmering shade is just that – and it works a treat in her gorgeous (and multi award-winning) black bathroom.
Having asked her builders to create the vanity unit carcass from plywood, Jess bought bespoke brass doors from Custom Fronts. ‘I then painted the whole room black to allow the brass cabinet to shine,’ says Jess. ‘I love how the brass dulls down over time, then a quick lick of Barkeepers Friend and it’s shiny as new again.’
9. Create a cocoon with black walls, floor and ceiling
Image credit: Future PLC/ Tamra Cave
If you’re feeling brave why not embrace a move to the dark side and go the whole hog with black walls, floor and ceiling in your bathroom. Large jet black floor tiles have been teamed with a polished plaster effect on the walls and ceiling, which creates a cavernous yet contemporary feel. The antique gilt-framed mirror provides a touch of glamour in this bold black bathroom.
10. Introduce a quirky gothic look with black wallpaper
Image credit: Future PLC/ Paul Raeside
There’s been a Victorian gothic air in interior trends in recent years. From curiosity cabinets and decorative trinkets to characterful wallpapers these bygone oddities have thrown off their dusty vibe and come back into our homes. This look has crept into the bathroom too. Here, you can have fun with hints of darkness, such as black wallpaper, and an ornate gold sink. If it’s a look you love, scour salvage yards for vintage taps and bath fillers.
What colours go with black in bathrooms?
All colours go with black in bathrooms because it provides such a striking contrast. Any accent colour shines against the darkness of black. When it comes to fixtures and fittings both silver chrome or gold brass work wonderfully to create a sophisticated accent for black tiles, walls or flooring to shine bright in comparison.
How do you design a black bathroom?
Think about whether you prefer baths, showers or both. A free-standing bath suddenly becomes a worthwhile investment, if an indulgent soak in the evening will wash away the stresses of the day. Likewise a walk-in shower or double basins seem worth the extra cost if it makes the morning routine smoother.
‘The early stages are about exploring what this room will be used for,’ says James Lentaigne, creative director, Drummonds. ‘Is it a master en-suite, a family bathroom, an occasional guest bathroom or an additional shower room? The finishes will determine the look and feel of the bathroom. Think function and mood. As well as tiles, paint or panelling, what window coverings and flooring? What metal finish will be specified for the brassware?’
The post Black bathroom ideas: 10 ways to use this on-trend colour appeared first on Ideal Home.
Reading time: 7 min
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