Episode 142- Decorative finishes update – mettre en valeur

You might remember that I posted about the first two stages of the process I have developed for stucco-stencilling walls. Check it out here in French house salon.

 

Can you stucco stencil it? Yes you can!

I have now completed stage 3 and it looks even better than I hoped. You may know that I did lots of research on stencilled patterns in old village houses and thought long & hard on whether this kind of flourish was appropriate.

I did NOT want the ubiquitous flat, single colour stencilled effect of the 1980’s

This raised stucco- style stencil design and subtle colours suits these old, raw, colour washed lime plastered walls of ours.

The French phrase “mettre on valeur” suits what we have done here better that any English words might, meaning “to develop, emphasise, highlight, show off to advantage”

http://dictionnaire.reverso.net/francais-anglais/mettre%20en%20valeur

stage one above- stage two below left- stage three below right

I basically applied a very small amount of clear furniture soft  wax (Liberon) with a small cloth. working from the edges of each part of the design inward.

It’s a subtle difference (can you see it-right?) but I am happy with it now