Illustrator Kim Rosen is a talented artist. Though she is usually crafting illustrations for a range of high profile editorial and advertising clients, she and her partner ceramicist Cara Taylor recently took on a new form of illustration. They painted the patched plywood floor in an alcove corner of their bedroom…
After we ripped up an old carpet, we filled the holes and crevices in the plywood subfloor with wood filler. We then sanded — and sanded — until relatively smooth.
After two coats of primer, we painted two coats of Benjamin Moore Floor & Patio latex enamel in "Yellow Marigold". We used the same gray paint that we used on the walls of the room which is Benjamin Moore's "Amherst Gray" for the pattern.
I created an 8" x 8" pattern that our friend cut out of mylar with a laser cutter to create our stencils.
We still have the edges to complete and once we can open up all of the windows we will top the floor with a few coats of polyurethane.
Kim posted about their project on her blog: Kim Rosen | Patterns — I can't wait to see the 100% completed project!
You can see more of Kim's illustrations and portraiture at Kim Rosen and Cara's porcelain work at Cara Taylor Ceramics.
Thanks Kim & Cara!
Images: Kim Rosen | Patterns
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Comments (39)
Incredible! Fantastic color combination and that pattern is glorious!
Great after on that floor! But, wow, the most impressive part is the patience they must have had to paint that pattern!
nice work -- literally a work of art on the floor. we did this in a victorian once when we were too cheap to lay down "real" flooring (just a solid color). one thing we learned: paint on a floor isn't a durable solution and latex-based paint doesn't "patina" as well as old-school oil-based paint does. you might think to topcoat with an oil-based marine-grade polyurethane (satin would be my choice). imho, oil-based coatings are more durable in actual use and patina to a more respectable level. the oil should cover the latex undercoat with no worries. it'll off-gas like hell, so make sure you have a friend in town with a pull-out sofa.
Ooooh--I like this!
Beautiful!
I'm with ach. As beautiful as this is, I'm mostly impressed with (and jealous of) your skill and patience. Well done!
Whoa! I was totally not expecting anything like this. Unique vision, fantastic execution!
Wow!
Incredible - I think I'm most impressed with how perfectly smooth the floor looks after the coat of Marigold. Lots of effort paying off!
Love it!
Wow...I love how smooth it is. Nothing says "subflooring" like the roughness of plywood. This is a great discovery on a day I got a painfully expensive quote on flooring for myself. :)
Wow, this is so lovely! Really well done!
This is genius! Thanks for the inspiration!
So beautiful. Something you should be very proud of!
I have an enclosed front porch in a 1913 beach cottage we just bought and don't have the $$ to redeck. I thought I was destined to replace the cheap indoor/outdoor rug from home depot that comes in a variety of ugly/tacky colors, but you've give me new inspiration! Appreciate the how-to. Beautiful work.
LOVE!!!!
Not my colours but the result is awesome!
Maybe this is the way how to finally obtain one of those Madeline Weinrib's coveted rugs: by painting the pattern on the floor. ;-)
Pretty.
Wow! Looks amazing
Totally not my thing, but holy cow! The effort and dedication to do this.
It's a thing of beauty.
It's just amazing. I don't have the patience.
On what planet would custom printed wallpaper be cheaper than some paint?
I did a similar technique, and with proper posture and stretching did not require medical attention after.
Frankly this is a SUPER cheap solution, executed here beautifully.
amazing!!!!
Not my taste at all, but pretty amazing. Agree w/being impressed with having the skill and patience needed to achieve this. Very well done!
Beautiful, meticulous work! Bravo!
WOW!
Wow awesome work! I just bought a house with carpet all upstairs that I absolutely hate, and this would be a cheaper alternative to wood - but of course I wouldn't have the patience for the stencil...I think I'd give up right after the solid paint ;)
OH MY GOD! My hands shake just looking at this. Nerves of steel, I am jealous! It's lovely.
wow! amazing!
gorgeous!
I don't think I could stand in that room without feeling anxious.
wow, good job.
nice work- what did you use?? looks like fir G1S. i like that you used a clear coat as a sealer, better wear-layer- good thinking
thanks for the share.
Personally, I don't really like the color scheme. But I love the concept, and think you did a great job executing it!
yaaay AT lezzers! it's about time!
SUCH stellar work! i would never have the patience to execute this. so resourceful, and so very talented. well done kim & cara!
this floor looks so lovely. I feel the pain of how hard it must have been to do this project. It took me 8 hours to do a chevron pattern on my bathroom wall. But the results are worth it! :)
http://styleingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/03/basement-after.html
compare the time you spent on painting this and the time you will enjoy it, its totally worthy~~~just another question, how to keep them forever or keep them long enough?
I remember my original art teacher's home floors..there were handpainted, and the effect was irreplaceable.
wow !