I'm a big fan of patterned walls — I've even tried my own hand at a few projects. I've always stuck to using a stencil but Emily freehand painted the ikat pattern on her walls ... and with great results!
As Emily documents on her blog, Merrypad, she thought the inherently imperfect nature of the ikat pattern would be a perfect way to try freehand painting rather than using a stencil. She did a trial run on paper and then, after taping off her wall (because even thought it's freehand, it's not willy-nilly!), Emily got to work making the diamond pattern in a repeat on the walls. After the first coat dried, Emily went back and re-positioned the tape and filled in the blank spots with even more of the pattern, achieving a consistent all over look.
The project is spread over two posts over on Merrypad — Can A Girl Paint Ikat? and Ikat Experimentation: Our Finished Closet
Images: Merrypad
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Comments (44)
Holy guacamole!
I really like this for a small space like a closet (or a powder room.) I'm not sure I'd do it on a larger space, but this is cool!
Glad you liked the closet, Jason! Thanks for sharing it here!
WOW, so beautiful.
I LOVE it. And I agree that this would look great in a washroom.
girl's got cojones - that looks great!
Wow!Nice. It really looks great. I like it.
Just Beautiful! Well done!
Very pretty and such a lovely touch!
This looks amazing!
Really pretty, like woven wood or a basket. She's right, it's even better freehand than it would have been stencilled.
AMAZING
Well done. Very inspiring. Thank you!
Ummm... I love this.
Beautiful! Seems a shame to hide it in a closet!
Gorj!
WOW, Emily! You are like, my total hero! Seriously, you can't be mere mortal to be able to do this sort of work! I tip my hat to you!
F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.
WOW, that's impressive!
love it! did you paint directly on the wall? the gold compliments the grey nicely
@juliaf, Yes, directly on the white paint of the wall. Glad you like!
Thanks for the great comments, all. Really appreciated.
very pretty! good job!
Holy $&%#!!! That is unreal! Fantastic job!
Wow.
LOVE this! major props for doing that without a stencil. great job! :)
Fantastic!
This looks great. I'd have a little bit of a hard time putting clothes in it and covering up the awesome.
awesome
Love it. And inspired.
Whoa, that's a lot of tape! And it turned out beautifully. But all that work for the INSIDE of a closet? You are a better person than I!
WHY? LOL
Wow, something I would never have the patience for, but it looks AMAZING!!
And to think. I spent all that time turning my bifold closet doors into French doors, and left the "bleached wood" paneling bare on the inside.
Might have to remedy that now!
this is great. my arms would fall off before it was finished.
WOW...Amazing!! You must be the most patient person on earth. I started doing an ikat stencil on my bedroom walls 3wks ago and have yet to finish...might I add, even with the stencil, my work is not nearly as precise:) Kudos.
Ooh, I love it! I especially like how the brushstrokes give it an organic quality that keeps it from looking too mechanical. My own closets are a bit too dark and cramped for me to consider doing this.
i'm with joco, not sure that i am patient enough to carry this out, but the results are quite impressive.
This is fantastic.
But when I first saw this, I thought, "girl is crazy."
Then I clicked through and realized, "girl is crazy - in a closet!"
This is lovely and inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
It's so beautiful. I'd love to do this in indigo blue.
wow, looks fabulous !
wow - really inspiring!
You have more patience in your pinky then I have in my whole body. What an amazing job.
LOVE IT!
Too bad my wicked ADD would never let me finish a project like this... looks fantastic.