Painting A Perfect Stripe

As some of you may remember, I recently gave my kitchen a little face lift.  You can read about it HERE.  Basically, I painted my boring backsplash grey and added a fun vinyl quatrefoil pattern.   I still absolutely love it.

The only thing wrong with my kitchen now was that the other side of it was still a complete snooze fest! Here is my breakfast nook in all its "before" glory.

Still awake?  Good.   I know... it's almost like your eyes can't even process all the shades of beige and brown.

Not to mention the fact that we have been covering up this fantastic view with those blinds.  And for no reason...there is NO ONE behind us.  No need for some privacy. Those needed to go.

So last week I set in motion the process of bringing my breakfast nook up to par with the rest of the snazzy kitchen.   My plan?  Stripes.  Some nice wide grey and white stripes to coordinate with my quatrefoil backsplash.    Are you with me?

I know some people struggle with painting stripes on a textured wall but I tried two different methods this time around and both worked splendidly!  No need to deprive yourself of some fun stripes on the wall any longer!

Painting A Perfect Stripe: Method #1

This is actually the method I've used a few times.  Most recently to paint the stripe in our guest bedroom. I like to paint the entire wall with one of the stripe colors first and allow to dry completely.  It just seems easier to me than taping off for one color, peeling off the tape and then taping off for the other color.   Anyway, after your first color is totally dry, then tape off where you want your stripes.    I decided on 15.5 inch stripes.

I then took this stuff:

And used a foam brush to go all along the edge of the tape to seal it.  I apply it at a bit of an angle toward the edge of the tape so it is sure to get under the tape and into all the "pockets" in order to seal it off.

If you look closely you can see it settled in under the tape.  This pic was taken before painting the whole wall white, by the way.    Allow it to dry.  It dries clear so any that had seeped under the tape is invisible.  Then continue painting with desired color/colors.

I must say, this worked like a charm....again!  NOTHING got under the tape and the line was crisp. 

Painting A Perfect Stripe: Method #2

I had seen somewhere recently where someone had painted some stripes using a slightly different method.  It's the same idea but using different products.   I decided to try it out.  

After painting your wall with your first color and taping off your stripes, you simply go back along the tape with the same wall color you just used to seal off the tape.  This is brilliant!  Then, whatever paint does get under the tape is the same color you want there anyway.  I was excited about this because you always have left over paint so it's free!  

Again, I tried to paint it toward the tape so it would get under the tape and settle in nicely.

And what do you know?

There were actually a couple of spots where the grey paint seeped under and I needed to go back with a little paint brush and touch it up.  But really, I'm just chalking that up to user error.  I'm guessing I didn't get enough white paint in those few spots because the rest worked perfectly.  

Ready for the big reveal?

I obviously have plenty more to do in here (accessorizing that little wall, window treatments, jazzing up those lamp shades, etc) but I am loving the direction we are headed in!

If I had a fancy fish-eye lens you might be able to see how both sides of the kitchen now work together but this will have to do for now.

FYI, paint colors are:  Valspar Montpelier Ashlar Gray (same as my backsplash) and Valspar Woodlawn Bedroom White.

I already have a fun idea for making over that big clock (I keep looking at that blank wall to see what time it is!  It's driving me nuts).  I'm sure you can guess what color it will be.