TROMP L'OEIL PAINTED FIREPLACE

An uninteresting fireplace needed perking up. I love blue and white tiles but didn't want to go to the effort and expense of putting them up in case I didn't like it once I'd finished.  Tromp l'oeil seemed to be the best option.

I marked out the 'tiles' with a pencil.  The walls were very uneven so it was very tricky to get them looking straight.

I used test pots of vynil matt and mixed my colours.

Painting the 'grouting'.

Also the mortar between the stone blocks on the surround was painted on.

The next stage, taping off the 'grouting' and 'mortar'.

Stone blocks were painted with the darkest colour first and a dabbing of gold paint that would glint through here and there on the final product.

Layer on layer to make it realistic. You can see the masking tape around the stone blocks.

The 'tiles' received a couple of coats of brilliant white vinyl .

These tubes of acrylic paint are ideal for stencilling on this project. The sponge is wet and covered with kitchen paper so that the paint is slightly watered down.

Yachts and lighthouses are perfect for my seaside location. Thank goodness for Ebay, I was able to choose exactly the right stencils online.  On the left I have started removing the masking tape from the stone blocks.

Another stencil to create the tile borders.  Some are not quite straight, however having studied a lot of hand made blue and white tiles, none of them are perfectly drawn.  It all adds to the rustic flavour of the overall effect.

All the masking tape is removed.  I covered the tiles with a layer of latex varnish to add a little extra shine.  Note the palm leaves tied up in bunches.  They are tinder dry and extremely flammable, great for starting the fire.  I store them in this wine rack. 

I'm very chuffed with the final product.  Let me know if you've done anything similar.