Transitional texture decor

Hands-on time: Three hours
Total time: Plus 24 hours for the medium to set and 2 hours for the acrylics and varnish to dry.
Skill: Moderate
Cost: $25

Materials and tools

• Sandpaper or sanding block and soft cloth
• Tri-sodium phosphate and soft cloth
• 7cm painter's tape for the wall, and .6cm tape for stripes
• Fresh Start primer by Benjamin Moore
• 2.5cm paintbrush or small roller
• Decorative textured paste (I used a 750g can)
• 7cm metal spatula or 3cm paintbrush
• Acrylic paint in different colours (I used white, straw, pumpkin, lime green and terracotta by Delta Ceramcoat)
• Glaze medium
• Cups or small glass jars and stir sticks
• Blotter paper for colour tests
• Dry soft cloth
• Matte varnish or satin varnish topcoat

When we first moved into our home, the kitchen was all white: The melamine cupboards (all 55 of them), the hardware, the floor, counters, sink and walls. It was a boring space.

The kitchen has a lot of potential and eventually we would like to replace the tile floors with cork, the white counters with granite and update the cabinetry.

Until we can afford it, I've added colour to the walls and a textured border below the cabinets. It's amazing how a little colour and a few innovative touches can transform a kitchen inexpensively using basic materials. I drew my inspiration for the colour scheme from a dishtowel in orange, lime, yellow and red checks. I painted the walls Lemon Pepper (#110-5) and the backsplash Woodland Fern (#210-4), by Pittsburgh Paints.

Replacing the hardware with stainless steel handles would have cost $330. Instead, I examined one handle and realized that underneath its plastic coating was beautiful brushed stainless steel. I stripped them all for $11.

For a focal point in the kitchen, I used the colours from the dishtowel to add a textured border under the cabinets that draws attention away from them. The border adds a fresh look and ties together all the colours in the room.

To create the border, tape off the wall to form a five-inch-deep strip under the cabinets. Clean the surface to remove dirt and grease. Lightly sand the area and wipe with a soft cloth. Wash again with tri-sodium phosphate.

Use a paintbrush or small roller to apply a coat of primer to the border and allow to dry. Apply a layer of textured paste, about 2 mm thick, with a spatula or paintbrush in a criss-cross or V-motion to create a light textured pattern. Allow it to dry.

To create a striped effect, place .6cm painter's tape over the dried textured paste vertically at random intervals. Apply a second coat of textured paste in the same manner. Wait 24 hours for it to dry. Remove the painter's tape and sand the surface lightly to smooth out the lines. Apply a coat of white paint and allow to dry.

In cups or jars, make three coloured glazes using one part acrylic paint and two parts glaze. Test the mixtures on blotter paper. Apply one colour glaze at a time with a soft cloth, paintbrush or stippling brush in a circular motion and allow it to dry. Repeat for each colour, layering over the previous colour and leaving some exposed. Once dry, apply a varnish topcoat. I recommend a few coats of varnish to make cleanup easier. Remove painter's tape.

To complete the transformation, I painted the chairs and added decorative accents in the same colours.