Limewashing with Resene paints

We had some 'classic' wallpaper in our lounge, which we could not wait to remove. The lounge itself is quite large, with high ceilings, so a block colour would be quite dull.

We decided to limewash instead, going for that rustic, time worn look. This post describes how we achieved the affect. I'm documenting it here in case someone may find it useful -- we found contradictory or confusing advice on the Resene site, so I've tried to keep this very plain.

Initial state

We had already plastered walls, and had done some light repairs and skimming. This was then sanded and washed down with sugar soap. 

Materials

I estimate that we covered about 45 square metres with the measurements we give here. Also note that the colours noted are our choices 😀

• 2x cutting in brushes (rats tail or similar)
• 1 wide but not deep paint brush (10cm wide by about 1.25cm deep)
• A roll of stockinette (10 m) from Mitre 10 or some muslin (say 3 m) from a store
• Plenty of drop sheets
• 1 litre of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium
• 4 litres waterborne white primer
• 4 litres of half duck egg blue (the base coat)
• 250ml of Inside Back (the color used to tint the FX Paint Effects Medium)
• 1 roller and a few roller heads
• 250ml bottle of Resene Hot Weather additive

Step 1: Prime

• Cut in to a depth of about 5-7 cm
• Roll first primer coat, let dry
• Roll second primer coat, let dry
• (Optional) Roll 3rd primer coat, let dry

After 3 coats:

Step 2: Apply base coat

• Cut in to a depth of about 5-7 cm
• Roll first base coat (half duck egg blue), let dry
• Roll second base coat coat, let dry

Base coat applied:

Step 3: Mix limewash, apply and rag off

The mix ratios are important here, get them wrong (or fail to remember them) and you'll just waste paint (and time). 

For the effect we show in the following pictures, our mix was this:

• 80% FX Paint Effects Medium (the medium)
• 10% Inside Back paint  (the tint)
• 10% Hot weather additive (lets you do the work without rushing)

So, for 1L tin of FX Paint Effects medium, you'd add 125ml of paint (Inside back) and 125ml of Hot weather additive. You want darker or lighter, adjust the ratio of the tint. 

Make sure is stirred very well.

Technique

The basic technique is that someone criss/cross paints the wall, and another person follows on behind with scrunched up muslin or stockinette and 'rags' off the paint that has just been put on. 

Ragging in our case was a 'twisting' motion of the hand, with some other artistic flourishes thrown in.

To ensure you don't get in each others way, the 'criss crosser' can have about a 3-7 minute start. The limewash will not dry quickly (due to the addition of the hot weather additive).

When criss crossing, make sure the entire wall is covered with paint, but don't get too fussy if some bits look lighter than others, just as long as there is paint to rag off.

Caveat: don't leave a wall half done. We did it in stages, but always completed a wall.

Here is an image of criss crossing in progress. It looks pretty untidy and uneven, but that is exactly what you want. You can see the currently unpainted base coat to the right of the image.

Now just imagine the other person ragging off that paint, creating the desired effect. Note that however it looks when you have finished, it will get lighter by a "few shades" when dried. 

Here are some pictures of the final results - up close some parts look a bit marbled, others look like clouds, and in one place, there appears to be a caricature of Alfred Hitchcock 😁 We only did one coat in the end, suited the look we were going for.