Friday, February 25, 2011

Tuscan Floor Cloth

Do you have a kitchen floor that needs some help?  Maybe it is drab, beat up or just plain ugly. 

Mine is not bad, just dark and to lighten it up I decided to paint up a floor cloth.  The beauty of floor cloths is you can change them out with ease.  I like to change the color scheme in my kitchen seasonally.  I like the Tuscan colors of golden yellow, ruby red and burnt sienna for the Fall and Winter and switch out to some more beachy colors such as aqua, some soft greens etc in the Spring and Summer.

This project is fairly inexpensive.  I picked up a remnant piece of linoleum from Home Depot.  They sell them in various sizes.  Measure your kitchen floor and cut to size.  Or if you have a large kitchen leave it as it.  I have a rather small kitchen so I did have to trim down the piece I bought but is was not hard.  A good straight edge comes in handy along with a sharp pair of scissors.

  My goal was to paint a floor cloth to match my Bon Appetit sign:

You are going to work on the back of the linoleum.

First thing is base coating.  I had read somewhere that using an exterior latex was best as it has more flexibility when dried.  So that is what I went with.  I had some exterior in a white color and I rolled it on with a large roller. 

aaat2006 006

I had set up my work table (sawhorses and a sheet of plywood which was not quite wide enough so I had to slide the linoleum back and forth to paint it) under a canopy on my back deck.  Yes, this was done in the summer and right now this deck is loaded down with 4 feet of snow.  (if you want to see what it looks like around here read my post here and add a couple feet of snow) : Snowed In

With my trusty dusty ruler and straight edge I penciled my border line, laid my painters tape along it and rolled on the yellow paint.  Once dry, I penciled and taped the red inner border and painted in the red acrylic craft paint.  Red has less pigment so it may take a few coats to get the depth and coverage you need.  (this project is going to take some time as each layer needs to dry before proceeding, time frames will vary depending on conditions so set up in a area you can walk away from it for periods of time)

I then sketched up the fruit and veggies and painted them in one layer at a time. I did not even try to keep to scale, I just painted what I wanted.  I have been into Pears for some reason so I chose those as the main focal point.

aaat2006 001

I added the veggies, shadowed then highlighted until I was satisfied. 

aaat2006 003.

 But it still needed something so I added a few vines and leaves..

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Ah, yes…now it is just right.   I finish it off with an exterior Varathane in Semi-Gloss (gloss and semi gloss are more water resistant than a Satin or Matte finish) so it is easily mopped clean from time to time.   I recoat it once a year with more Varathane and it is easy to touch up any areas that may get damaged from, oh I don’t know, like dropping a knife on it, point down.

Now to paint one for summer.    Enjoy your new floor!

Pamela





Potentially Beautiful
The Lettered Cottage

27 comments:

  1. I love it! I've always wanted to paint one...I'm inspired now! I love how you left the background simple and whimsical too... and your deck is beautiful!
    Great project Pamela! My husband features his beautiful photography on my blog each under the title Saturday Scenes with Boz. Pop over if you can!
    Deb

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  2. OMG! Stunning, Outstanding and simply Fabulous! I have seen this many times but yours is truly awe inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing and because if this, I am your newest follower...and a fellow painter!

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  3. Your floor cloth is beautiful...you're quite the artist! I remember smaller floor cloths, some 20 years ago, but not this big..wow, I get that makes your kitchen pop now! Mel's Cabin visited your post today from Under the Table and dreamin' party.

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  4. I love this!! I am thinking it might work for our deck, not sure though. :) We have a very dark stain to use (because it's free) and this could lighten it considerable! I came from Under the Table and Dreaming and am now following you.
    http://lamarkham.blogspot.com

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  5. Wow! You are incredibly talented and this looks just beautiful! I would love to see how it actually looks on your floor and I think this is such a creative way to change up the look of a room without breaking the bank....although you have to actually know how to paint like that! :-)
    Thanks for linking up to Inspiration Friday this week~
    Vanessa

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  6. That looks amazing. I just discovered that you can paint linoleum a few weeks ago and I am in love with the idea. I'm your newest follower. I would love it if you linked your project up to my link party.
    More The Merrier Monday.

    http://diyhshp.blogspot.com

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  7. Pam this is absolutely gorgeous!! What great idea and the possibilities are endless! You are very talented my dear, I love love love this!!

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  8. What a pretty floorcloth! Wow- you did a fantastic job- it is beautiful! Thank you for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  9. Gorgeous! I would probably "walk around" it, because it is so pretty! lol Or hand it on the wall!

    I love it!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  10. It turned out beautiful! You really are an artist! Thanks for linking up to the Share the Love party!
    Mary

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  11. Hi Pamela, This turned out so pretty. I love the cheerful colors and Tuscan theme. Wonderful!!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  12. I have always wanted to paint a floor cloth. You have inspired me. I will add it to my very long list of things I want to do when I grow up.

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  13. Thanks for sharing this at my party! Love it!!

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  14. Love your new "rug". It turned out great! These will last for a very long time. I fixed a round one time and it lasted until I got tired of it and gave it away. lol. Thank you for sharing, I am thinking I need to do another one!

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  15. What a cool 'rug!' Very impressive! Another thing to add to my 'to do list!'

    (visiting from A Girl Creative blog hop!)
    www.stagdesigns.blogspot.com

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  16. You did a great job! this looks really cute!

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  17. That is a gorgeous piece of art ;) You're so talented! Thanks for linking up on Sunday! Join me again!

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  18. Thanks so much for sharing. I found your blog and this post through Centsational Girl.

    I think that even someone who doesn't have your artistic talent could create a painted floor cloth using stencils or stamps. Of course, it would not be as stunning as yours, but it would be a one-of-a-kind, custom "rug."

    I enjoyed reading through your blog, and especially the look inside your craft cottage. I'm sure others did , too. You signs are adorable.

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  19. Beautiful floorcloth. Love the design.

    Michi

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  20. Love this! I'm a big lover of floorcloths, and pears, so this is great! Love your shading and highlighting too!

    I saved some lino remnants from the house we just moved out of. I need to get busy! Thanks for the kick-in-the-butt!

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  21. Hey, Girl! Did you get snow last night? I was in Tahoe and, yep, sure enough! But it didn't stick . . . whew!

    Just wanted to let you know I'm featuring this beauty tomorrow! Love it!

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  22. Looks great...love the shading and all the detail! I am a new follower, found you on The Mural Maker. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Nice. Thanks for the inspiration. I found you on Creative Blog and Hop. Now following. I hope you will come visit me too.

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  24. And I am so partial to anything with pea pods! Lovely color, and thanks so much for sharing on Market Mon.

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  25. This is beautiful! You are quite an Artist!

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