A Faded, Friendly Formality

You’ve admired faux marble from afar, and you’re tickled by trompe l’oeil. You think you have the skills to create the look yourself, but you have a slight case of cold feet. Or maybe you know your limitations and plan to hire a painter, but you’d like to be able to convey your wishes intelligently and be a partner in creating a look that’s distinctly yours.

You probably already know that fascinating faux effects come from layering paints and glazes and then manipulating the painted surface with sponges, brushes, rags or combs. You also know that some techniques, like sponging and ragging, are easier than others. A good paint store should offer classes, books and videotapes to help you on your way.

Make sure the books have good instructions and lots of color photos to help you along. Paint store personnel are critical; avoid stores that can’t help you with color and technique advice.

If you yearn to know even more about elegant color schemes, unique designs or historical accuracy, you’re in luck. There are many beautiful and helpful books on the market; below are six with a gold mine of information on faux painting and trompe l’oeil. They go beyond technique with historical perspective, color theory and whole-room design ideas, each in a very accessible manner. They also vary in the level of expertise they expect from their readers. We think one (or more) will be just right for you.

The Practical Encyclopedia of Paint Recipes & Paint Effects: The Ultimate Source Book for Creating Beautiful, Easy-To-Achieve Interiors.

This may be the most recent addition to books about faux finishing; it’s certainly one of the best-looking and most helpful, managing to be both non-threatening and rich in information. Along with the expected essentials on choosing and using the right tools and materials, this book provides very good, step-by-step photos illustrating techniques. A wide selection of interiors, decorating themes and special projects provides inspiration with more great pictures of faux and trompe l’oeil effects, as well as knockout room ideas. If using painting as an important aspect of home design is new to you, check this book first for its superb balance of technique and inspiration.

Sophisticated Surfaces: Ideas and Inspirations from 18 Professional Surface Painters

Not a technique or how-to book, “Sophisticated Surfaces” contains a diversity of case studies and idea sources for original faux and trompe l’oeil treatments. Based on work by 18 experts in the field, its greatest benefit may be breaking through misconceptions and historical limitations by showing a range of vibrant contemporary effects as well as the classics. I loved the trompe l’oeil bookcase in rich wood tones and an imaginative Moorish bazaar scene that conveys a sense of the playful in tranquil neutral colors. If you are still considering your options, or trying to communicate your thoughts to a partner (or professional painter), this book may be just what you need.

Decorative Style: The Most Original and Comprehensive. Sourcebook of Styles, Treatments, Techniques and Materials.

Another gorgeous idea book combining ideas for drop-dead rooms of every period — Country to Victorian to Bauhaus and beyond — and the faux and trompe l’oeil techniques to bring them to life. Kevin McCloud provides a floor-to-ceiling “slice” of each room (complete with accessories) to highlight the aspects of his design schemes, backing them up with information and photos on techniques and alternatives to replicate the effects. The author goes beyond regular faux painting by applying unusual materials to walls for special architectural effects, for example. While each room scheme provides exciting options and information, the book’s layout avoids confusion by keeping diverse information beautifully organized. For more on technique and less on design treatments, consider McCloud’s “Complete Book of Paint and Decorative Techniques.”

The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes.

Advanced painting techniques include faux marquetry, wood burl and oak grain, damask and Pietre Dure (the colorful stone marquetry of the Renaissance), as well as specific faux marbles and semi-precious stones like lapis. Instructions are not for dummies, but there are very helpful “exercises” and accompanying photos to help gain mastery in a variety of painting techniques. This book assumes and speaks to professionalism, even going so far as to discuss the painter’s relationship with his clients. If you are not a gifted artisan or painting professional, you’ll find yourself wishing you were. You can’t help but be inspired by this beautiful book.

Recipes for Surfaces: Decorative Paint Finishes Made Simple.

This working handbook is more accessible to the average painter than “The Art of Faux” (above), geared to those who need a little less handholding and inspiration but want solid information on creating a range of realistic and exciting new techniques. Taking its title seriously, it offers a cookbook approach to the all-important recipes for the various paints, glazes and varnishes that go into gorgeous painted surfaces. In addition to the requisite color illustrations and strong graphics, this book is very strong on technique, starting with basics and moving on to variations that the creative cook, er, painter can bring to the process.

Classic Paints & Faux Finishes.

This book’s orientation toward historically “pure” paints, finishes and tools (and general lack of step-by-step instructions) may make it less than helpful for beginners, but its excellent illustrations and explanations of color make it an unusually helpful primer on the topic. It’s great on color theory, mixing colors and tints to achieve specific colors and explaining how color is modified in different countries and cultures. If you really want to expand your understanding of color, this is a wise and helpful book to turn to.