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Chrome Contemp-O Tile

REBECCA SLATON

Move over, walls. Faux finishing gives us an opportunity to dramatically change the appearance of many nontraditional surfaces. This easy finish transforms common builder’s grade tile into a high-end contemporary look. Household items become clever tools for creating whimsical patterns. Here is a hip, retro style that is cost-effective, involves no construction, and recycles an existing resource in the home—a truly modern makeover.

MATERIALS

150-grit sandpaper

TSP (trisodium phosphate) degreaser and deglosser

Cotton rags

PrimEtch clear primer

SetCoat: Dark Brown

1-inch (25mm) low-tack painter’s tape

Venetian Gem Plaster: Tiger’s Eye

Soda can or a small round container such as a baby food jar or plastic cup

Pewter Metallic Foil

Wunda Size

Robert Rubber or kitchen scrub brush

Palette Deco: Metallic Gold

Stain & Seal: American Walnut and Rich Brown

FX Thinner

Varnish Plus (gloss)

Japan scrapers or small flexible trowels

Small foam paint rollers

Brush

PRO TIPS

1. Preparing the Tile
It is important to scuff and clean your tile before applying the faux finishing materials. Use a rough sandpaper such as 150 grit to sand the tiles. This creates some “tooth” for your future layers. Pre-mixed, liquid, no-rinse TSP should be wiped across the surface to clean off dust and any other materials such as oils or waxes. TSP will also clean the grout. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning tile. Use a foam roller to apply a thin even layer of PrimEtch, a sticky, clear primer for non-porous surfaces. In this application the grout color is darkened to match the finish so the PrimEtch is rolled over both the tile and grout. Let the PrimEtch dry overnight to bond with the tile surface before applying your Dark Brown SetCoat base color.

2. Variations on a Theme
To create an Asian-inspired version of this finish, follow the steps but use Ruby Venetian Gem plaster instead of Tiger’s Eye, Bright Gold metallic foil instead of Pewter, and Palette Deco Metallic Bronze instead of Metallic Gold.

3. Shapes Other than Circles
Try other shapes for this finish, such as diamond or star-shaped cookie cutters, or a grid made by a potato masher.

STEP 1: Use a foam roller to apply a thin, even coat of PrimEtch clear primer to the sanded and cleaned tiles. Also roll it over the grout. The PrimEtch should dry overnight and will not be tacky the next day.

STEP 2: Apply 2 coats of Dark Brown SetCoat with a foam roller to the tile and the grout. Let dry 2 hours between coats. Mask off every other tile by applying 1-inch (25mm) low-tack tape to the grout surrounding all 4 sides of the tile. This will keep your plaster from coloring your grout lines. Use tape to mark the remaining tiles with an “X” to show which tiles are not ready for plaster.

STEP 3: Use a Japan scraper to apply “Tiger’s Eye” Venetian Gem plaster evenly to the tile. Then use your selected circle tool (such as a soda can, baby food jar or plastic cup) to stamp circles into the wet plaster. Vary the number, make them random, and allow some of the circle shapes to overlap. Clean your circle tool with a damp cloth between pushing into the plaster to keep the shapes clean.

STEP 4: When the stamped plaster is dry, roll on Wunda Size over the tiles that are ready for foiling and let it tack up. Stick a piece of Pewter foil to the size with the shiny side facing you. Apply the foil with pressure using a Robert Rubber in a scrubbing motion. The circle shapes will show through the foil if you are pressing hard enough. Pull the foil. Repeat the foil process to all the tiles that are taped off.

STEP 5: Apply the Palette Deco Metallic Gold with a Japan scraper. Use a small amount and pull it tightly across the surface allowing the Palette Deco to catch in the circle shapes. This will also scrape off some of the foil, revealing areas of the dark Venetian Gem plaster layer. Soften the Palette Deco with a damp cotton cloth. Repeat this process to all tiles that are taped off.

STEP 6: Mix 1 part FX Thinner to one-half part Rich Brown Stain & Seal. Do the same with American Walnut Stain & Seal. Brush the Rich Brown glaze over the tile and rub into the finish with a cotton cloth to tone the tile and remove some areas of foil. Apply the American Walnut glaze over the wet Rich Brown layer and soften with a cotton cloth. When all the taped off tiles are glazed, remove the tape. Repeat Steps 2 through 6 until all tiles are completed. Let dry overnight.

FINISH: To finish and seal the tiles and grout lines, apply a topcoat of Varnish Plus gloss with a foam roller in a thin even layer over all the tiles and grout lines. Apply a second coat within 4 hours. If you cannot apply the second coat within 4 hours, you must wait 48 hours to apply an additional layer of Varnish Plus.