Thrifty mum crafts brick effect kitchen feature wall for just £12 using Frogtape and paint tester pots

Victoria McIntyre, a 33-year-old neurological nurse and mother of two from Perthshire, embarked on a DIY project during lockdown to revitalize her kitchen. Motivated to brighten the space affordably, she created a brick-effect feature wall for merely £12, utilizing Frogtape and paint tester pots. The family had previously transformed three bathrooms, and for the kitchen, they aimed for a unique brick design rather than the more common geometric patterns often achieved with Frogtape. This choice was also influenced by their existing brick tile splashback, and a desire for an easily changeable and less expensive option than wallpaper. Initially, the kitchen's feature wall was a deep grey, necessitating several coats of white as a base. The application of Frogtape proved to be the most intricate and time-consuming part of the project. Despite the house being a new build, the walls were slightly uneven, meaning Victoria could not simply apply horizontal strips. Instead, each horizontal line had to be meticulously measured and leveled, a process crucial for avoiding a wavy appearance in the final brick pattern. The vertical lines were then added using a spare wall tile as a guide. This precise taping process alone took six hours. Once the intricate stencil was created with Frogtape, the actual painting was surprisingly quick, taking only about ten minutes. Victoria used a deep fluffy roller and drizzled grey paint into a tray, ensuring minimal paint absorption on the roller. She then firmly rolled it back and forth across the entire wall. For areas inaccessible to the roller, such as edges, a natural sea sponge was employed to fill the gaps. The objective was to apply as little paint as possible, aiming for a porous effect that would mimic the texture of natural brick. The cost of the entire transformation amounted to just £12, spent on two rolls of Frogtape and a small tester pot of deep grey paint, both sourced online from a local Crown Paint store during lockdown. The family already had white paint at home, further reducing expenses. The outcome was a lighter, brighter kitchen with a unique industrial flair. Victoria and her husband were initially apprehensive about the result, fearing a potential need to repaint the entire wall solid grey if the brick effect failed. However, they were delighted with the finished look, which not only brightened their kitchen but also created the illusion of a larger space. The project has received positive feedback from visitors, validating the effort and innovative approach. This demonstrates how budget-friendly materials and creative DIY techniques can achieve significant home transformations without incurring substantial costs. The success of this project also highlights the versatility of Frogtape for various design patterns beyond typical geometric styles, offering an accessible route to personalized home decor. #HomeDecor #KitchenDesign #DIYProjects #ThriftyLiving #FeatureWall #BrickEffect #Frogtape #PaintTransformation #BudgetHomeImprovement #HomeDecor #KitchenDesign #DIYProjects #ThriftyLiving #FeatureWall #BrickEffect #Frogtape #PaintTransformation #BudgetHomeImprovement

60 months ago

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