mrsgym, you mentioned the paint was thin and way to sheer. I don't know what brand you may have been using or the color you are wanting for the backblash; but underlayment is when you need to block out the object underneath that you are wanting to paint over. Say for instance there is a big bright red vase and you want to paint a big green apple in front of the vase. It may take several attempts to get a good solid coverage for the green apple but by blocking out the image you are trying to cover up - you will get there in the first attempt. I like using a color called "Taffy Cream". The color is by Americana crafts. It is a solid "opaque" yellow. Very good blockout coverage. The key is using a good opaque color and I find this yellow has worked great for me over the years. Hope some of this helps. The oil cream paint pots, I only use them for architectural type shadings or for shadowing other things. I use the ones by Deco-Art. Boy, those little paint pots can create a total mess if not handled carefully. I guess I am speaking of using these in my customer's homes. I need to be extra cautious.

First of all...LOVE that pattern....wonder why... Anyhoo, back in the day when I stenciled a lot I used a temporary spray adhesive rather than just taping down the corners. This really gave a nice finish. I think you want to use a stencil brush, and after dabbing it in the paint, you want to practically have the brush dry! Dab off most of that paint and then you stipple it on. I'm also thinking about doing a stencil in my dining room if I paint it that dark purple. I am interested in using the same color, but in another sheen. I'll be watching for your updates! (My favorite gray strip is the one with the Baltic Gray on it, it goes really nicely with browns. Check it out. It is BM 1464 - 1470 strip)

I have seen stenciling done in high gloss on matte paint and even though I don't like glossy anything, it did give a nice, very subtle effect. I've also seen rooms striped the same way. I think red and yellow in a pattern like that is going to read "I'm trying to go Moroccan" even though it's not a true Moroccan style. Agree with previous post about your house (so far) seeming so calm & subdued -- a red & yellow stencil might be very jarring. Can you take a picture of the niche head-on? That will make it easier to do some Photoshopping for you and give you a better idea of what it might look like. I personally would go subtle. I suspect some day you'll want a tapestry or wall hanging of some kind over that (or any) table there, with a bold pattern your choices will be more limited than they need to be. Love the chandy, btw. I was :-: close to getting a smaller version for my mudroom entrance.

Years ago I saw an article about concrete pavers that had been stenciled with ferns and various leaves. The greenery was placed on the bare paver and paint was very lightly sprayed over it to sort of just give a hint of the greenery shape when the foliage was removed. The idea seems simple enough but what kind of paint do you think would be best? Thanks