like the bumps

My husband and I just went through the process of buying a home.  Now I admit, I have a certain look and feel that I am very committed too. I like character.  I like unusual and we found NONE of that.  We looked at twenty or thirty houses and some were good, some were close and some were just hopeless.  One of the commonalities of all the properties was ......no imagination.  After a while all the homes looked the same.  It was very trying for me and even more so for my husband who just wanted me to pick one!
If you have that problem in your home, try doing something simple.  Pick a wall and TEXTURE it.  Texture gives a room depth, warmth and the feeling of dimension.  Most homes that are built right now have flat drywall with paint.  Some may have a light texture but nothing that stands out.  

There are many options for creating texture from drywall mud, to joint compound, to venetian plaster and stucco, all of which create different textures and finishes.  Many times homeowners opt for smooth finished walls for cleaning and maintenance.  Choose your texture and your wall finish so that cleaning can still be a breeze.  Trust me, everything in my house has to be washable.  I have 3 dogs, 2 cats and a husband that works in construction.  It has to pass the endurance test.  

To find the texture that you like, search the web, go to some open houses and get some joint compound a piece of wood and play in the mud.  Once you find your texture, jump in.  More on the practical aspects of application in the next post.  Until then, glance at examples of walls that I have done to inspire you.