Shade magic - roller blinds with eye-catching designs

Sunset, May, 1999 by Ann Bertelsen

How to turn a plain "roller blind into an eye-catcher

You pull down pizzazz along with the privacy when you unroll this painted vinyl window shade. Treat it as an artist's canvas; the trick is to keep the design simple - for example, by using basic geometric shapes - and then to highlight areas of the shade with a light color wash. We used masking tape to outline a series of randomly placed squares, then painted the blind with a buttery yellow latex. When the tape was removed, the outlines looked white against the soft yellow background.

TIME: About 2 hours

COST: About $25

DESIGN: Michelle Syracuse

MATERIALS

* Latex paint

* Latex glaze

* Vinyl roller window shade

* Pencil

* Masking tape

* Sponge or paintbrush

* Cheesecloth

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix equal parts latex paint, latex glaze, and water.

2. Sketch your design on the shade with a pencil.

3. Use masking tape to cover the pencil marks, ensuring that the tape is firmly stuck to the shade so the paint will not seep through.

4. Apply paint mixture with a sponge or brush, then pat it lightly with a wad of cheesecloth while the paint is still wet. This patting will eliminate brush or sponge marks and produce a more even texture.

5. Let dry overnight.

6. For additional highlights, apply a second coat of paint inside the taped-off squares. Remove tape.

d