By Cindy Howard

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) had confined Andrew in Holly Springs, N.C., to a wheelchair. The X-linked recessive form of muscular dystrophy affects around 1 in 3,600 boys, causing muscle degeneration and premature death. But Special Spaces—an organization dedicated to creating dream bedrooms for children with life threatening illnesses—wanted to help Andrew feel a closer part of the greater world around him.

Through a collaborative relationship with Special Spaces of the Triangle, the Carolina Creative Artisans (a chapter of the International Decorative Artisans League) gathered paint, rollers, brushes and volunteers to transform Andrew’s bedroom in a day.

Andrew requested a bedroom design built around his favorite football team, the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide. The volunteer designer, Tammy Granger of BG Custom Windows in Raleigh, N.C., asked the Carolina Creative Artisans to create an Alabama football locker room mural for one wall and to help paint a desk in his room. Products for the desk were donated by Deep River Mercantile in Pittsboro, N.C., and the paint and supplies for the walls were donated by Sherwin Williams.

Step by Step:

1.  The team first painted the room with SW 7065 Argos in eggshell finish.

2.  The locker background was painted in SW 7067 Cityscape in eggshell finish—the preferred sheen for murals—with low nap rollers to minimize texture. 

Using chalk, because it is easily erased, the painters marked out level lines between and within the lockers.

3.  The lockers were intended to be 6 feet high from the floor. Lockers are usually 12 inches across, so the painters decided to make five lockers, each 11 inches across, to appear visually correct on the 55-inch long wall.

4.  Using chalk, because it is easily erased, the painters marked out level lines between the lockers, lines for doors, lines for the bottom of the vents, and the locations of the hinges, locks, locker numbers and handles. Because it always helps to have a picture reference, the painters used a printed photo of lockers as a guide.

5.  The painters first tried a Sharpie to draw the lines, but found it didn't work well due to the drag on the paint. Instead, they used black craft paint and a small brush to paint in the lines. Leaving the lines a bit jagged helped add to the realistic look. 

The artists mixed white and black craft paint with the Cityscape and Argos paint to create the shadows and highlights on the locker details.

6.  White and black craft paint mixed with the Cityscape and Argos paint was used to create the shadows and highlights on the locker details. The painters used silver craft paint for the locks.  

7.  Finishing touches included painting Andrew’s favorite players’ team numbers on the lockers. Decals were applied on the front of the lockers to decorate.

IDAL members Julie Angermeier of Artistic Finishes Inc. (left) and Chantal Blanchette of Belle Design by Chantal created the locker mural, and helped clean walls, paint walls, paint desk, and anything else needed on this project.

Finishing touches, such as painting Andrew’s favorite players’ team numbers on the lockers and decals, helped complete this Rolle Tide transformation.

Author Cindy Howard is a member of the IDAL board, managing Marketing & Education, and is co-owner of Decorative & Faux Finishes. Learn more about Howard’s work at www.DecorativeAndFauxFinishes.com.