What paint to use on toile de verre?

[Loiseau]

I have just hung some toile de verre wallpaper, which we intend to paint. Does one have to use acrylic paint on it, or will a normal emulsion paint be ok? I was hoping to use some spare Laura Ashley matt emulsion that I have hanging around, but i think i read somewhere that it is obligatoirement peinture acrylique.

I have been reading a few French decorating forums, and somebody also said that one should use a cheap white for the first coat as the paper sops up so much. Is this true?

Thanks for any insights.

Angela

[Théière]

With the cost of the finish colour being so high these days I often use a white to provide the first coats, it often helps to level out the covering from a shading aspect on normal walls. I haven't used toile de verre so cant help with acrylic/emulsion but it should specify on the manufacturers instruction (mode de employ) if it is important.

[sid]

I think you can use any kind of paint, as this website suggests "Elle peut ensuite être peinte avec n'importe quel type de peinture".

http://www.linternaute.com/bricolage/revetement-mural/photo/poser-de-la-toile-de-verre/poser-de-la-toile-de-verre.shtml

I've used emulsion for nearly all of our decorating and usually buy it in UK when I'm over there with the car, or if friends/family are coming over "Please bring a 10 litre tub of white emulsion !!".  I then use those colouriser tubes of pigments to get the right pastel shade.

A base coat of white, as Thiere suggests, will definitely help to give a better finish. As with all decorating, good preparation and undercoats improve the finish. 

[idun]

I just put two coats of the colour I wanted on it and it was fine, a water based matt, if I remember rightly.