A few years ago, I came upon EverGreene Architectural Arts.  You know the joy when you discover a company whose sheer craftsmanship and dedication to excellence oozes out of every image, every project and even every pore of their website?  Exactly.  Evergreene is truly a special and unique studio — one of the finest in the country.  Their scope of work is astounding — please do take some time to see their artistry.

We are proud to profile one of their recent projects, the lobby ceiling of a building along Fifth Avenue in New York City.  The project had undergone multiple renovations and the original entrance had an unusually narrow, low-ceilinged lobby. After adding lobby height and width, the new entrance and portal was then roofed with a shallow arch, evoking the building’s crown.  The commercial project had a decidedly contemporary vibe and the technique was designed by Robin Roi, the head of their decorative finishes department.

First, the team primed the surface and then created a textured pattern in a dark green color, which was the color that the client wanted to come through the final gilding.

The artists made a textured finish with heavy acrylic paint and massive brushes in a swirled pattern and then gilded it with aluminum leaf.

Close-up

It was all then sanded and abraded it lightly to reveal the texture even more. Finally, it was glazed to match the rest of the lobby.

Close-up

The gorgeous finish blends beautifully with the Travertine walls, patterned terrazzo floors and marble accents.

The final images are by Jock Pottle. All are courtesy of EverGreene Architectural Arts.

EverGreene advises that there’s a long historic precedent for this style, specifically, combed plaster from the aesthetic movement in the 1880s. It was actually more a style than a movement and was in response to the Victorian clutter of Gothic Revival.  To a certain extent, they used influences of the Far East as stylistic cues. Edward William Godwin is the architect that more or less typifies this style.  Taking the contemporary interior in mind, Robin Roi created a more abstract version of the textural aesthetic movement wall coverings for this project.  I think the technique is gorgeous and so well done — and am enchanted with the final colorations.

Since 1978, EverGreene has been creating award-winning designs and projects for special clients.  Their studio has several facets, including restoration and conservation along with sacred, civic and theatrical works.   In fact, they have a fascinating short video explaining how architectural conservators explore, sample and test historic interiors to determine past layers of history and suggest an appropriate plan of action.

The company also keeps a wonderful blog where they share some of their projects. You can also keep up with them via their Facebook fan page.  A warm Thank You! goes out to EverGreene Architectural Arts (and especially their Communications Director, James Tarmy) for sharing their project and incredible artistry with us.  What a beautiful way to end the week — enjoy the weekend, dear Readers!

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Hello Everyone!

If you open your mind wide enough, you can find inspiration in just about anything. For me artwork is one of my favorite sources for creative spark. Last week I used a photograph of a Hamilton Ontario side street taken by M. Christine Duncan as the inspiration for a room’s design. Today, to create a formal living area, I am going to draw on a great masterpiece that is said to be the most famous painting in the world – the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci .

For my first step, I always decide on my color pallette. As I looked at the painting I new right away that I wanted to go with warm earthy tones and chose a pallette that would work well with that. The four colors I selected are from Sherwin-Williams. Each would be beautiful as they are or used as the base for a decorative finish. My color pallette…

Next I chose my upholstered pieces…

Source: Golden Settee, Darra Brown Floral Chair, Olive Velvet Club Chair  – Horchow

Then came hard furnishings, lighting, drapery, rugs and accessories…

Source: Schonbek Bagatelle Collection Crystal Pendant Chandelier – Lamps Plus
Flocked Velvet Damask Brown Pillow & Dupioni Silk Cream Envelope Pillow – Pillow Decor
Paramount Curtains – Horchow, McDermott Jar with Lid – Home Decorators
Fable Chest, Felicie Oval Mirror, Margaux Accent Table  – Horchow
Constantine Rug – Home Decorators, Carved Two-Tone Brown Table Lamp – Lamps Plus
Elaine Table Runner – Home Decorators

The beautiful finishes on the wood furniture and upholstered pieces can be recreated by many talented decorative artists. There are also artists that specialize in antique mirror finishes. Personally, I think the mirror that I selected would work even better if it had one of those lovely finishes!

Even though I saw this room with warm dark wood and earthy tones, I still saw it as very feminine. A place that was grand but inviting; a place where you could spend an entire afternoon just enjoying the view. Have you ever used one of the great masterpieces or a more recent work of art as your muse? Where do you draw inspiration?

Cheers to all,
Peggy

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Classic design never goes out of style and always adds a note of sophistication to any room. One of those classics that has been around for centuries is Chinoiserie.  Now you know I’m a stickler for correct pronunciation, so here it is: “shēn-ˈwäz-rē”. That’s “shēn” like in “Martin Sheen“, “wäz” like in “out the wazoo” and “rē” like in “repeat this word 10 times and you own it”. Then put it all together!

Chinoiserie is a French term that refers to a European artistic style that began in the 17th century in which objects and decoration are inspired by Chinese design. Chinese motifs are reflected in furnishings, fabrics, accessories and other decoration.

I’ve put together some decorative items for you that represent this style…

Top Row: Silk Pillow, Porcelain Lamp with Silk Shade
Bottom Row: Mother of Pearl Motif Porcelain Vase,
Chinoiserie Bombay Chest, Terracotta Tang Dancer
Source: China Furniture Online

Chinoiserie murals are a popular way to bring this style to a space in a way that has major impact. Talented San Fransisco mural artist, Lynne Rutter draws inspiration from her world travels to create the most beautiful Chinoiserie imagery. This post wouldn’t be complete without including a few samples of her magnificent work. Here are three for you to enjoy…

Above: This modern interpretation of classic Chinoiserie wallpaper murals was specially designed for this room in one of San Francisco’s period mansions.
Photography: David Duncan Livingston

Above: This formal powder room features a hand-painted chinoiserie room mural, faux marble console and baseboards. It was designed by Lynne for the 2002 San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

Above: Three layers of silver leafed moulding and hand-painted chinoiserie panels were used to add architectural balance and subtle color accents to this glamorous Art Deco-inspired bedroom.
Interior Design:  Paula McChesney
Photography: David Duncan Livingston

Note: I especially love the marriage of Chinoiserie and Art Deco in that last photo! If you’ve read my previous post on Art Deco, you can easily recognize the Art Deco influences in this space.

If you’re not blessed with an artist’s hand, there are myriad stencils available to help you create this look. Here are a few samples for you…

Source: The Stencil Library, Made in England

While gathering photos, I came upon the most FABULOUS installation of Chinoiserie that I just had to share with you! This amazing artwork was done by the talented Metall-FX. They were commissioned by interior designers Alex Kravetz Design to create this outstanding series of Chinoiserie doors and panels in the Grand Ballroom of the Dorchester Hotel in London. Prepare to be amazed…

Here’s a close-up view so you can see the detail of their work…

Sort of takes your breath away, doesn’t it? (Next week I’ll be bringing you more of their remarkable artwork and share with you how they create it.)

Chinoiserie is such a versatile style that plays well with others. It can be classic, modern or a little of both. If you’d like to learn more about this fanciful style, Lynne Rutter did a wonderful indepth post that you really must read!

Have you used this style in a space or done any work with it?

Cheers to all!
Peggy

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I was going through the archives here at Fauxology when I came upon a post Regina had written about color.  It contained a photograph taken by M. Christine Duncan that really grabbed my attention.  It’s a side street in Hamilton, Ontario with the most vivid teals, coppers and burnt orange. The finish on the building looks similar to crushed velvet. As I took in all it had to offer – color, texture, mood – a room started to emerge in my mind. The week started with me showing you how I found inspiration from a fashion magazine. Now I’ll end the week sharing how I used this photograph as the catalyst for a room’s design.

I’ll start with color since that is what first caught my eye. There were many variations of wonderful color, but I narrowed it down to four. Using Sherwin-Williams paint selections, I pulled out the colors that I wanted to work with in this room. Here is the photo along with my color choices.

Now onto mood. For me the vibe that the photograph gives off is masculine, urban and industrial yet with old world flair. Setting the tone helps give me direction when selecting my furnishings. Here are a few examples of furnishings and accessories that I feel help to create this mood.

Kensington Leather Sofa: Restortion Hardware,
Teal Madeline Chair: Urban Outfitters,
Maggie Club Chair: Anthropologie

Steel Redsmith Armchair: Anthropologie,
18th C. French Tilt-Top Brasserie Side Table: Restoration Hardware,
Pinebrook Rectangular Rolling Coffee Table: Lamps Plus;
Traveler Chest: Anthropologie, Choe Console: Horchow

Industrial Gears Table Lamp: Lamps Plus,
A Cosmic Incident (art top right) – Urban Outfitters,
Art Agave (middle left): ZGallerie,
Rugs: Rug Stop,
Art Oxide: (bottom right) – ZGallerie

As a designer, it’s important to note that many decorative artists offer custom canvas artworks and rustic chic finishes, such as the distressed metal, for furniture and other surfaces.  I used a variety of items to illustrate how I’ve drawn design inspiration from the photograph and the look can be achieved many different ways. This isn’t a complete room nor would all these items necessarily be used in one room; it’s all about creating a jumping off point.  Next time you look at a picture that you really love, look a little closer; maybe there is a room hidden in there!

Have a great weekend!

Cheers to all,
Peggy
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Whenever I think of New Orleans style, I always think of it as the Rebel marrying the Debutante — a bit of rule-breaking going hand in hand with refinement.  While you can easily walk the various districts, you rarely (if ever) get a peek into the interiors.  It’s why I always enjoy coming upon books which lushly feature the homes and their design.

I found Big, Easy Style by Bryan Batt while walking the French Quarter. It was nestled within an independent bookstore in Pirate’s Alley called Faulkner House Books.  They only had one copy left (MINE!) and while visiting my favorite independent bookstore in the Garden District, Garden District Book Shop, I snagged a few more.

The author and the book, Big Easy Style.

What I absolutely love about the book is that Mr. Batt, both a succesful actor and designer, features the work of several designers and artisans, not just his own work.  I think that brings a greater overview and understanding of the interiors of New Orleans.  He also lists his favorite wall colors by several paint manufacturers.  Please note that the spaces were photographed by Kerri McCaffety, Erik Johnson and David Ash.  The book is published by Clarkson Potter.

Peacock Blue Lacquer Walls

A wall of small colorful canvases and a close-up of the drawer itself.

Painted and Gilded Panels – please do click to enlarge!

Distressed Plaster Wall

The book is a fantastic read as well — there are sections entitled “Love Your Booty!”, “All in the Family Room…” and “Guy Walks into a Bar” to name a few.  Normally, I just look at the beautiful photographs but he injects his vibrant personality into the writing and in doing so, makes it easy and fun to fully absorb his take on design and the soulful city which is his muse.

Gorgeous yellow walls with a glazed finish (left) and the fun of Mardi Gras float decorations on the walls (right).  Here’s a float with similar flowers!

Bryan Batt calls this a "hand-marbled gilt ceiling". I call it fabulous!

Mr. Batt opened Hazelnut New Orleans, a popular home furnishings boutique, with his partner Tom Cianfichi.  It is located in the heart of the French Quarter and “combines the old-world charm of New Orleans with a chic metropolitan twist”.  Please check out Hazelnut’s website as well as the one for Big, Easy Style itself.

 Artist Gretchen Weller Howard stenciled these gray-washed wood floors. 

Unique decorative elements...

A fantastic artist in New Orleans, E. Lee Jahnke, recently wrote about Mr. Batt’s book as well in her cool blog Inspired. Paint. Repeat.  She advised that the designers, shops and artists he references would all be in her insider’s guide to NOLA.  Great to know — and I hope you enjoy the book recommendation.  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

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Hello Everyone! Happy Monday to you; I hope you all had a great weekend.

A client once asked me where I found inspiration when beginning a design project. The answer to that question was easy – EVERYWHERE and then some!

One fun place I find color inspiration is on magazine covers. And I don’t just mean decorating and design magazines. Fashion magazines are a great place to get color ideas for a room, too. Professional stylists are at work choosing just the right color combinations for the clothing, accessories, and make-up. They also have pros working on choosing the background and font colors so that everything works together. Half of the job has been done for you. Now all you have to do is pull out the colors that you like and voila! You have the start of something beautiful.

I’ve put together a bedroom for you that was inspired by a popular fashion magazine.  I hope you like it.

Here’s the cover that was my inspiration along with the paint colors that I pulled from it:

Cover: British Vogue, April 2008 with Victoria Beckham   Paint: Sherwin Williams

Now, here’s the room I put together:

Sources: 1 - Dresser with linen finish: Horchow,  2 - Art: Art.com,
3 - Silver leaf bed: French Style Chairs,  4 - Ivory Pillow: Etsy – Pink Pillow: Etsy,
5 - Tea Lights: ZGallerie, 6 - Rug: The Rug Company,
7 - Decorative Finish: “Shabby Chic” by Faux Design Studio, 8 - Chandelier: Crystorama

And here they are side-by-side:

The design goes beyond just the color selection. The cover is soft, romantic and very feminine; so is the room.  The sparkle of her jewelry is reflected in the selection of the crystals of the chandelier, the tea lights and the silver leaf bed. The curved lines of the embossing in the wall finish are echoed in the lines of the chandelier and the bed, too. Finally, the rug beautifully ties it all together.

We all have special ways to get our creative juices flowing. I love to hear how and where other designers and artists find their inspiration. Where do you find yours?

Cheers to all,
Peggy
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Over time, dining in a great hall saw a migration to the smaller rooms, or parlours.  Property owners started developing a taste for more intimate gatherings and the smaller areas became the accepted space for dining. Speaking of smaller, the work that decorative artisans do doesn’t always encompass the entire room. Many times, working on just an accent area showcases that quality can also be had in small quantities.  Atlanta-based artist Kass Wilson of WallsTreat Studio shows us just that.

ACCENTS THAT WOW

Kass Wilson: A group of designers that I work with came to me with the request, “Will you help us with our show home?”  Translated, it usually means, “Will you paint for free?”

I have rules about that and it revolves around determining if this is truly a good marketing opportunity.  Here are the questions I ask:

1. Do we already have an established relationship?  I am happy to help those I collaborate with frequently.
2. Are we doing something that is really different and unexpected?  Showing simple finishes that all of my competitors already do will not make my finishes stand out among the crowd. I want an opportunity to set my work apart.
3. How long will the home be open and how will it be advertised to the general public?  It must be a recognized show home event that will be seen by many people.
4. How will the design group be promoting me in their literature, programs, blogs, press releases, etc.?  I want to be recognized as a valuable part of the team.
5. Will they be having this professionally photographed and will I have free and clear access to all of the full resolution photos?  That alone is extremely valuable.
6. Can I get tickets and attend all of the additional events associated with the show house?  These are great networking activities where I can be seen in something other than paint clothes.

The answer to all of the above was a YES.  It was now a matter of coming up with a finish that would be quick, easy, cost effective and a definite show stopper.

The furniture, window treatments and wallpaper (above the chair rail) were already chosen. During the initial planning, the designer’s thought was to do something on the ceiling. But once I saw the room, the huge amount of white space in the paneling was glaring at me.  It interfered with the warmth that they were trying to achieve and in dire need of texture and dimension. Cracked plaster was the predictable choice but how could it go beyond ordinary techniques that we see every day?

I installed wallpaper years ago in my bathroom.  It was enough for me to decide that I never wanted to go to that party again!  But, that experience taught me enough to assess that this would be easier than hand painting a background design inside each panel.  A scavenger hunt in the designer’s back room revealed a remnant of wallpaper that blended nicely with the color palate and style.  Likewise, there is always a smorgasbord of leftover products on my shelves.  A little mixing and a few extra tints yielded just enough plaster to cover these small areas.  The paper was cut, pasted into each of the windows and a clear barrier coat was painted on top.  Anything that was not perfect was strategically covered with the tinted plaster over that.  After everything dried, a simple glaze brought out the depth and dimension of the texture.

This Dining Room was the first thing that was seen when people entered the home.  The finish was right at eye level and everyone just had to touch it.  That, along with questions like, “What is this? Or How did you do this?” are always my barometers for success.  This finish turned out to be the main attention grabber of the space. It became a memorable feature and was picked up by two (2) publications for stories.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

“There are no small parts, just small actors”.  I love that quote and I think it comes into play here — making the best of every opportunity you are given, no matter what the obstacles are or the size. Kass was able to turn this accent area into showcasing a unique finish and securing two publications to print her artistry.  Wonderful!  Please be sure to visit her WallsTreat Studio website, her Facebook fan page and check in with her blog, Design Visions.  Thank you, Kass, for sharing your project – and advice – with us!

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