May you Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

Well, we finally completed our hotel commission with almost four weeks of the graveyard shift.  We (the team) called ourselves Zombie Nation because it was…well, you can guess. I’m very happy to have had the beautiful commission, though, as it was a blessing. You know what else is a blessing? Writing for all of you — and I thank you for all the great comments you leave, both here and on our various social media sites.  It helped make an unusual month that much better.

I leave you with this reminder for the weekend….

It’s good to be remember to always strive to be at your best – whether it be working, playing or simply helping a friend through a tough time.  Well, I’m gearing up to head to D.C. again today (and hopefully, to visit Whistler’s Peacock Room this weekend) and then come back to Orlando to continue on with other projects and, of course, writing Fauxology. Have an extraordinary weekend, gorgeous ones — and DFTBA!

I usually don’t write about my personal life but today is my baker’s dozen wedding anniversary and so I will do a tiny blurb. The Hubs and I still have so much fun together and I have to say he is the most extraordinary person I know. Having a happy home is tantamount to the success of any endeavor, whether it be running a business, writing a blog or just striving for peace of mind — that’s my going theory. I share with you our Engagement Story – hope you enjoy it…

The Hubs & I at my sister's wedding earlier this year...

Today is a day of Remembrance — for those in the four flights, the Pentagon, the Twin Towers and also the women and men who braved the rescue efforts.  I lost several friends that day in 2011 and on this same day in 1994, I lost my cousin who was like a sister to me growing up as well.  May we always have the grace to remember that every day is a beautiful Gift.  Much love to you, dear Readers.

I hope Everyone has a glorious, lazy and fun filled Labor Day!

Columns are traditionally round but they can also be square and hexagonal.  In fact, square columns are called pilasters.  The Romans are credited with creating pilasters as well as the half columns attached to walls.  When full-figured figures are used as columns they are called Caryatids (female) and Atlantes (male).  I find that so interesting.  Today’s column project interested me greatly as well.  In fact, it was submitted as an idea — the columns had been approved as a project but had not been worked on yet.  Construction timelines pushed the commission back but our feature artist today, Tampa’s Lisa Cameron, was able to share her story and very cool images with us.

Think 1970′s…reminiscent of a time of disco, foreign mystique and  Moroccan-inspired influences.  Now fast forward those elements to today and you have the perfect setting for a design of bold, graphic patterns mixed and matched, interplaying upon one another.  Throw in a designer (with a savvy sense) and a decorative faux painter (who loves color and texture) with a collaboration of ideas, and you have created an essence of design alchemy.

Completed Column — well almost! The painters are slated to finish the bases.

Interior Designer Michelle Wiebe of Interiors by Studio M in Tampa, FL, had the wheels in motion for a 70′s-inspired Moroccan disco entertainment room for her clients.  She needed final touches and sought Lisa Cameron of Faux Painting Design . “Once colors were handed to me, I knew I was going to have fun creating a fantastic faux finish!”, Lisa shares.  In fact, Lisa already had in mind to use a graphic pattern and gold foil for added glam.  She then spoke with Donna Phelps of the Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing in Sarasota, FL for inspiration and they collaborated on a custom stencil for the column motif.  Once she had her pattern in hand, Lisa went to work.

Metallic Base (above) and Stencil (in blue) wrapped around the columns (below).

The work continues…

Almost there...

Here is a close-up of the truly beautiful pattern that emerged…

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Please hop on over to visit Lisa’s site, Faux Painting Design, and if on Twitter, do follow her tweets.  If you need a custom stencil or an innovative finish, look no further than one of my fave studios, Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing.  The interior designer, Michelle Wiebe, also has a beautiful site in addition to a very popular blog called m{pression .  She has incredible plans for the room and Lisa Cameron will be sharing completed pictures of the completed space with us.  Can’t wait!  I do hope you enjoyed Column Week and that it provided a bit of inspiration for you.  I’ll be featuring more columns in the future as there are always new techniques and finishes for them.  See you next week!

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DAY 1 – Column Week: Ashlie Bickford, Kindra Benge and Sharon Leichsenring
DAY 2 – Column Week: Arthur Morehead
DAY 3 – Column Week: Mindy Hunt Harrell
DAY 4 – Column Week: Krista Vind and Cindy Everett Smith
DAY 5 – Current Post

I hope wherever you are, you are celebrating the 4th in style.  Enjoy the day!