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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow Peggy on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

I thought a quote by Julia Child would be a wonderful ice breaker into the next week-long series announcement: Kitchens.  It is also appropriate because in the time that we’ve had the week-long series events — an entire week dedicated to one area with five chosen studios to profile — so much has been learned.  What works, what doesn’t and which projects help ignite imaginations.

We continually strive to improve and have made a few changes to our submission and selection process — and one change which will make you really happy.

For the first time ever, each of the artists and/or designers in the series will receive a sponsored prize AND five lucky readers will win a prize as well.  Yay!  So, without further ado…

Are you ready for your close-up?

Cabinets with a rubbed finish of black over Chinese blue, lined in gold. Featured in Architectural Digest.

KITCHENS

The heart of the home — and a place where memories become beloved stories.

We help create these rooms that provide an inspiring, fun and warm environment.

Fauxology is looking for these Kitchens — the ones that have something extraordinary. Something unique. Something completely artistic.

The submissions lines are now open — and here are the details:

• Deadline: Friday, March 2, 2012
• E-mail: Submissions@Fauxology.com with the subject line Kitchen Week Submission
• Entries: One project per e-mail. Please send as many projects (and images per project) as you’d like.  E-mail must have your name, company and quick overview of project, including the year completed.
• Surfaces: Any overall design is eligible as well as any surface in the kitchen, including but not limited to cabinetry, counter tops, walls, ceilings, canvas works and flooring.
• Images: Can include before and during shots, but there must be images of the completed room.
• Note: Please do advise us of the publications your project has been featured in. We are ideally looking to feature projects that were not the sole focus of a prior publication, the exception being websites, blogs and fan pages personal to the artist and/or designer.

~  ~  ~

If chosen for one of the five slots during Kitchen Week, you will be sent follow-up info by Sunday, March 11th.  Those chosen will have their own one-day feature on Fauxology during Kitchen Week in April 2012 — and win a prize along with five lucky readers!

Thank you — and I hope to see your project in there!

2/3 UPDATE: After receiving quite a few e-mails with questions, we’ve decided to update two of the areas in the submission requirements.  In terms of the publishing, the actual project must not have been the focus and/or sole image of a prior publication, with the exception of pages and sites personal to the artist and/or designer and in terms of the timeline, we ask that you send us the year your project was completed in.  Thank you!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow Peggy on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

Such a great idea – one color layered over the other. Courtesy of Minor Details.

Love the bringing up of the singular color and then creating a landscape with it. Via French Knot (above) and Wet Canvas (below).

Designer Audrey Brandt had shadows painted in this room — just as if trees were right outside the window on a great day. I like the effect a lot. Via Home workshop.

On the subject of trees, here are palms on a landing.  I do have to say one thing — I don’t think anything should have covered the lovely work of artist Kristin Moro.  The canvas is wonderful, but it actually takes a bit of the kick away for me.

Finally, a whimsical one to close the post.  I feel as if the objects might come to life at any minute!  Photographed by Simon Bevan and featured in Designers Block.

Did you enjoy these?  I wanted to also leave you with an incredible artist, Rashad Alakbarov, who creates astonishing “paintings” on walls via ordinary objects using light and shadow.  Please do click on the link to see the ingenuity.  May your day be filled with imagination — and seeing shadows in a whole new light.  Pun intended, of course.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow Peggy on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

Linda Topel: My first memory of the Arts is when I was about 4 years old.  I was painting with wet concrete all over my Dad’s car…it seemed like a proper support to me .  He wasn’t too happy since he had to stop pouring the new patio and wash the car. Needless to say, I’ve tended to avoid concrete since then!  Every other medium has been fair game. I found my way to online art forums after years of practicing alone and  I discovered Faux.  What a world of beauty it is, too!

While doing that, I found and fell in love with Photo-Shop. After a few years of experience, I look forward to doing what I love for more people:  Helping your client see what you see for their home by Photoshopping  a picture of your sample board into a picture of their room.

How cool is it to see the finishes being considered around their furniture and decor?

Linda, how does this work?

Pictures are e-mailed to me — photoshopbylinda@gmail.com — with your instructions.  Hi-res images work best and they can also be sent to me via cellphone e-mail (not as a text).  The better the picture, the better the end result.  I then provide a quote, time frame and payment instructions. Soon, the artist and/or designer will have images to show their clients!

Can you change the color?  Sometimes my clients love a finish but have a different color scheme going on.

I can change the color!  For more accuracy, a swatch or another picture of the color to be used should be sent.  I do advise that lighting and different monitors can affect the outcome.

Can a mural be applied?

Yes, a mural could be applied by sending a sketch, better yet in full color.  I can also work on different surfaces, including cabinetry.

How much does this cost and do you have a website?

Prices start at $12 per finished image.  I have a Facebook page, Photoshop by Linda, where I post information and photos.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Do you like the idea?  I think it will definitely be very helpful in certain client situations!  Please do feel free to leave comments and/or questions for Linda — or just e-mail her directly and/or visit her Facebook page.  Thank you, Linda, for your time in answering my questions and to Anna for letting me know of her services.  Have a wonderful day, Everyone!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

Fast forward a few years and my interest in design turned into a passion. However, identifying these two styles was still confusing to me. It wasn’t until I began studying interior design that I actually learned what each one was all about (we didn’t have google back then, bummer).

So today for anyone that is as confused as I once was regarding the difference between art deco and art nouveau, I hope to make it a little clearer for you.

ART NOUVEAU
Art nouveau came first. The term in French means “new art” It began appearing in the early 1880′s and lasted until about the beginning of World War I. Whereas previously art had been divided into fine art (painting and sculpture) and applied art (furniture, pottery and such useful items), this “new art” (art nouveau) encompassed all forms of art and design including architecture, furniture, textiles, pottery, paintings, sculpture, metalwork and even jewelry.

Art nouveau combines geometric shapes with themes from nature like insects, plants, flowers, trees and sometimes mythical fairies. Up until the period of art nouveau, these natural forms were not popular. The design is also often characterized by its organic, fluid, asymmetrical curves.

ART DECO
Art deco emerged after World War I; a time when the world was ready for luxury and extravagance. It was prevalent during the 1920’s and 1930’s, until around the beginning of World War II.

Though art deco utilizes geometric shapes too, they are more linear, streamlined, repetitive and symmetrical. Sunburst and zigzags are two common shapes featured in art deco designs. When including natural forms, they tend to be more graphic and textural like the rough edges of a plant’s leaves or a zebra’s hide. Art deco is also recognized for its use of modern materials like chrome, wood inlays and stainless steel.

TO SUM IT ALL UP…

• Art nouveau is decorative, ornamental, “curvy” and asymmetrical
• Art deco is sleek, streamlined, linear and symmetrical

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
I love visual aides. So, here are some pictures to help illustrate the differences.

Artwork Source: Art Nouveau - Art.com, Art Deco – Wikipedia

Photo Source: Art Nouveau Eiffel Tower – Wikipedia, Art Deco Chrysler Building – Wikipedia

Source: Art Nouveau Doors – Potter Art Metal, Art Deco Doors – Art Deco Collection

Source: Art Nouveau Lamp - Allentown Art Museum, Art Deco Lamp – Table Lamps Lighting

Hope this helped you more easily recognize the differences between art nouveau and art deco. They are both amazing styles to work with. Have you worked with either art nouveau or art deco in something you’ve designed or created? If so, do share!!

Cheers to all,
Peggy
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow me on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow me on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

THE POP OF STENCILING

Close-up of crushed glass

Sheri Zeman: I was requested by the Painters Union to design the space for the annual Dining by Design gala by the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) organization.  Dining by Design showcases spectacular displays of cuisine, glamour and creative design and is presented along with the Architectural Digest Home Show.  For this space, our theme was “Metropolitan” and we decided to use Faux Effects products on every possible surface.  Everything you see in the picture – the floor, walls, table base and table top were all “fauxed”.

The table was MDF board, woodgrained with Stain & Seal to appear as a beautiful walnut inlay. The base and floor were also particle board, and RSCrete™ was used to simulate a 2’ Limestone blocks. Troweled on the table base was RS Stone and troweled on the walls, a light LusterStone.  The overall stencil is the Loft 101 Hudston stencil and it was embedded with black crushed glass.  (The glass is decorative — completely safe to handle!) The project took about 2 weeks to complete and was executed by the apprentices from the JATC with the booth was sponsored by the FCAC.  The event — and our area — was an incredible success!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Sheri Zeman creates some of the most innovative finishes and her Faux Design Studio is very well-respected. I recently took a class from her and could not be more pleased with the samples. (In fact, take a peek at a design board we created with one of them, Marcello.)  I love those glass beads — in every color.  Please be sure to visit and “like” her Facebook fan page to keep abreast of all the new samples and commissions her company produces.  Thank you, Sheri, for sharing this cool contemporary project!  And THANK YOU, dear Readers, for coming along with us during Dining Room Week — we hope you’ve enjoyed the projects, stories and above all, the exceptional creativity. Have a great weekend!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

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!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

GOING WITH A THEME

Angela Schuster: The mission of Faux Time Design is to be a full service firm, providing every aspect of faux and decorative finishing, including artistically designed ceilings (we are a large consumer of Modello Designs), Old World European finishes, multi-dimensional plasters, metallics and hand painted murals.  We treat every home as it if were our own — that may sound cliché, but it really drives home our desire to create incredible spaces with unique and special finishes, which leads me to our Dining Room submission:  The ‘Haunted Dining Room’…

We have one a client who is a DREAM! He knows what he wants and the confidence in his own taste pushes innovative designs. A relationship based on communication, a little imagination and a great leap of faith and we have pushed the envelope – to Transylvania.

Our journey with this client began more than two years ago when we helped him design his basement to look like a scene from downtown Bourbon Street.  From the Big Easy to 1313 Mockingbird Lane, we recently worked with him to transform his dining room into a spooky, haunted adventure.

The mystique behind the dining room was strategically placed projectors that made head and body casts ‘come to life’ and an Ouija board that levitated above the dining room table.  Marry those special effects with a large mirror that speaks to guests and describes a ghoulish menu.

A FUNNY story: Mike, our client, loved to activate the spooky mirror over and over as we were working in the space.  It included a woman screaming at the top of her lungs.  We became so used to hearing the woman scream that one day, when I was moving the scaffold (and forgot that my production manager, Jill, was at the top), she screamed — and I ignored her!  It took me a few minutes to realize Jill was screaming.  Thankfully, she was fine – just not ready to be moved!

Our first task was designing a stencil with skeletons and bats.  This was then rendered in a traditional damask finish.  It replicates the look of a vintage silk damask wallpaper that you have to look twice to realize it is a skeleton.

Royal Design Studio helped me design the custom Skeleton Damask stencil and professionally cut it for me, too!

Close-up of Skeleton Damask

We also used a patina aging solution and rust activator to create an authentic rusted iron finish on the built-in sideboard, chair rail, crown and base moldings.  Our responsibility was to add the elaborate design elements that made the walls and ceiling compliment the theme without stealing its thunder.  The finished dining room was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

AID TO ARTISANS

Angela shares: I am passionate about giving back.  A portion of profits from every project goes to Aid to Artisans.  Aid to Artisans creates economic opportunities for artisan groups around the world where livelihoods, communities, and craft traditions are marginal or at risk.  They not only provide the mentoring to create new products, but also the resources and strategic partners to develop markets for those products. I truly believe in this philosophy as a successful art business needs both a good product and a leader with smart business acumen.

Recently, I ran a promotion on our Faux Time Design Facebook fan page asking for new Likes or Shares and then donated $1 for each.  I raised over $75 and plan to raise more in the next few weeks!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I love that skeleton damask — and what a unique, fun commission! Angela started her decorative painting business in 2005 with fellow artist and friend, Jill Hayden.  Jill now works as her Production Manager and she brought on another artist, Doris Acosta, in 2009 to help with the growing work load.  Every year they host an Open House at a local hotel banquet hall.  They set up the banquet hall to look like an art gallery, have it beautifully catered and guests browse through more than 150 finishes.  The next Open House, running from 9am – 4pm, is scheduled for Friday, January 20 at The Clinton Inn in Teaneck, New Jersey. If you are nearby, please do stop by!  Please be sure to see the Faux Time Design website and read their blog, in addition to finding them on Facebook (and help Aid to Artisans!) and Twitter.  Thank you, Angela, for sharing your Haunted Mansion!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

ELEGANT VENETIAN PLASTER

Kevin Connetta:  I typically use what is commonly called Venetian Plaster, both in its original lime and marble dust formulation and modern variations. When I start a project, I spend quite a bit of time studying the lighting, furniture, fabrics and current style of the home as well as the client’s likes, dislikes and the intent of the room. I am then able to create finishes that don’t overwhelm but instead enhance the aesthetic of the space so as to achieve the intended result.

The clients were a great family and all loved art and music.   The home was large, in the “Northern California Italian villa” mode.  They had decided to create a separate dining space from the rest of the house that was more formal as they did a lot of entertaining.  They added an additional room to the rear of the house with a southern exposure and large arched windows and doors to maximize the light.  This allowed them to show off their art work.

One of the challenges on this job was creating a plaster finish that was subtle and sophisticated, one that would enhance and not take away from the artwork they planned on hanging up. They were to showcase one artist who liked bold colors. Another challenge was getting this done in time for a Christmas party since the other trades people had gone over, leaving us only a short time!

In this case, we decided on using an iridescent plaster in a champagne color, which we troweled on in multiple, thin smooth layers on the walls and ceiling. We kept the movement minimal as it would have been a distraction. Next, we skimmed a thin layer of gold highlight plaster to give it some more shimmer, throw the light around and give it different looks at different times of the day.

Everyone – us, client, designer loved the end result. We have used pictures of this on our website and promotional pieces, which has gotten us a lot of work over time — it’s why we call this image our money shot.

There is first and foremost doing a beautiful job, then  figuring out how to actually capture that in a photo. Many times you can do an incredible job, yet the photo looks flat, with no dimension and just doesn’t do the work justice.  Best case is if you have someone who is knowledgeable on proper lighting and photography to stage and show your work.  Failing that, you can do what I did here which was grab the digital, take a ton of shots and end up with a handful that look great. This particular room I happened to photograph in the late morning, which had the southern exposure and lot of natural light coming in at that time.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Kevin speaks the truth about photography — I found myself nodding along as I read his experience with photographing certain techniques.  I think this finish showcases how plastered walls can make such a powerful statement even while letting other design elements take center stage.  Molto Bene Walls (“Very Good” in Italian) has been creating beautiful wall finishes in exclusive homes throughout California and other parts of the United States for well over a decade. They recently opened an office in Sarasota, Florida.  Please do visit their website and also check out their great blog, Scandalous Wall Talk.  Thank you, Kevin (and his lovely wife, Norine), for sharing your gorgeous project with us!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

THE ARTISTRY OF A MURAL

Lisa Cicalese McMillen: My unique point-of-view about painting has developed over 25 years of professional work and actually emerges from my background and formal education in fashion design.  I was trained to design for people– to consider how they live and move in space. For this project, I was chosen by interior designer Sharon Orr, whose experience includes being a decorative artist.  The initial inspiration was hand painted Asian wallpapers but the clients wanted more of a local Bucks County Pennsylvania feel by using dogwood trees for the flora.  Discussions included the details of which creatures would be included as well as how muted the design would be. My original plan was to paint birds and butterflies, which I love to paint.  The client was on board with the birds but she nixed the butterflies.

As the repeat of the trees around the room would be very time consuming if done completely free hand, we chose to have Modello Designs create a custom stencil of the outline of the trees from my scale drawings.

Scale Drawings

I don’t like to use stencils in a traditional straightforward fashion so duplicates were cut and used in reverse.  Mixing and matching the trees around the room rather than repeating them uniformly gave it both a more free hand look while keeping the style of the wallpaper.

Once the stencil outlines were filled in, Lisa went back and handpainted the actual body of the trees and flowers.

The birds painted were chosen with the homeowners as they were world travelers and the husband was a bird watcher. He chose those in their backyard and also from places they had traveled. I like to put details into a mural that have specific meaning to the homeowner. The client was very concerned the mural would be overwhelming if it was painted in strong tones so I painted it as softly as possible for my painting style and then I glazed it over all.

To top the room, we created a glazed tissue paper finish painted with Ronan metallic paint on the ceiling and in the Butler’s pantry.

Original plans were to gild the ceiling but it was decided the look of the squares might be too repetitive over a large area as the ceiling inset was approximately 10’ x 16’.

As the project progressed, timing became critical for a scheduled holiday party. Having a designer who isn’t afraid to put her hands in the mix was helpful.  Sharon got up on the scaffold with me and helped apply the tissue so we could all get out in time for the party. We made the deadline!  A funny ending to the story is that the homeowner couldn’t find my signature on the mural (I try to put it somewhere unobtrusively) and asked me to sign it again — leaving a post it where she wanted it. She also left instructions that it be large enough to read!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Love that final tidbit!  Isn’t Lisa’s dining room incredible?  Be sure to click on the smaller images to enlarge them.  Lisa is based in New Hope, Pennsylvania and founded her company, Cica Lisa Designs, in 1993.  Please do visit her site to see more of her beautiful work and be sure to “Like” her Facebook fan page to keep updated on her projects.  Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your project with us!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

Now back to the subject at hand… Ikat fabrics are not only popular in fashion now, but they can be found in everything for the home from furniture and accessories to walls and window treatments. Though it’s hot at the moment, thus making it very contemporary, ikat fabrics are nothing new. The exact time of origin is hard to determine because woven fabric usually doesn’t last more than a few centuries, but let us just say the process used to create the beautiful fabric designs is quite ancient.

Ikat 101: The word “ikat” in Malay means to tie or bind together. To make ikat fabric, ties or bindings are applied to the threads or yarns before they are woven. These bindings are used to prevent the dye from reaching all of the threads. This process is called “resist” dyeing. Different patterns can be created by alternating the bindings and using more than one color of dye.

Source: Mekong Textiles

Patterns can be produced by either binding the warp threads, weft threads or both. (Weft threads are those that are woven across the width of a fabric. Warp threads are the threads that run lengthwise through a fabric. The way I remember these two is, “Weft goes left…to right, warp goes the other way!”)

It’s interesting to note that the various design motifs of ikat fabrics often have symbolic meaning representing religious beliefs or activities of daily life. Some, however, are only designed to have commercial appeal. Traditionally, ikat was a symbol of wealth and power. Some cultures believe that the fabric itself is endowed with mystical powers because it takes great skill and a lot of time to create. If that is the case, then the amazing antique mirrors that Regina creates have booku powers! They take FOE-EVAAA to make!

Once the dyeing is completed the bindings are removed. Then the dyed threads are woven with threads that haven’t been dyed, thus creating the beautiful and intricate designs seen in ikat fabrics. When done by hand, the weaving is quite a labor-intensive process as you can well imagine. Guess I won’t be adding that to my DIY list!

 Source: Mekong Textiles

Ikat is sometimes confused with tie-dyeing. These are two very different processes. The defining characteristic of ikat is that the threads are tied off and dyed BEFORE they are woven. In tie-dye, the fabric is woven first and then tied off and dyed.

It wasn’t difficult to find photographs showing how ikat brings bold flair to interior design. I’ve chosen a few of my favorites to illustrate this point. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Designer: Kirsten Kelli
Artistry by: Nicola Vigini

 Designer: Kirsten Kelli 

Designer: Kirsten Kelli

Source: Photographer - William Waldron for Elle Decor

As you can see, ikat isn’t limited to fabric. If you’re an artist, you can create your own ikat designs on floors, ceilings, walls, fabrics, pottery… The list is endless. As they say, if you can imagine it you can create it! What’s spectacular is that there are myriad stencils available that make it easy for the rest of us, like these at Royal Design Studio.

Have you used ikat in your house or a client’s? What creative ways have you used ikat? I’d love to see pictures of what you’ve done. I’ll even share my favorites with our readers!

Cheers to all,
Peggy

Many of us have gone through this: Thinking that we should put a great canvas on the wall but just stalled there.  Well, this post is about those who have gone beyond that point and actually made the entire wall look like a canvas.  See?

I believe these (above, below) were inspired by Rothko.

Pollock wants in on the action, too. He looks to be the inspiration for the fifth wall — the ceiling that is.  This interior is designed by Kelly Wearstler.

Hmm. Vignette or an entire wall? Either way, it works for me! Via Inside the Loop

I gasped when I saw this one. Via one of my new fave blogs, 79 Ideas.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I think the first canvas gave some good advice. Or, as Paul says…

It’s so fine and yet so terrible to stand in front of a blank canvas.

Paul Cezanne

How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun. ~Vincent Van Gogh

Recently, a cold front stopped by for a brief visit and kept the daytime temps hovering in the low 50’s. I live in Central Florida and I’m a Florida native. I consider this C*O*L*D, bordering on Arctic weather!! So I broke out the down full-length coat that The Husband gave to me for Christmas (according to Lands End it keeps you warm in temps down to minus 30 degrees – just what I wanted!). I then headed over to a friend’s house for a visit. In her kitchen she had the loveliest bowl of lemons sitting on the counter. Just that touch of yellow warmed up the whole room and was like a little pocket of sunshine. Vincent knew what he was talking about!

I now had the color yellow on my mind and knew that I had to write a post about it. Then lo and behold, what starts to happen? Over the next couple of weeks, I begin seeing it popping up on the cover of my favorite interior design magazines, in home design stores I frequent and catalogs I receive in the mail! It seems like everyone is getting into yellow right now. This is the perfect time to explore this dynamic color.

Yellow is a powerful color in that it evokes strong emotions and physiological reactions. Here are a few fascinating tidbits abut the color yellow.

• Yellow is the brightest color in the spectrum making it the first one your eyes pick up on and highly visible from a great distance; therefore, it attracts more attention than any other color. Obviously taxi cabs and school buses are painted yellow for a reason.
•  Yellow is considered cheery, warm, sunny, nurturing and welcoming. That’s why for decades soldiers have been welcomed home with yellow ribbons tied around trees.
•  Psychologically yellow is considered the “happiest” color in the spectrum, because it is shown to cause your body to release more serotonin (the” feel-good” brain chemical) when you are around it, thus making you feel happy, optimistic and lighthearted.
•  Shades of yellow that are too deep or intense, however, can create feelings of frustration and anger. Studies have found that tempers are more likely to flare and babies to cry in a room with all yellow walls. More light is reflected by bright colors; this results in over stimulating and fatiguing  the eyes. If I had to spend a lot of time in a room painted in an overpowering yellow, I’d probably get a bit cranky, too.
•  Yellow is associated with life, food, and energy; hence, it’s shown to increase metabolism and appetite. This makes it an ideal and very popular color choice for kitchens.
•  Yellow stimulates the left or logical side of the brain; thus enhancing creative thought and concentration, and stimulating memory. It isn’t just a coincidence that legal pads are yellow. It’s been scientifically proven that if something is written and read on paper that is a pastel shade, there is a better chance of remembering it.

That’s a lot for one little color!

In the library of the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California, the use of yellow in this room is inviting and mentally stimulating. The angle of the bookcase is not only visually interesting, but it also promotes a feeling of energy and movement. A great choice for a library, wouldn’t you say?

 Photo:  Grey Crawford

Designer: Kelly Wearstler

 The openwork carving of this headboard is accentuated by the yellow backdrop. I love the yellow lacquered furniture! The use of lots of white and grey keep the yellow from being to intimidating.

Source: Pinterest

The Saffron area rug from Anthropology that is shown in the next picture is a perfect example of how a little bit of yellow goes a long way. A Chesterfield style sofa is one of my favorites; here it looks so chic in green leather. And what about those walls?!

Saffron Rug and Furnishings from Anthropologie

This dark yellow chair is also from Anthropologie. I think it’s deeeeelicious! The linen upholstery has a lovely buttery color to it keeping the look very casual. I’d clear a spot for this in my house in the “flashest of flashes”! The distressed wood walls and chest reinforce the casual tone.

Corrigan Chair and Furnishings from Anthropologie

Yellow is welcoming and these two door are proof of that. The soft yellow of the distressed doors on the left reflect the comfort of an old farmhouse while the vibrant yellow combined with the bright purple suggest a more exotic locale.

Source: Pinterest

The shiny green background of this antique china cabinet gives it a more contemporary vibe. I once painted an old china cabinet in high gloss black with a high gloss bright green interior. Same concept – take something old and give it a contemporary twist with paint. The same thing is done with the uphostered chairs. Notice the pops of yellow in the room and inside the cabinet.

Source: Traditional Home – DC Design House; Design: Camille Saum;
Photographer: Gordon Beall;  China Cabinet: The Great British Pine Mine

The ceiling of the home office in the DC Design House is a work of art by Nigel Cooper. Yellow stimulates the brain, so it’s an ideal choice for a home office. Such delicate work! Love it!

  Source: Traditional Home – Pasadena Showcase House of Design, Pasadena, California,
Artist: Nigel Cooper; Designer: Julie Kays; Photographer: Michael Garland

Why choose only one stencil when you can have them all?!  These stairs were done by New England-based Carol Leonesio and used Royal Design Studio stencils. Read Carol’s blog post on the project here.

This last photo features a STUNNING wall treatment that made me go weak at the knees! It was designed by Rauber and Rauber Interiors.   I’ll let the photo speak for itself. Make sure you have something to grab onto…

Source: Rauber & Rauber Interiors

See what I mean!

Though the shade may change, yellow is a color that never seems to go out of fashion and is always in style in interior design. Don’t be afraid to use this color. It’s a fun choice and immediately brings life to a room. You just need to consider the shade, intensity and placement when considering how much yellow the space will have.

Do you have a favorite shade of yellow that you’ve worked with or a special way of bringing it into the design of an interior? Have you done any special yellow finishes? I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time!

Cheers to all,
Peggy

P.S. This has absolutely nothing to do with design or decorative painting, but I thought it was very interesting, so I had to share it!  Have you ever wondered why pencils are painted yellow? Okay, maybe you haven’t, but this is still cool to know…

According to pencils.com, pencils have been painted yellow ever since the 1890s. During the 1800s, the best graphite in the world came from China. American pencil makers wanted a special way to tell people that their pencils contained Chinese graphite. In China, the color yellow is associated with royalty and respect. American pencil manufacturers began painting their pencils bright yellow to communicate this “regal” feeling and association with China.

Please note that credit has been given where known and available.  If you recognize the source, please contact blogger to provide proper credit and/or links.  Thank you!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed Follow us on Twitter Follow me on Pinterest Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

1. I make a list of the Top Five Places I’d Like to Visit that incorporate decorative painting, architecture, museums and good food.
2. He then takes this List and does recon on sports stadiums to visit, sports games being played in our proposed time frame, hall of fame museums and good food.
3. A Winner bubbles up.

This pattern has never failed us — it helps that I enjoy sports and he appreciates great art! Do note that “good food” is on both our lists, hence our growing tummies. Sigh.

So came about our recent Christmas/New Years vacation in New Orleans.  We actually visited New Orleans prior to Katrina and were hoping to go back to add tourist dollars.  There is so much goodness in New Orleans that many blogs have been built solely to cover it. I’ll just do my personal biggest hits over time on Fauxology and we’ll start with the St. Louis Cathedral.

A landmark located in one of the busiest tourist sections, the St. Louis Cathedral is located right next to Jackson Square overlooking a fountain and a statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback.  Evoking the cathedrals found in Europe, it was built (and re-built several times) on a high piece of land and because of this, sustained far less damage from what Katrina exacted on other areas.

St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans

When you first walk in, you are greeted by beauty.

View towards the Cathedral Sanctuary.

Center Close-up

View towards the back of the cathedral.

Close-Up

Ceiling Close-up

Here are a slideshow with more images from our YouTube Fauxology channel.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Although there are some conflicting accounts as to who painted these murals, the overriding opinion is that it was Erasmus Humbrecht, an artist born in France and trained in Switzerland.  It was his first major work in the Americas. He charged $1,950 for the work above and $250 for the below mural over the sanctuary entitled “Sacrifice of the Divine Lamb”.  Here’s the best close-up I could get.

I came across stained glass windows depicting the life of Louis IX, whom the cathedral is named for.

Only in one invoice are the murals referred to as frescoes, in others it is simply called “decoration”. Conrad Schmitt Studios wrote a fascinating article on the $300,000 1995 restoration of Mr. Humbrecht’s work (here’s the PDF) — definitely worth the read.  There is more on the artwork’s history in Best of New Orleans (great info) and the cathedral’s site itself shares its fascinating history.  I hope you enjoyed my first New Orleans post — others coming up are on the French Quarter itself, the Garden District and how Mardi Gras floats are created.  My brother has previously written a guest post on his New “Awlins” adventures and the Miriam Ellner class he took on Verre Eglomise in case you’d like to dig in on those. Have a great day!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube

This is the dining room in the townhouse designer Allegra Hicks lives in.  The wall treatment is a silk wallcovering she designed as well.  Her home was featured in Elle Decor and photographed by Simon Upton.

I mean, seriously. How arresting is this?  LOVE the mosaic effect on the furniture (which I think you could easily re-create via a Modello) and the inspired typography on the walls.  This is for the C. Wonder boutique (hence, all the C’s) and I think they rocked it.  Small Shop gives us more of this yummy boutique to look at via their Shop Talk blog.

Jill Crawford is a designer with a graphic arts background — and both work beautifully together to create the large graphic pattern in a sedate yellow (above).  She has another wall treatment (below) that’s both colorful and effective and does remind me of Jim Lambie’s work, albeit on a smaller scale.  I’d love to see it continue on the whole wall, too.

So, so striking and effective. This beauty was featured in The Glow, a site that gives you a glimpse into the lives of inspiring and fashionable Moms.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I think I might have to show these techniques more to potential clients because, you know.  I may get lucky one day.  Do you like these inspired spaces?  Do tell…

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our Feed     Follow us on Twitter     Follow us on Pinterest       Become a Fauxology Facebook Fan          Subscribe to Fauxology YouTube