fauxplusdesign

Getting the Royals treatment, or, don't miss out on this limited edition book!

Melanie Royals has another smash hit with her newest book, Modello by Design Volume 2!

I'm pleased to have two of my projects included:

This powder room (lacking the mirror at photo time) was finished for my magical designer/friend Sandra Barron of Sandra Barron Interiors. Her international clients wanted a WOW effect, so we used an altered version of the ceiling Modello from our painting trip to Peacock Pavilions in Marrakech with Melanie, shown here:

This hallway project is in an amazing authentic southwestern-style home right here in Browns Summit, NC!

Custom Modellos were perfect for my brilliantly creative client, Sondra. Can't wait to share what we have just finished in her kitchen! Why yes, I do love going there to work. The original art.... The views of the pond... The pool... The custom competition motorcycles... Sondra found me at my studio about two years ago and I have worked in almost every room in her home.

This book is a must-have for finishers, designers and clients. Be prepared to gasp at the creativity and masterful executions by many of my friends and peers! And it's so affordable.

To order, click here. 

Tell Melanie I sent you!

A tale of the Goldilocks secretary, or, yet another fab Modello book is in the works!

A few years ago, my lovely designer friend Sandra and I went in search of a petite secretary - just the right sized piece of furniture to refinish for one of our clients.

Not too big, not too small. It needed to be just right for a corner in a master suite transformation.

We looked and looked at a faraway antiques mall and here's what we found.... a dainty little cherry piece, needing a little TLC and an amazing new finish.

BEFORE

AFTER

A dash of gold... a smidgen of aged crackle...

A custom-sized Modello...

And several well-coordinated finishes later...Voila!

 

A lovely revitalized desk for a luxurious new master suite.

But there's more. This little secretary went to California via email and became one of my contributions to Melanie Royals' Modello by Design, Volume 1 book.

Just heard through the grapevine that Melanie is soon to publish Volume 2, in July!

With another project from me and so many inspiring painters.

But that's all I can share just now. Stay tuned. It will be worth the wait!

Gotta have Modello by Design, Volume 1?

Contact Modello Designs in California at 800-663-3860 to purchase.

Tell them I sent you.

Gary Lord's newest book is almost here, or, get it while it's hot - and I helped!

If you love books, especially design and faux finishing books, you'll be excited to discover the newest and most fabulous by Gary Lord and 23 of the industry's top finishers.

And I was thrilled to be included as one of those 23! You'll find my custom finish in Chapter 14, as well as many more inspired finishes by my friends across the country, with instructions to make it easy to do it yourself. Plus, a two-hour DVD with more, more, more.

Simply Creative Faux Finishes with Gary Lord will be hitting the bookstores in mid-April, or you can pre-order yours directly from Gary's studio in Cincinnati.

 

Enjoy!

Simply Creative Faux Finishes with Gary Lord, published by North Light Books, $29.95

I love Cincinnati, or, Skyline chili fixes and the magical artwork of Jeannine Dostal.

This weekend I made a quick trip to one of my new favorite cities - Cincinnati. Have been there three times in the last year for faux-related events and training at Prismatic Painting Studio (more to come next blog) and I always feel so warmly welcomed and comfortable there.

One reason for all of the comfort is that I was a guest at the lovely and talented Jeannine Dostal's artfully fabulous home. I met Jeannine in Florence, Italy in 2007 during a work-study trip. She was there to teach us fresco techniques and little did I know that one day I would get to see the full effect in her home!

Jeannine graduated from the University of Cincinnati's fashion design program and spent time in India designing beaded and sequined gowns.

Here's a tiny taste of her magic...

 

 

    Jeannine Dostal

    Her book - Spectacular Walls, available online at Prismatic Painting Studio

    Her website - outofthisworldfinishes.com