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Designing Your Vision and How To Know What You Want
June 7th, 2011
When you work with a professional in home design, whether it’s a decorative artist, interior designer, or architect, you need to communicate your vision so they can design for you. But how do you do that?
When I work with clients or interior designers, projects fall into one of two categories:
- You know you want something done but don’t have specific ideas.
- You already have very specific styles, colors, or finishes in mind.
The majority of clients I work with...
March 16th, 2011
I am often asked where people can see my decorative art work. Internet photos are great to get a general idea, but nothing compares to seeing a real decorative finish in a real room. Many of my clients hire me to enhance their private residences, so viewing in a convenient location can be an issue.
Now you can visit Poppleton’s Showroom in Monterey on Lighthouse Ave. to see my work in person. I worked with the Poppleton’s visual designer to develop the custom accent wall featured in...
November 19th, 2010
Modern culture likes to think it comes up with original ideas, but we know most great ideas are recycled. Think “bling” originated with hip-hop? Not so fast! Gilding is the ancient decorative art of taking precious metal beaten into thin sheets and applying it to objects. The use of gilding can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China. Gilding was so popular in ancient Rome that citizens of all classes were known to use it in their homes. Rapper bling has nothing on these folks....
September 10th, 2010
Open a can . . . save a tree. Faux wood-graining, or faux bois, is one of the traditional arts people think of in relation to faux finishing. Techniques to reproduce the look of wood were developed in the 1800’s to simulate wood that was difficult to obtain or too expensive. Concerns today are the same, although the emphasis has changed.
Faux wood-graining can cost a fraction of real wood, which requires harvesting, milling and carpentry, staining, and installation. Many beautiful...
June 11th, 2010
If It Doesn't Move, I Can Paint It!
The majority of decorative finishes are applied to walls, but so much more can be done! Imagine a ceiling painted in a night-scape with stars and night clouds, or ragged in copper and gold.
Kitchen stove hoods can take dramatic finishes that highlight the room, such as an Italian scroll, a garland of fruit and flowers, or swirled metallic glazes.
Cabinetry can be lightened, darkened, made to look like a different wood entirely,...
May 28th, 2010
The weather is warming up. Gray days are fewer. Longer days and more sunlight make the world a happier place. You can make similar changes to your interiors.
Changing colors in a room can dramatically change the mood of a space. Even changing one wall can reflect throughout a room.
The change in this room is dramatic. The chic, metallic finish on this accent wall changed the entire character of the room. Light from the bay window opposite the wall shines on the finish, then...