Faux Finishes Faux Real

There was a time when I was young enough, nimble enough, and dumb enough, to climb out on a scaffolding, consisting of boards on ladders, over a two-story stairwell, and glaze 1,000 square feet of walls - with ten-foot ceilings. I couldn't reach a particular spot, so I resorted to taking my "booties" off, and utilizing whatever method was needed to do the job. My client caught me in the act with her camera......those days are gone. I think it was all those years of lifting, ladders, glazing, pouncing, and feathering, that led to a bad back, shoulder problems, and ruined wrists...but, I am/was a hands-on designer, and actually enjoyed the process..

This client wanted stripes, but no wallcovering, so I did them with paint...the trick was to make sure that, in the end, I didn't end up with two, very narrow stripes...a bit of math, which is always challenging for me...alot of taping, and about a thousand trips up-and-down a ladder, and this colonial-style dining room turned out just fine.

I love to and still do gold and silver leafing.....these are wooden candlesticks, which I found at the Goodwill (no kidding) for seven dollars for the pair. (I love the Goodwill, thrift shops, etc.). I also silver-leafed the photos of my son...the large one when he was very young, and the smaller was taken during boot camp (he resembles a serial killer in the boot camp one, but is truly a pussycat). It's a time consuming process, and never try to do it when the heating or air conditioning turns on, or you will have a "snowstorm" of tiny flakes of gold or silver wafting around (pretty, but messy). These are in my living room - there's a third one on my mantle.

This giant fireplace mantle, along with the columns and hearth, were all plaster...very,very white plaster...The client wanted a brown marble (and I always strive to give my clients what they want, within reason)...I will tell them if I think they will regret a design decision...but, I am not the "Design Nazi", forcing clients into making decisions that they later hate..

I am a photostylist, and these are two sets, which are glazed with an orange-toned base coat, and then, glazed with burnt umber glazing. It's all an illusion, as there are only two walls, a laid in floor, and we used computer tricks to fill in the windows.

I love photostyling, as it becomes a big scavenger hunt for all the right props, linens, furniture, accessories, etc....lots of work, and then, tearing it all out...oh well..

We just "flipped" the set.........................................I still have many of the props - never know when they will be needed..which leads to a very crowded garage.

This is the home where I was on the scaffolding.....I do know how to do glazing in other colors, just that this is my favorite, and I don't want to show so many that you begin to glaze over...

I designed the fireplace, but it is real stone and stucco...no faux there....

These columns were just drywall and plaster columns...I didn't want to do faux marble on the entire column or base...just touches...

I did this niche just about a month ago....a builder hired me to design a rehab...took a small house down to the studs, and started over...He's on a strict budget (this is a "flip" house), so we used alot of left overs...as in the tumbled marble tiles on the face of the fireplace. I just copied the pattern in the stone in the niche...

There are several tray ceilings in my Texas house; one in the dining room, a double tray in the bedroom, and one in the kitchen...all calling out for a treatment...maybe soon. I started the foyer, and it is still not finished...I have to get another cortizone shot in the wrist before I can finish it...Getting old is not for sissies...

My World and Welcome To It

I loved James Thurber's wonderful book by that title...sadly, he passed in 1961, but if you are not familiar with his wonderful cartoon drawings, please look his work up. This is my world now...we have lived in so many places; Boston, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and now, Texas....just outside of Austin.
Anyone who is a Texan knows this photo was taken a couple of months ago, as the bluebonnets have come and gone, but now, the wildflowers are everywhere (thanks to Ladybird Johnson).
I awoke early this morning, and stepped out to feed our deer....We are on three acres, and have chosen to keep the back (lot's of cedar, a few live oak, tall grasses, cacti) wild, as a sanctuary for the deer, who the moment they hear my door open, are right there, ready for thier morning corn and fresh water. This morning, the first fawn!!! What a beauty. And, yes, they truly do "frolic"...it was leaping and kicking up it's heels, and occasionally, falling down, but there's a lesson there...even if you fall down sometimes, don't forget to "frolic".

I went for a drive the otherday, chasing the rising sun....Babies and new life are everywhere...even little, baby longhorns...

Texas has it's own rough and tumble beauty...blooming cacti (just past their prime), live oak, that keep their leaves all winter, and shed them in the spring, juniper, cedar, barbed wire, and tall grasses......I don't think I will ever tire of it.

No matter where you live; be it city or country...take a little time on your usually hectic Saturday to stop and smell the cacti, or the roses, or just breathe!!!

Dining Rooms and Fire Ants

What can the two possibly have in common, you might ask? Well, yesterday, I planted some herbs (dill), and Bee Balm - we already have basil, chives, sage, parsley, rosemary, and thyme(there's a song in there somewhere). Deer don't eat herbs, so herbs it is....I was "suited up", which meant, my Wellies - even though it was 92 degrees, my goatskin gloves, a can of Deep Woods Off sprayed all over me....and I went about my merry way...planting away....not realizing there was a sneak attack of the fire ants going on. They figured they couldn't attack me en masse without me noticing, so they sent in a few of their very best stealthy commandos....It wasn't until about 3 am, when I was awakened by the pain, that I realized I had been had...in places and crevices on my body that I cannot mention....This is Texas, and I am still learning that, no matter what you do, if you live in Texas, and you go outdoors, you WILL be bitten.

So, since I cannot sleep, I might as well write about Dining Rooms...there, I've gotten to the point.I loved doing this house...It was a post-1930's style, and after designing the oval tray, I had to paint it the color of the inside of a sea shell...it just had to happen....It's serene, and at night, with that fabulous shell pink chandelier, the glow was enchanting...also, wonderful for one's complexion....I decided that rather than artwork, a wall of mirrors would reflect more of the lovely light. As I age, I am considering painting every room in pinks and peaches...and perhaps, only light candles.
Dining rooms should be used...not just on holidays, and maybe a Sunday dinner here and there...or for entertaining guests...but, just because...eating in the kitchen isn't bad...especially, if there are small children flinging peas at one another; and not just as a landing place for your keys, mail, etc. Many a business has been launched on a dining room table (mine)...But, often, it's nice some mornings, just to pour some coffee, boil and egg or two, get out the good china egg cups, the silver toast caddy, and sit down with the newspaper....Not with "Good Morning America" blasting in the background...But, rather, a civilized, slow morning (right, like we have time for that, but try to make time every now and again)...please!

The clients for whom I did this house wanted a red dining room, but with plummy undertones...It's dramatic, and yet, not jarring....

For their first dinner party, they asked me to do the flowers and set the table for them (I do floral design and photostyling, so I have quite a collection of vases, china, and candlesticks)... To add an extra sense of "Place", I designed the doorway arch, with the columns to set the space off from the foyer...My clients didn't want heavy window treatments, so we went with white, wooden blinds...

I loved working with these clients, designing their home from the ground up...however, I had to incorporate furniture from two previous homes...one which was in Arizona, and the other a traditional Tudor...he's oriental, and she loves "whimsey"...so, the entire house turned out to be quite eclectic...but fun...They have a large family, with lots of pea-lobbing grandchildren, so most of their meals are taken at the huge trestle table in the kitchen...But she and I loved to sit at the dining room table, and eat our lunch, while discussing how to spend more of his money...He initally had said, "Just make it pretty, Jessica"...But, she had expensive tastes, so he called us onto the very expensive carpet, and said, "I have given the two of you an unlimited budget, which you have managed to exceed"....

So, that's why this is entitled Dining Rooms and Fire Ants...

The pain meds are starting to kick in and I'm going back to bed...

Fort Worth is Worth the Time to Visit

During our visit to Ft. Worth, lunch at the Kimball, which is across from the Museum of Modern Art...we sat enjoying our lunch, and looking into the atrium at this lovely lady....

To me, getting away from Austin (which is a great town, but even with the Blanton - which in my opinion, is great architecture, and not so great art)...perhaps I have been spoiled...and visiting the galleries and art museums was a breath of fresh art....To me, Austin is about music....

The Modern Art Museum appears to be floating on a pool of shimmering water...I love the architecture, the mirrors, and of course, the art.....

I loved our trip to Fort Worth.....it's about a four hour drive from us, and we took back roads, across miles-and-miles of nothing but miles-and-miles...scrubby, but beautiful in it's own way.These are shots of the Bass Hall Angels...Bass Hall is a performance hall; symphonies, plays, etc.

Every time we've been there (2), we've not had the opportunity to go in...one of the things on my "Bucket List" is to experience a performance there. I lived in Boston for many years, and had season tickets to the Boston Symphony Orchestra...the BSO is an amazing hall...with my hero, Beethoven's bust over the stage...Love Ludvig.

Next new adventure in Texas...Dallas...

Happy Birthday to Me.......sigh.....

I'm sending myself flowers for my birthday...................................................

These are from my "Raisenette Funicello Buttafuco"..............................................................

My honey and me on my birthday last year (60th)...so figure out what I am today (59)

My honey and I 34 years ago....my how the years get to us all.............................

Kitchens Galore!!!!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I will show more pictures than words.....
these are all kitchens, that I have done from the ground up...every surface, color, fixture, and accessory.

"Form Follows Function"....this oven/fireplace can be a working fireplace, or a warming oven...keep in mind, this was in Wisconsin...where it truly is needed and appreciated!

My clients wanted an orange kitchen, and they got it. I believe it's not about my style, but what the client wants...I am just there to facilitate their dreams.

Sleek and sophisticatead...this kitchen is one of my favorites......black galaxy counters on the perimeter...I like doing one color counter surface on an island, and doing the perimeter in another.

I designed this space for a kitchen and bath showroom....Yes, it is an Egyptian Kitchen...(all the other themes were taken...I kept the surfaces neutral, and the cabinets a bit traditional...but you will see that the accessories made the theme...a client would be able to change it out, if they tired of it

Sub-Zero and Wolfe are based out of Madison, WI, and now, are the "standard" hi-end appliances throughout the country. This kitchen is a mixture of sleek, stainless steel, combined with a "shot" of wallcovering, that doesn't overpower the space.

I had two clients, who both were professional hockey players, who spent eight months out of the year in Switzerland...the wives made a few trips back-and-forth, but a great deal of time was spent emailing, and lot's of telephone calls.

The above kitchen reflects the client's penchant for natural woods, neutral tones, and lots of space.

The other "hockey couple" opted to be able to display many of the items they picked up on holiday in Europe...and were drawn toward brighter, warmer tones.

So, these are not "all my kitchens"...perhaps, I will do another segment down the road apiece....

Here in Texas, outdoor kitchens are very popular...along with outdoor cooling, misting systems, open hearths, and big screen tvs...Texans always go big!!!

Back to work Tuesday

The Vineyard of Florence....Texas, that is....

Other than it rained, somehow, it didn't seem like Memorial Day Weekend...Usually, it is later...My birthday, and my husband's birthday are four days apart, and mostly fall on that weekend...so, everything seemed a bit "off". Still, it was heartwrenching, watching the news, and seeing so many of those mourning the loss of their loved ones.

We did take a lovely drive yesterday....Texas is so huge, and although we've been to most of the big cities, we are still exploring the vast country around us...alot of it is Hill Country. This time, we ventured to The Vineyard in Florence....Texas, that is....There will be an Art Show on the 13th of June, and I have been creating as many paintings, floorcloths, and painted glass, as I can squeeze in.

Unfortunately, it was closed for the holiday, but we took a few side roads, and loved the scenery, the wildflowers, the longhorns........ In fact, I got up at 6:15, threw on my clothes, grabbed my camera, Wellies, and a bottle of water, and raced the sunrise, but alas...the sun did come up, but the day was too dark and gray. After all, with photography, it's all about the light..hence the Greek definition "light writing"....I got a few shots in, but will try again....

I've lived in Boston, been to New York (Manhatten) many times, and have been to Europe, but Texas has grabbed my heart somehow. It's only been three years, and it may wear off in time, but I do love it right now.