A new Face for your Bookshelf

Yesterday I started to re-do book shelves for one of my clients. Here are the step by step instructions to follow along, transforming  your book shelves and any  other wood work.

Supplies:
Latex eggshell paint
Water
Chip Brushes
Rags
Cardboard

Glaze consistency: Mix one quart of paint with one cup of water.


Colors: On a fan deck choose 2 colors of the same color range. Select 2 colors, medium and dark. I use the third; and fifth hue. For the highlight color mix the fifth color with white.


Aging glaze: I usually use a dark brown or dark grey depending what look I want to achieve. However, you may also use the last color on the fan deck.

Dry Brushing:
Submerge paint brush into paint. On a piece of cardboard work the paint into the brush. Do not work with a fully loaded brush. Remember " Dry Brushing".



When you are glazing make sure to retain some of the previous coat. You want to achieve an orderly distressed look with all  colors visible.

Step One:
Dismantle the bookshelves.


Step two:
Sand thoroughly and dust.


Step 4
Apply a very dark glaze ( I used a black green glaze). Let dry.

Step 5
Apply dark green glaze. Let dry.

Step 5 and 6

Step 6
Apply a medium green glaze. Let dry.

Step 7
Apply highlights with the lightest glaze. Let Dry.

Happy painting until next time 

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Transform Your Kitchen -Tuscan Plaster For Kitchen Cabinets

Tuscan plaster- Kitchen Cabinets
An exclusive finish from the Faux Academy

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I developed this finish for one of my Italian clients. These clients traveled to Tuscany/Italy looking for distressed kitchen cabinets. They fell in love. However, shipping these cabinets to the USA was cost prohibitive. Due to  the operational difficulties, they called me to distress and create an authentic Italian "look" for their cabinets.

Their family in Italy owns a vineyard and true to their heritage, the couple built an authentic Tuscan home, here in my neck of the woods

. An  

Tools and Supplies:

Mustard Yellow Latex eggshell paint
White Latex eggshell paint  (mix with yellow to obtain a light yellow hue)
Walnut Stain
Paint thinner (for clean up)
Whiting
Rags
6" Putty knife or Penguin Trowel
Brushes 

Base coat:

Any surface within reason. In my clients case I worked with raw wood cabinets.

Step by step instructions for yellow cabinets

1. "spot" stain the cabinets. Let  set (semi dry)

 2. Mix Whiting with the  yellow paint to a "pudding" consistency.

3. Trowel the mixture on to the surface. Making sure to create valley and peaks. Be sure to let the stain show through in some areas. Let dry overnight.

4. Mix white latex paint with some of the yellow paint to obtain a light yellow mix.

5. Dry Brush the surface with this mix

6. Dry brush until you get an somewhat orderly, distressed look

Good luck and all my best until next time

I d

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Inspiration... or the lack thereof

Sometimes creative right side brain souls suffer from lack of inspiration.
 We all know that inspiration is an important part of the creative process.Recently, that's  exactly what was happening to me. The more I tried to create, the more I was stuck. Utterly helpless, I decided to do something about it. I registered for the yearly Decorative Art convention in Hampton Virginia. If nothing else, I knew I would be inspired just being  in an environment with like minded artists.

 

 As the owner of the Faux Academy and a decorative artist, I eventually decided to take a class. Being a student was totally new to me, but I had so much fun. .  I am here to tell you  that it worked. I am inspired again, happy to go back t my studio and starting to create new designs and finishes. My brain is full of ideas.  A warm thank you to all decorative artists who shared, conversed, told jokes and hugged.

Creative types know that inspiration is an important part of our being. If this should strike, there some things you can do.

1. Create a reference file. Every time you get stuck flip through this file and possibly the creative juices are beginning to flow.

2.Hang out with other creative types, talk, share ideas,  learn and listen. from them

3. Allow yourself to be stuck and create anyway.

4. Allow yourself to create "bad" samples and finishes, eventually you will come up with something you like.

Best of Luck

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The painted House.......A Harlequin Patterned Powder Room

My clients love harlequin diamonds. Therefore,  I get a lot of requests to adorn walls with the ever popular design. The Harlequin design,  a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end, has been around since  the fifteenth century. It is still a theme which is in high demand. This design can be found in antique fine furniture, marquetry, inlaid boxes, tables, dressers, and even floors.

The Italian-based classical character, the servant, wore colorful diamond-patterned tights and a mask.

Creating harlequin diamonds require lots of patience and measuring, but is well worth the intensive labor involved. If you want to save some time here is a harlequin calculator harlequin diamond calculator courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

Supplies:
Lots of 1"or 2" blue tape.
Soft fine pencil ( I use a mechanical pencil)
White Eraser ( art store or Michaels)
Chalk line 
Chalk in the color of the paint    or 
Pastel Pencils in the color of the paint
Two contrasting paint colors*  or if you like to create a monotone design use Eggshell sheen *

 Level ( if possible 5ft long) **
Ruler (if possible 5ft long)
Drop cloths
Paint roller
Angled paint brush ( for touch ups)
Razor ( for mitering corners)



* If you choose a monotone color theme you may use Eggshell sheen paint and MinWax satin polycrylic. 

** available at the wallpaper section in any paint store.
Step One:

Decide on the size of your diamonds. The rule of thumb is that the height of the diamond is twice the width. Now that you have figured out the the design or size, select a focal point. Usually the wall you see, entering the room. Completed this task you are now ready to tackle step two.

Step Two

Paint the room in the color of your choice.

Step Three:
Having calculated the height and width of

Courtesy of Silverspoon murals

 your diamond theme draw vertical lines onto the wall. The space between each line equals the width of your diamond. Continue around the room until each wall is done



Step Four:
Draw the horizontal lines onto the wall. These lines represent the height of your diamond theme. Continue around the room until each wall is done.

Step Five:
Once you have laid out your pattern you might have to make small adjustments in  each corner so the diamonds match up. You may make these small adjustments with the width only. 

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals 

  

  Step Six: Find and mark the middle of each rectangle and mark the top, bottom,left and right side. Connect the points, using your ruler, chalk line, pencil or pastel pencil. Be aware that using a chalk line will deposit chalk residue on the wall.

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

 Step 7:
Having  your base color applied to all walls (step two) you now have to tape off each diamond. Mark each alternating diamond with a piece of tape, so you will not get confused which diamond to paint with the contrasting color. Use you single edge razor blade to miter the tape corners.

My client wanted a tufted harlequin pattern so I omitted contrasting paint colors, which gives you a subtle effect.

Try this classical design and let us know how you did. Good luck,

 

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With Love from Europe

Time is passing quickly and August is fast approaching. In August I will be teaching German faux finishers in Hannover and five other locations.

During l my recent 4 month visit to Germany, beside being involved in an bomb alarm and getting into a riot,

I was invited to teach and demonstrate American faux finishes. I must eat humble pie!! American faux finish artists are the avant garde to faux painting.. Even simple techniques, like tissue paper, packing paper and joint compound textures received the obligatory, "Amazing!" and "How did you do this?" remarks.

Due to the unexpected invitation to teach, I was not prepared. Consequently I had to search 'painfully' all over town for mediums I could teach with. Even tissue paper was not available due to the "Green" craze taking over Europe. I finally begged a store for some sheets and as a thank you I gave them the sample board of this fun technique.

After that I proceeded to "OBI" the German Home Depot to look for mediums I could use. My presence rummaging through the paint and other departments arose so much interest that I again was invited to demonstrate these selected mediums. It was so much fun. From Vinegar to lime paint and Moltofill I used everything I could get my hands on.

Here are some of the finishes I came up with:

Chinatown, done with Lime paint

Louis Vuitton Leather, everyone loved this one!

Old World Plaster à la Germany

Faux Venetian Plaster

Zen - Rust à la Heidi

Germany was very good to me and I am looking forward to teach there again in the near future.

Blessings,

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It's time.... give that old dresser a make over

Recently I decided to make over an old library table which  collected dust in my basement and which was bought for a make over. But.. alas... the mind is willing but the hands are not. So, finally I decided to tackle that project.  Maybe you have some old furniture piece, which is in desperate need to get some TLC.  


Here are some ideas which might inspire you.

Library Table - Before

I chose a design depicting a McKenzie Childs rendition, because I always wanted to have some piece out of her collection.

Library Table - After

A client of mine bought this sideboard at a rummage sale.  She ran out of ideas what to do with that piece and hired me  for a make over.

I decided to base coat the piece red, with a faux painted  rust table top and a rust finish on the doors. I painted a trompe l'oeil rendition on the doors and stenciled the side panels. Once finished the trompe l'oeil design was crackled followed by waxing, which made this chest look a hundred years old.

This old writing desk received a glam 1920s look by covering the drawers with black silk fabric. I love this idea. Just imagine the hundreds of possibilities. People are so smart to come up with these ideas. Looks like it's easy to do but the end result is very glamorous.

Courtesy of My Crazy Life 

 I love the fabric on the drawers and see this piece in any room

Courtesy of My Crazy Life 

I absolutely love  this made over Bombay chest.

Curbly Chic

This make over involved  silver leave. Isn't it astounding how elegant it turned out?

Moral of the story, don't be afraid to tackle a make over. And if you do, please share. We all want to know and see.


Until next time....

Blessings,

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