PAINT & DECORATE... I WANT TO INSPIRE & SHOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE & YOU CAN DO IT!!

     Today, I was working on finishing touches in this huge beautiful home where I've been working for the last 12 days.  My client wants to start moving in tomorrow.  I was sealing some cabinets that I had painted, distressed a porous brick bath floor that I painted metallic silver, yesterday.  And, I had three chandeliers that I was touching up with metallic silver and metallic copper.  These chandeliers were black wrought iron and the copper and silver will tie in better with my client's decor.  I will post photos, soon.
     While I was working, I kept thinking about my next post.  I realized that, one of the reasons I'm loving blogging is because I can show others what I do and that it can be done.  Like touching up a chandelier.  Whoever thought they could do that!  But, I've done it for many years and is usually an improvement because it's no longer in style, wrong color, etc..  I've touched up and painted the whole chandelier several times.  One time, my client gave me a chandelier that was brass and bronzy, very contemporary.  At his request, I painted it to look very old and rusty and LOVE the way it turned out.  My client had some white silk shades and he stained them, I think with tea.  And, it all looked great!
     I work for a very limited number of decorators, maybe three.  The ones that are familiar with the kind of work that I do.  And, lots of my clients are very, very talented and creative women.  I love that they call me when they have a new idea or new project!  I've been working with paint for so long that I can, usually,  figure out just about anything they might show me or ask me to do.  Or, at least, I can get very close.
     Through the years, a few times my clients have said, "you make it look so easy".  And, it is for me because it's just routine, to me.  But, they get brave or I have encouraged them to do it themselves and when they did, they did a great job.
     Today, I realized by blogging, I want to inspire and encourage others to not be afraid to try faux finishes and painting.  If you're not happy with the way something is looking or you're tired of it PAINT IT!!  And, if you mess up, paint it again!
   
   
     

TROMPE L'OEIL GARAGE DOORS TO LOOK LIKE OLD BARN DOORS

The neighborhood where I'm working has lots of wooden garage doors that look like old barn doors.  They look really nice and remind me of a few years back when a client wanted me to paint her garage doors to look like old barn doors.

These garage doors are segmented and they go up as they open.  If you look closely, you can see the seams.  Also, they were white and new when I first started painting them. 

The client wanted them to look like old barn doors that open in the middle.  

While I was painting them, another contractor/builder was there and I asked him how all of the boards on a real door would be placed.  I wanted them to look authentic.

The hinges and handles are also painted on the doors.  My client showed me a photo of the way she wanted the handles and hinges to look.  It always helps if I know exactly what the client is wanting me to do.

Here is a side view so you can see that the painted handles are flat.  If they were real, the doors couldn't go up as they open.  And, you can see a little bit of white around the doors.  They still needed to attach the trim around the doors.

When I was finished painting my client was sooo happy that instead of calling them old barn doors, she upgraded them to "carriage house" doors.

This was a few years back and every time I'm in that neighborhood I drive by to check on them and they still look pretty good from the street.  Last week when I drove by the house was for sale.  I'm thinking about contacting the real estate people to see if the doors need to be touched up.  They do get some sun and I was concerned that they would fade, but I used exterior paint and they really do still look nice.

It was a fun project and I'm proud of these photos!

~

BELOW ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER LINKS THAT I POSTED ABOUT THESE DOORS:

TUTORIAL FOR PAINTING TROMPE L'OEIL GARAGE DOORS

&

THE END TO THE TROMPE L'OEIL GARAGE DOORS

TEXTURING WALLS BY HAND WITH SHEETROCK MUD & TUTORIAL

Today, I was texturing the walls and ceiling of a powder room and

one niche wall in the dining room.

The texturing I did today was with sheetrock mud.  I love working with sheetrock mud.

TUTORIAL

The mud I always use is labeled "lightweight".  The regular is very wet and very heavy.  And, the lightweight dries faster for me.  I use a 5" broad knife to spread the mud.  If you try it, try to be consistent with the amount of mud you are putting your broad knife each time and spread it across the wall.  Then, just smear it around and keep going with the next broad knife full of mud.  For smaller areas, like between a door frame and wall, I use my finger or a  1" or 2" broad knife. 

When it first goes on, it is wet and gray.  When it starts turning white, that means it's drying.  When it's dry/white, you can faux paint on it or just paint it.  And, depending on what finish I'm doing, I usually put two coats of paint.  The first coat soaks into the mud and the second coat looks good.

To me, this texturing could be any decor...french, texas, santa fe, mexican, anything!  It can look like old walls.  It's different from most of the texture you see in homes.  And, it's ok to texture only one room, one wall, etc.

Be Brave!! and, have fun!

PAINTING A FAUX FINISH ON KITCHEN CEILING BEAMS ~ "ANTIQUE COPPER"

PAINTING A FAUX FINISH ON KITCHEN CEILING BEAMS ~ "ANTIQUE COPPER"

Yesterday, I finished painting the beams "antique copper".
 My finish is a little different from the stove vent-a-hood, but is very close.
Metallic paints "reflect" so, if the light is shining just right,
you can see the metallic copper paint reflecting back at you.
It does look like the beams could be covered with copper.
 (These beams on a 15' high ceiling, started out stained a very dark brown.)

It was hard to get enough light in this photo for the metallic copper paint to reflect.

It was a lot of climbing and hard work, but I think I did it.

  I just have to wait for approval from the client.

GETTING STARTED: PAINTING SPECIAL "ANTIQUE COPPER" FINISH ON FIVE KITCHEN CEILING BEAMS

Sooo, what did YOU do today that was exciting, thrilling and breathtaking??

Just kidding!  This is what I do for a living and it's just routine to me.  This ceiling is about 15' high.  I use the smaller ladder to climb up on the scaffolding and then climb the 8' ladder, painting these beams.  There were five darkly stained beams and I'm painting them to my "antique copper" special finish to (kind of ) match the vent-a-hood.  This is the primer coat and I have two more steps to go.  I have to go around that kitchen two more times on that scaffolding!

I'm going to sleep very well tonight!!

MR. CARDINAL SINGING TO HIS MATE, SITTING ON HER NEST

IN THE DARK EARLY DAWN, MR. CARDINAL IS SINGING LOUDLY, REASSURING HIS

MATE ON HER NEST.  I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

METALLIC SILVERY GRIT ALL OVER ME!!

Today, I was covered with metallic silver paint dust.  I just got home and immediately washed my face and hair.  Omgoodness! it was sooo gritty and my complexion was metallic silvery.  Kind of weird looking!!  One of my clients designs and builds beautiful furniture.  So far, I 've gotten to paint each piece and I feel honored that he chose me, SO FAR!  I can't show a photo of it because he will be selling it.  But, today,  they took the huge cabinet outside and I spent several hours using my electric orbital sander, making definite straight line patterns on the whole thing, through the metallic silver.  Most of my work is very physical and not fun until I've finished and everything looks the way it's supposed to.  Tomorrow I'll paint on and wipe off a stain and then I'll be finished.  My client is very happy!! and, so am I, that he's happy!

PAINTING BIRD NESTS ON METAL FLORAL CONTAINERS

It seems like spring, here.  It is so warm and the birds are singing so loudly, like they're calling for their new mates.  It will be nesting time soon, and I wanted to share some metal containers that I painted.

I love painting bird nests.

These will have beautiful floral arrangements in them and something bird related.

Ready to be loaded in my jeep, to be delivered.

(My 1978 Jeep Wagoneer that I drove for 27 years and now sold. I used it for work all of those years and really loved it!)

TOUCHING UP WITH PAINT, A VERY ELEGANT CORNICE

Look at this elegantly beautiful cornice.  It's made of antique mirror, wood and metallic paint.

Aguie, from http://www.thehomeaccessorycompany.com, special ordered these cornices for a customer.

When the cornices came in, the colors were a little bit off from the custom draperies he designed for this customer.  So, he asked me to come in and change the colors, just a little bit, so they would look better with the drapery fabric.

A while back he special ordered this cornice and it was in a wonderful rust finish.  That was my favorite!!

This huge fleur de' lis is right in the middle of the mirror...sooo lovely!!

In case you need my help, I touch up paintings, frames, (some) furniture, just about anything that needs to be color matched.  I've worked with color and finishes for so many years, I can, usually, get the repair very close to the original finish.

I'm so fortunate to get to see these beautiful cornices and other accessories!  

That's what makes me happy and inspired.

Lucky me!!

PAINTING A WHIMSICAL & FUN DESIGN ON AN OLD ROCKING CHAIR

     Several years ago, Gayle asked me to paint her rocking chair.  I can't remember, but I think it was dark stained wood.  She asked me to paint the chair "something fun".  She suggested that I paint it, kind of, MacKenzie-Childsie, just fun.

She had several red, green and gold accessories in this room, so those are the colors I used.

Believe me!! all of this detail was NOT easy!!

But, it was fun when it was over/finished!

Today, when I was working at Gayle's house, I got to see it again.  It was fun seeing it in her family room.  The colors looked so good.  And, she showed me a sample of some "whimsical" fabric.  She's thinking about having a cushion made for it.

You can paint a "funky" chair, too!  Just decide which colors you want to use and then, use your imagination!!