Now becomes a stool!

This once worn Queen Anne could be mistaken for a Pottery Barn reproduction piece, if it weren’t for the unpierced back splat.  I’ve been working on this little number a couple of days now breathing new life into it as an entryway stool.  The first day out here working in my studio, I sanded away the finish while listening to the rain magically patter down on the metal garage door. Remembering my luck finding the perfect silk fabric at F and S for Traci’s chair, I returned to find something appropriate for this piece. I really enjoyed picking the fabric and cutting a custom plywood seat with my new orbital scrolling jigsaw.

I must admit to having a weakness for cool patterns on anything from a footstool to an ottoman. This one works especially well as an entryway spot to stop and take shoes off, or a as a vanity seat because of it’s height.

I hope to make more pieces like this, occasional tables, stools, and nightstands tend to be my latest fascination!

Next time, I may pad the seat even higher. Instead of using 1″ foam and polyester batting, I may try the 2″ foam for something really fluffy.What do you think would look the best, thick or thin?…Ideas?

Here’s a taste of what’s going on in my studio!!

I loved this chunky wood table in baby Eva’s bedroom.  The natural wood top was beautiful, but as a piece it just didn’t fit in with the room’s decor. Plus, it had a few blemishes to be taken care of.

In an effort to give it a second life, I’ve been washing it with sage accents and a glaze of white.

Stay tuned to see how it looks with it’s partner piece, a cream sofa and chocolate n’ white furnishings.

I can’t wait to show you Eva’s  updated room!

Carnival is celebrated from Brazil to Venice…and some may even consider Mardi Gras a carnival attraction! The main events occur this month in Brazil. I would so love to do some celebrating south of the equator!

The white mask from Venice, Italy is mysterious with it’s veil of beads.

The color here astounds me.

Now for the finale!!! I found this peacock brooch on Etsy and I came up with something similar for the girls to create at the Bat Mitzvah party.

Peacock headbands like these are selling at Barney’s for a small fortune! I recommend you check out these artists for something equally gorgeous and affordable.

I made mine with clips from Walgreens, antique buttons, guinea feathers, colored feathers, and old brooches given to me by a dear friend. You could even use the striped pheasant feathers, I love to mix the solid colors with the spots.

If you’d like something custom, please contact me!

Either way, you can get into the Carnival spirit!

Two more things: I am so honored to be nominated for a Design Lovely. Through the competition, I have discovered many friendly designers and great blogs. If you’d like to stop by Rachel’s site and leave a comment for me, I’d be delighted!

Finally, my Bathroom Redo is on the brag board over on Knock Off Wood, so check it out!

xo,

Hilary

Traci’s chair had been handed down to her. It had a strong frame and was built beautifully. I was up to the challenge of restoring her heirloom piece. Here it is before on the left. We loved the original colors of the silk on the seat.

When, I came across this gorgeous Sunbrella silk at right, I knew that we had found our new fabric! We both agreed on it immediately. To add comfort, I added an extra sheet of polyester batting to the existing cushion, being mindful not to make it too fluffy! Here you can see the beauty of the wood from the side.

That is one chic restoration piece, does anyone know what period it is from exactly? My guess is a Thomas Sheraton piece.

Looks like it is going to be another full day. Pop in later in the week for a DIY project and inspiration!

I’ve been daydreaming of silk kimonos lately. So, I went searching for photos.

In colors both pale and vibrant with intricate batiks.

That’s when I discovered Itchiku Kubota’s Art. Kubota spent 70 years of his life searching for the tsujighana…

the lost art of dyeing, batiking, and painting the Kimonos in the late 15th century. The Smithsonian has featured his collection.

Then, I couldn’t get enough of all things Japanese.

Like these one of a kind gold plated fan earrings.

Okay, so I’m a little embarrassed that our bathroom used to look like this. I couldn’t delve into painting because we were still considering a move and in my defense, the cream and cranberry tile were a tough color combination to accent.

The first week in our apartment, I painted the bathroom. Then, I painted it white all over again, here’s what it looked like (please excuse the mess!)

Here’s a peak at the pine wood frame. I prefer to lighten and darken stain with artist’s oil to develop a custom shade. This one is Varathane’s Summer Oak stain,  mixed with Raw Umber. I chose knot filled 1″ x 2″ from Anawalt Lumber in lieu of rustic pieces which were hard to find in L.A. I came across this plan at Knock of Wood and knew the solution to my frameless mirror had manifested!

All year, I have been picturing this simple upgrade. Paint is budget friendly and makes such a huge difference in small rooms. The blue shade made the tile look creamier and less yellow…Did I mention I’m so happy?!

For now, this is the final peak! I’d still like to accessorize the outlets with covers, pewter maybe? Plus, find some decorative knobs for our built in storage.

For those of you playing my little faux granite guessing game, you are fool proof, it is the one on the right!

I’ve been busy creating a custom look for Marca’s mantle in Nambian Blue granite.

Can you tell me which one is the real granite and which is the faux effect?

Is it the one on the left or the one on the right?

I bet I can fool you

Some of you may be looking for alternatives to painting or wallpapering a room. Linen on the walls is a wonderful way to add elegance and warmth to a room. I would love to try it in a small space such as an entryway or powder room. Traditionally, linen covered walls was a technique used in wealthy houses during the early 20th century. The linen served as a canvas for paint and prevented cracks from developing. Happily, I came across a modern version of this effect through Casart Coverings, a sister-sister duo that designs and manufactures linen-esque wall coverings made out of a durable vinyl and canvas. I love the rose-peach glow of this room by Casart below.

I could also see doing something really opulent like the linen and velvet in blue-green combination.

Casart also does stair decals like the before and after here. These would be a great solution for a temporary living space like an apartment or for someone who updates their home frequently. They specialize in customizable and removable coverings that quickly transform. As you can see the tiling really makes an ordinary stairwell, pop!

Lastly, you wouldn’t believe how cool grey linen looks with a yellow twist.

photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

So calming, it could be used as an accent wall behind the bed or throughout the room.

Amongst other exciting news, Pink Pianos has been nominated for a Lovely!

If you are a reader, please pop in over there and leave a shout out under my banner for me!

When my neighbor Marca, showed me these 2 incredible hand carved fish tables, I knew I was interested in the project. They were selected by her from a prominent antiques dealer and friend years ago. Although the beauty of their carvings each had withstood the test of time, the table tops and bases needed to be restored. We decided to refinish and recreate them with a decorative flair based on a watercolor painting within the room. You can see the artwork way in background, just to the right of the window.

I know, I’ll grab an extra picture of the painting tomorrow!

Here you can see them as they are further embellished in my studio. I used combination of color washing and gilding to renew the surface. As you will see the oxide red and burnt orange really complement Marca’s own decor. As for the bases we chose a deep blue.

The pair can be used a serving table side by side or alone, when she entertains!

We  really wanted something unique, so we chose to abstract the mossy green lilly pads on the table tops. Whenever, painting on the top of a table, I think about how best to protect the finished artwork. I accomplished these through sanding, painting, and marbleizing techniques. They were then sealed with an oil based polyurethane glaze. Luckily, Marca had glass tops cut for added protection.

I love the how the green orange and blue tie into the room. Next up is the blue  and white mantle that I will be marbleizing!

We are looking for a swatch that will bring in a little gray and white.

Which one do you like best and why?

I’m elbows deep into a decorative painting project and wanted to share all the beauty it has bestowed upon me. I am in fact restoring and embellishing two woodcut fish end tables with lily pad table tops. Then, I’m off to marbleize a mantle, all for a neighbor of mine. I know it’s a lot to imagine, so I thought I’d pull these pieces to give us all some eye-candy for inspiration.

Instinctively, when I think about faux painting techniques, I tend to shy away. However, this palette of custom effects above are so sublime. I am thinking of doing her mantle using a similar technique from the bottom left.

Scott Waterman is an artist that I’ve been admiring for some time now, his silvery chinoiserie is ultra luxe.

I love the way that his airy murals defy stuffy notions of interior art. This one is soft yet powerful.

One more that I couldn’t resist reminds me of the trees back in Kentucky. This sweeping landscape perfectly accessorizes the traditional wainscot paneling of the room. Scott’s portfolio has so much more depth that I couldn’t include it all here.

In my search for ornament, I came across San Francisco artist, Lynne Rutter whose hexagonal ceiling and faux ripped chinoiserie really caught my eye. Can you believe that rip in the paper is trompe l’oeil? I totally did a double take.

Now on to the brightly powdered walls in Mexico! Color washing is a great technique for adding old world vibrance to a wall or furnishing.

These deep hues may inspire me to do a little faux designing on my own mantle once I finish up with all these projects.

I’m convinced decorative painting can be fresh and modern as these artists have shown us.

I can’t wait to show you what I came up with, once the tables and mantles are ready to go!