October 24th, 2012
…because the entryway at the studio is finally done (or done enough). i was happy to have a few minutes the other day to sneak in and put the last touch on the stenciling, adding a gilded greek key border at the top of the walls. because i just can’t help myself.
it’s one of a batch from the stencil library that is on its way to memphis…i am thrilled to tell you that we’ll be carrying several of their incredible, distinctive designs including the willow pattern (which, as you may know, is my all-time favorite) that’s on the walls here. the new stencils should arrive soon.
a few process notes: i painted in the pattern first with modern masters’ pharoah’s gold, and then repeated the stenciling using gilding size. once the size was at tack, i applied gold leaf, skipping some spots so that it wasn’t too too perfect. (you’ll find all the details and “before” for the walls here.)
and seriously, meander your way here some time, won’t you?
By stephanie | Posted in: Before & After, In The Studio | 1 Comment
August 24th, 2012
in searching for an idea for a swank tv concealment device, my clever, resourceful & exceedingly lovely client clipped this from a recent issue of veranda:
her newly-remodeled living room has a more saturated color scheme, and so she requested a custom blue. after her carpenter finished…
…i mixed chalk paint in aubusson and paris gray (1:1.5) and laid it on over a ground of old ochre:
a quick coat of clear wax wax followed by dark wax softened up to almost a glaze-y consistency went on top:
as a final touch, a bit of gilding wax was added to the little corner medallions.
By stephanie | Posted in: Before & After | 3 Comments
August 16th, 2012
it was a huge treat this week to have my fabulous friend jan crowe here from nashville to work with me. helping a young client put her home together, jan rescued these chairs, and put a beautiful painted finish on them with chalk paint™ in old white washed over country grey, adding a tiny bit of raw umber tinted glaze on top for a little softening. i love the fabric she chose for the upholstery:
she talked this pretty table in off the ledge, removed the peeling veneer, and repaired the top with wood-filler putty:
after that, a coat of old white. then, we concocted a pretty blue/gray, henceforth to be known as jan’s gray (let it be written!) using duck egg, paris grey, and old white.
after a coat of clear wax, she went over it one more time with tinted wax to give it some gentle age, rubbing the paint back just a little bit to reveal the old white and wood beneath…all the while, schooling me in the finer points of pandora one, magic iphone tricks, and starbucks’ breakfast menu. i do not want her to leave.
if you are in the nashville area, and need some savvy, problem-solving, life-enhancing design help, message me for jan’s contact information. she is brilliant, polished, and resourceful, and so much fun to be with.
By stephanie | Posted in: Before & After, Family & Friends, In The Studio | 2 Comments
August 15th, 2012
a lovely client had this solid pair of dressers custom-built. they are very well-made, and will last forever, but the finish was not what she had hoped. savvy nancy stephenson, (who is consulting on the interior design) paged mrs. jones to see about a plan b. here is the before:
and the after, painted in french linen chalk paint™ and rubbed down with both clear and tinted waxes:
nancy and her lovely client chose this fabulous hardware to finish things off:
on a separate but coincidental note, it made me so happy to see all the sunflowers in bloom this weekend at shelby farms park.
By stephanie | Posted in: Before & After | 1 Comment
August 11th, 2012
i hope you’ve had a wonderful summer – but oh my stars, where has it gone? and how can school be starting monday? between camp drop-offs & pick-ups and all the attendant laundry, a lovely week at the beach, teaching some delightful groups in workshops and projects at the studio, there has been too little time for custom work. here are peeks of a few recent pieces, with details coming soon…i promise!
(all of the above done up in annie sloan’s fabulous chalk paint™ and soft waxes. first, a cabinet in old ochre and a mix of aubusson blue and paris grey, mellowed with dark wax. in the middle, the dresser top is done in old ochre, the base in old violet, with clear wax. above, french linen topped with dark wax.)
By stephanie | Posted in: Before & After | No Comments
