When I first moved to the Orlando area in 2000 to continue my business, I decided to work for a faux finishing company to learn the lay of the land and meet other artists. The owner paired specific finishers to work in assigned areas and to my incredible luck, I was teamed up with artist Jeff Huckaby. Not only is he a generous person but his artwork (as you shall soon see) is beyond beautiful. Although we now own our individual businesses, we have remained good friends throughout the years and we have kept each other updated on all our design adventures. Jeff, in addition to being a great finisher, specializes in creating one-of-a-kind ceilings. They are unique works of art and I try to incorporate them in the design plan for many of my residential and commercial clients. In addition to introducing you (my faithful blog readers) to design professionals, I thought I’d also introduce you to other wonderful finishers, muralists and fine artists. What a treat for me to have Jeff as the first artist profiled — and I know you’ll love reading about his thoughts on all things design. Please be sure to view his website — my favorite area is the “From Sketch to End Product”.

Tell us a little about yourself, your style and philosophy. I’ve been painting for 11 years and am still challenged by this profession in some fashion everyday. My personal style and the style of painting that I do could not be at more opposite ends of the spectrum. My style at home is simple and clean. For work, the style is usually something ornate inspired by the old world (although not always). My philosophy with decorative painting is not to go for the obvious. I try to come up with something that is unexpected yet classically inspired. I always steer way clear of “cute”.

What are some misconceptions about interior design and/or faux finishing that you encounter? That it is glamorous and easy….it most assuredly is neither.

What/Who are some of your inspirations? I’m a magazine junkie. I sit down once a month with a stack of magazines that is about 2 feet tall and clip out anything that catches my attention, be it a design or a color combination. I keep all of the clippings handy when I’m stuck for an idea. It is a great resource.

Please describe your ideal space. A neutral palette with bold yet simple furnishings and a few well placed ethnographic accents among an otherwise modern aesthetic. For art on the walls, abstract canvases painted in muted but colorful tones. I love things that have an organic quality.

What are some of the most common design and/or finishing mistakes that you come across? The most common mistake I see across the board is inappropriate use of scale. When designing an embellishment for a space (or anything else), one must keep in mind that the design needs to balance out what is around it. It can’t just be whatever it wants to be. It has to speak to the other elements in the room. Secondly, a tip: When choosing colors from a paint deck, go with the chip that is a shade lighter than the one you choose. The color typically will feel darker and more intense when it is on the wall. This is especially true when choosing yellow tones, I find.

Any design and/or finishing books that you recommend for us to read? My current favorite is 150 Best Apartment Ideas. It is great for the modern interior lover.

What’s the best piece of design advice you have ever received? I was very fortunate to work under a designer when I started out who was not shy about telling me what I did wrong. She actually brought me to tears on more than a few occasions. But she told me over and over again, “You have to step back and look at your work, Jeff!” It is such simple advice…but so helpful.

What is your favorite quote? Undoubtedly it is “Buy the best and you only cry once.”

What design and/or finishing advice would you offer our blog readers? If a potential project scares you, try to conquer it by approaching it in a way in which you know you can absolutely control the materials you will use. A daunting job is no place to be trying out new techniques. Don’t be afraid to recommend your own ideas to a client. I find that clients are open to ideas if the spirit of the outcome is the same. If you can’t do that, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a colleague or simply turn down the job. Sometimes saying no is just the ticket to keeping your sanity. But don’t ever stop stretching your comfort zone either. Use common sense.

Some of Jeff’s work:

       Ceiling 1.jpg   Oval.jpg

I’ve known Jeff for seven years and never realized that we both peruse magazine clippings for ideas! He’s right — they are a fantastic creative jumpstarter. Please be sure to view more of Jeff’s work. He is truly a unique and extremely talented artist…and a valued friend. As always, the Faux-cus on the Pros interviews will be archived in the Message Forum for access anytime. Have a great day!