Fauxology: Studying the Visual Magic of Faux Finishing and Interior Design (brought to you by Garay Artisans)

Stumped?? Well, we here at Garay Artisans are excited about it!  We just finished filming our latest (ok, second) DIY YouTube video and it features my brother, Jason, teaching this crocodile skin finish for cabinetry.  Yes…you get to learn this finish gratis! This particular look is usually meant for special “glamour” places such as guest baths and powder rooms. In our cabinet workshops, we teach our two most asked-for finishes in the kitchen: aged cabinets and distressed cabinets.  We try to cover all bases for you, folks!

If you haven’t seen our previous YouTube videos, let me introduce you.  Our first DIY Video: Glazed & Gold Powder Bath (still can’t believe it’s been seen over 2,000 times — for me that’s a lot).  For those interested in knowing more about our company and services: Interview by WFTV-Channel 9 and our Garay Artisans promo.

In case you’d like to take our one-day Cabinet Workshops (where you learn everything from prepwork to HVLP spraying to topcoats), click here.  We have a new special where two-person teams receive a great discount.  We already have a few students signed on — the first class in our new facility is Saturday, May 17th.  Here is what one of our previous students, Cape Cod, MA-based Robin Pierson of Robin’s Nest Interiors had to say about her custom training class:

“It was so helpful - I can’t tell you how excited I am about getting started.   Jason was a great trainer and I felt very comfortable with him and the information he provided.  He was more than happy to answer all of my questions and by the time I left I felt like I had all the information I needed.”

Robin’s website has some great cabinet works as well as a cool decorative window line called Reflections. She truly is a wonderful artisan.

Our cabinet video is currently being edited so it should be up in about…oh, 2 weeks.  (But don’t quote me!) We will keep you posted here!

I thought I’d put up pics of a project we recently finished.  It was previously the theatre room of a well-known basketball player’s home.  However, the new owners wanted to make it into the husband’s in-house office.  Out went the theatre seats, the slanted stage they were on, the media system and the heavy drapes. In came an updated cabinet system much more conducive to holding files than DVDs…and still to come is new flooring, drapes and furniture.  (BTW, this room overlooks a gorgeous golf course.  While we were working, we spied an extremely famous golf player doing his thing — we almost fell off the scaffold!)

This is our first project with the designer, Kim Patiry, and we worked really well with one another.  She’s very talented, great with colors and open to hearing suggestions from the trades she works with.  For this commission, we had to match the new bare wood to the existing woodgrain and continue to add black trim to the right areas. We also added a decorative panel to the cabinetry using Modello OrnPan125 which was slightly altered from its original format.  The ceilings had a four-panel decorative trim added (which we metallicized) and we glazed the exteriors and Venetian-plastered the interiors.  Took almost three weeks…what do you think of the results?

Here’s a Before (left) and After (right)

…and another Before featuring my brother coming up with our cabinetry plan…

  …to the After.

 Until next time!

I’m finally catching up on all the blogs I read and I found a whopper of a cool DIY project.   Think IKEA and contact paper.

Here’s the pic:

…and here’s the instructions link.  Man, I’m going out to buy woodgrain contact paper tomorrow!  Do you know how many personal woodgrain projects I haven’t done around my home because I don’t have the time?  (Shoemaker and his kids and all that.)  I’m zipping them out this weekend!!!!  Thanks design*sponge and It’s (K)not Wood!

There I am zipping along in my life and I realize I haven’t posted the Book-of-the-Month.  Horrors!  Curses!  It might be serendipity because due to our blue post, I started thinking of how beautiful the Newport Mansions were and then I remembered I had bought a book about them.  (I don’t think I can travel anywhere without buying a decorative painting book or two.)  So, I go to my adored studio library and there it was, jostling for space with the other books.  I was immediately transported right on back to those amazing…homes.  (I hesitate calling them homes.  They’re more like zip codes.) So jaw-dropping!  So over-the-top!  So…oh, I’ll just get on with it.   The March 2008 Book-of-the-Month is Newport Mansions: The Gilded Age and is written by Thomas Gannon and distributed by the Preservation Society of Newport County.

The hubster and I took a trip to the New England area back in 2003.  I had been in Newport, RI in 2000 with my best friend and couldn’t wait to get back.  You know when you see those pictures of castles in Europe or the grand homes in England or France with the 70+ rooms and the beautiful, lush gardens? The ones in the Merchant Ivory films or a Jane Austen production? That’s the scale we’re talking about here.  The Newport Mansions (there are 11 properties – 7 of them historic landmarks and about 80 acres of gardens and grounds) are Spectacular and you definitely need that capital S. The homes were owned by many of the titans of the 19th century, such as the Vanderbilts and the Astors, and were used as summer residences.  Today, they are preserved and protected as historic house museums by the aforementioned Preservation Society.   Despite their exclusive history, today these opulent homes are open to the public.  Here are a few pics:

On the left is the entrance to The Breakers, generally considered the grandest of the homes. Notice the size of the gate as compared to the woman. On the right is the Dining Room.

On the left is the Morning Room in The Breakers, used for informal daytime gatherings.  On the right is the lower loggia.  I’m not embarassed to say that when I walked into the 45-foot high Great Hall (not pictured) for the first time, tears ran down my cheeks.  I had never seen such extraordinary decorative painting, stenciling and gilding in my life.  Something to aspire to!

Here we have the grand staircase of The Elms on the left.  On the right is part of the, umh, backyard.

On the left is a carved mantel from Chateau-sur-Mer and on the right is the Rosecliff ballroom.  The Great Gatsby and True Lies are two movies which have scenes filmed in this location.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the “tour” and a peek into the book.  There are more stunning photographs to be found within its pages along with a great amount of history from the turn-of-the-century in addition to design and architecture.  It’s a wonderfully stimulating book for the eyes and the mind!

This month’s Mailbag question comes from Caryl in Orlando, FL.  Here is what she wrote to us:

My interest is in antiquing & distressing furniture. I bought a book and one of the supplies that it recommends is rottenstone.  The book says it is a fine, light brown powder which is used as a mild abrasive to give texture to some antiquing techniques.  I have not been able to find it, however.  Have you heard of it? And do you know where to get it? Thank you!

From Regina: Hi, Caryl!  I have heard of rottenstone and have used it sparingly throughout the years.  It’s a kind of fine crusty textured rock dust with some coloration to it — but it will just age nicely and not scratch your surface.  When I’ve used it, I’ve experimented with both mixing it with dead flat vanish and Liberon furniture wax, separately.  (I’m sure you can even use a tinted glaze, although I haven’t tried that. You can see that rottenstone is very versatile in its use.)  It gives it a nice crusty aged look by gathering in the crevices and lines so it looks like the piece has been weathering for years.  Just so you know, I use the dead flat varnish with it to give it a fully flat appearance — something that’s been weathering for ages doesn’t have much of a sheen to it.  If you use the Liberon wax, it will leave some sheen (esp. if you buff it) but it gives is a more elegant edge than just a flat surface.  It really depends on the look you are going for.

Refinish Furniture is a cool website for those who are interested in learning more about working on furniture.  They have some great information and tips.  Please note that Woodworker’s Supply sells rottenstone online, among many other good products.  Hope this has helped!

For our blog readers, here’s a pic what rottenstone looks like and what it does:

If you have any questions about faux and such, please feel free to write in.  I’m here to help…and we may just pick it to be in the Mailbag!  Have a great day!

So, I’m feeling very blue.  My cat, Angel, whom I’ve personally had since September 1994, passed away of lung cancer.  My husband and I were together to say goodbye to her during her last moments and our hearts just about broke.  It feels so strange not to have my “shadow” (she followed me everywhere) and not have her run and greet both my husband and I the moment we would walk through the door.  She is loved and missed.

I thought I’d put together a mix of travel and finish pictures with the color blue as the theme (crazy how the mind works, no).  I hope you like them.

On the left is is my favorite blue pic — it’s because of my gorgeous husband.  He’s perusing the next stop on our Newport Mansions tour.  On the right is Angel.

Seeing them serves to remind me to appreciate every moment.  I hope I’ve inspired you to do that today, too.

Oh man, am I in trouble.  A few months ago, I signed up for a faux chat/message board forum: Talk Faux.  I had first heard about it from Dean Sickler at Dundean Studios and then from Donna Phelps at Sarasota School of Faux & Architectural Finishing.  They were moderators on the site and told me it was a great place to meet other artists, share ideas, recipes and pictures.  I had been in other forums but once something gets catty, I’m outta there.  I wasn’t looking forward to repeating the experience, but I trust Dean and Donna and so I registered.  Since my husband is in Chicago on business, I had some time this weekend to poke around the site.

Wow!  What a great group of professional artists!!!!  There is a definite sense of camaraderie and selfless sharing — and from what I’ve seen, it seems as if people on this site really enjoy talking with one another.  I went crazy: I updated my profile (”FauxGirl”), introduced myself, uploaded pictures into the Gallery, joined in some discussions and started leaving comments for others who have done the same.  I’m so excited…but I’m really in trouble since this is just what I not-needed: another outlet for this faux obssession of mine.  :)

If you get a chance, check Talk Faux out — and if you really like it, register!  Bet you won’t be disappointed…

In the past few weeks, I’ve read a few good articles on design.  I thought I’d put them together for you in one post.  Here we go!

Revamp Your Home with the Right Designer - Courtesy of Arizona Central.

How to Work Best with an Interior Designer - Courtesy of CNN.

TVs Dictating Interior Design Decisions - Even though the article is based on UK couples, I think it translates well to homes here in the U.S.  I remember when my husband asked me if I minded if we bought a new TV — “uhm, ok, I guess we need a new one” — and a few days later the delivery guys delivered a box taller than I am.  I personally would have preferred a television you can hide behind a painting, but that ship has sailed (for now).  Courtesy of Infomatics Online.

Fiction Mirrors - I had to include this new product offering: it’s so original.  I love how it fades into the background…although I’m still not clear if it turns back into a true mirror if someone passes in front of it.  Courtesy of Dwell’s blog.

The Floating Round Bed - I think it’s so cool…but is it classic?  I’m digging the natural horizontal concrete-y finish in the background wall. Courtesy of Apartment Therapy. 

Setting Competitive Fees for Your Business - I have some blog readers who own/want to own creative small businesses.  This is an article for Interior Designers but I thought it had some good advice for similar businesses. Consumers can also read about what is involved in establishing design fees. Courtesy of CNN Money.

Top 10 Design Hotels (Impeccable Decor experienced at their “organic best”) - This list is for those who love to find a gem of a small hotel at a great price while traveling.  My favorite description is for the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco — aesthetically what would happen “if Quentin Tarantino designed hotels rather than made movies”.  Hmm.  I know where my brother’s next vacation is going to be.

Research Weighs Consumers in Soft Market - Great article on consumer preferences and opinions in the current housing and design market, straight from Orlando’s International Builder’s Show.  Courtesy of Nation’s Building News.

Reben - Quick blurb from last year on a new Japanese-made paint, one that emits no VOCs and actually cleans the air.  I’m totally looking into this, knowing how our company strives to be eco-friendly.  Courtesy of transstudio.

A Global Sweep on a Tiny Budget - A good article on one family’s challenge to transform their apartment into a functional design haven.  I only wish they had put a warmer color on the walls…but that’s just me.  Courtesy of the NY Times.

Finally, I picked up the latest Consumer Reports magazine since it had “Interior Paints” right on the cover.  (I also picked up In Style, lest you believe that all I think about is paint.  Don’t know what would give you that impression.)  So, although Consumer Reports may not be happy about it, I’m saving you $5.99 and just letting you know the results.  There’s been a big shake-up in the results this year — Home Depot’s Behr had dominated the results from 2003 but there are some new sheriffs in town.  Call it the passing of the paint stirrer baton.  Kilz’ Casual Colors and Behr’s Premium Plus Enamel topped four categories: Best Values, Toughest, Tops for One-Coat Coverage and Best for a Smooth Finish.  Benjamin Moore’s Regal Matte dominated the Flat Sheen category and Glidden’s Evermore and Olympic’s Premium were the Best for Sunny Spaces (most resistant to fading).  Kilz is available in Wal-Mart, Behr and Glidden are available at Home Depot, Lowe’s has Olympic and Benjamin Moore is available at their eponymous stores.

If Consumer Reports should come for me — should I use “Blue Steel” for my mug shot?

So, my husband and I are major pop culture junkies.  We frequently “movie-tv show-song lyrics” speak to one another…as in, if one of us is going on a quick errand he/I may say “I’ll Be Back” and the other may follow up with “May the force be with you”. Or, if we find ourselves with something too small for our purposes, we’ll look at each other and say “We’re gonna need a bigger boat”.  I won’t even bother you with the “Oops, I did it again”, “Let it be” and “No Soup for You!” scenarios — you get the picture.  At the very least, now you know who to call when you need to know the name of the actor who was in that movie with the cute little monster who wasn’t so adorable if you broke those three rules.  Can’t wait for the televised World Series of Pop Culture to start again! We seriously dominate that game…from the couch, of course.

Anyhoo — this leads to my looking forward to receiving our Entertainment Weekly magazine every Friday.  There I am, perusing its pages at my leisure, when lo and behold they do this nice little piece on one of the sets of the movie Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

The cool thing is that the Oscar-nominated production designer, Sarah Greenwood, is talking about the finishes!  She calls the movie “a purely decorative event”. And how! The elevator on the right is fully gold-leafed. (Wha…?? Serious decadence.) The curved wall area above the piano has metallic reliefs and some glazing.  The banister is custom-made and it looks like some decorative metallic accents were added to the iron.  Even the angels in the back have their own story.  The set was for the luxury apartment of a character and they wanted to make it look like a “complete jewel box”.  Ms. Greenwood also did the design for 2005’s Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy, sigh…..) and I truly loved the sets and the artistry in that movie as well.  I’ll have to check out her other works.

The production design element in films holds a very dear place in my heart since it, in essence, is what started me on this career path.  Although the Miss Pettigrew set does have an over-the-top fairy tale feel, it’s still amazing to see the places where you can find design ideas…who knew an afternoon at the movies could be so inspiring?