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

A few years ago, we helped a designer avoid a crisis with these doors.  Ever since then, I have begun taking a second glance at this oft-overlooked surface…and sometimes the sheer artistry and creative detailing brought to them might take you by surprise. 

I’ve gathered up a few pics I’ve had in my “Idea Book”.  Take a look…

I almost had a heart attack when I saw this pic.  Let’s see…beautiful dominant color?  Check.  Intriguing curved moldings?  Check.  Some decorative work inside the door’s panels?  Check.  Making what would have been just a pair of pretty doors into something extraordinary?  No more calls, we have a winner!  So, I wandered around my house to see which door would be so graced.  To my utter chagrin, no doorways were going to work well.  Oh, how I shook my fist at the faux gods!  Still waiting for that perfect client to come along…

Here are two different examples of decorative painting surfaces on doors– one is the wood itself and other on the tiles surrounding the door.  The painted wood door on the left is from the 18th-century and comes from Morocco.   

These are along the same idea as the first pic but dialed down a bit and executed with the color white.  Isn’t the bird detail so sweet?  I love them both!  

Sometimes, entrance doors can come in just the one color.  It works nicely with some exterior design schemes but you can always throw in a bit of interest.  Here, I like how a bit of gold was used to highlite the frames and center design.  Really makes you appreciate the scrollwork even more.

Thought I’d throw in this door just because it was so interesting.  The pic on the right is a close-up of the detail of the door.  Unusual, no? 

…and this one I thought I’d throw this one in because it’s welcoming…but it’s got a slight Tim Burton vibe to it.  Looks like a lovely garden, too.

Amazing what a difference a beautiful doorway can make.  Even just approaching one with an artist’s mind can open the door to a world of wonder.  (smile)  Yes, I had to go there, LOL!

Black & White is probably not the first color combo that jumps to an artist’s mind when seeing a new area.  However, when I saw the fun way they were used in these rooms, I knew they would now jostle for attention in my mind (”pick me!”) along with all the other colors and finishes.  (Yes, I have a vivid imagination.)  Thought I’d share the pics.  

What I like is that paired with the furniture and treatments, the wall treatment doesn’t make this room look too “cute”…

Columns — so many finishes to choose from!  Two of the three here get a touch of whimsical stripes and a matching accent wall.

For a bright dash of color, faux flowers are glued onto the painted branches on the wall for a more three-dimensional effect.  You could build the “tree” using the Garden Room Designer Range or Exotic East Panels 114A or B.  You could also forego the flowers and try it in full relief. 

Although Black & White will always be striking together and can be more of a serious combination, it’s nice to remember that you can still have a bit of fun with it, too.  Cheers!

OK, so was there ever a doubt I would pick this book as our Book of the Month?  Especially since we were chosen to be a part of it?  I do have to say, in all seriousness, that this book is a wonderful resource for decorative artists.  It is chock-full of photographs of gorgeous rooms using the Modello decorative masking patterns in innovative and creative ways.

Modello by Design - Inspiring Images from Artists’ Portfolios is authored by Melanie Royals.  She put out a nationwide call for artists to submit their best images featuring Modellos.  As I understand it, the plan is for it to be a series of books with this one being Volume 1.  Her goal was to provide a beautiful visual guide for decorative artists to show their clients a smorgasbord of design ideas.  This book will be valuable during consultations because it is hard for some clients to visualize the proposed finished room.  The old adage certainly rings true: a picture is worth a thousand words.  These photographs will help get your ideas across or will jumpstart a new level of creative brainstorming between you and your client. 

Here are some images — it doesn’t even touch the amount of good ideas the book contains.  I didn’t even have room to post up most of my faves!  I’ve also provided the links to the artist websites, when available.  Enjoy!

Walls by Heather Mueller, Todd Oberndorfer & April Long of Metamorphosis Designs in Ogden, Utah.  The idea of “pattern everywhere” in the wrong artist’s hands could go so badly but this is Absolutely Perfect.

The stunning curved ceiling is by Katherine Enguita of the Final Detail in Fort Myers, FL. The flooring is by Joan Kingsbury of Joan K Design in Canton, MA.  Check out the floor’s curves and corner designs – super cool work.
 

I actually saw the left pic on Talk Faux a few months ago and LOVED the room.  The work is by Kris Kuchavik of Casa Bella in Waxhaw, NC.  The gorgeous ceiling on the right is by Barry Harris of Painting Elegance in Homestead, FL.  I like the idea of an additional layer of design starting outside the fixed medallion.

The accent wall on the left is by Joanie Valenti of Joanie Valenti Decorative Wall Finishes in Pittsford, NY and the peacocks on the barrel ceiling is painted by Carolyn Hewitt of Lasting Impressions in McKinney, TX.  Both are samples of outstanding work. 

The windows at left are by yours truly and the cool sink design (with the great faux on the walls) on the right is by Michele Molek of Fashionable Finishes in Southern Pines, NC.

We had three projects chosen for the book.  The first one is this room with the full ceiling view here, the second is featured above and the third is pictured below.  As a bonus, I put in the “before” pic.

Please click on the links for the available websites of the artists above — there is more beautiful work to be seen.  Love these pics?  Maybe one of them is in your area!  Have a great day!

I’m a big fan of large prints and graphic designs but even I took a double-take on the following pics.  Each features a beautiful face painted in a bigger scale than normal…and I think both, in their individual artistic style, work so nicely in their environment.

What a fantastic way to hide an unusually trimmed wall.  Kudos to whoever dreamed this up!  Although, I’m still not totally convinced it’s all real — some of the panels and molding could be fantastic trompe l’oeil designed to fool the eye.  

This is a canvas by artist Richard Phillips entitled Shaking.  It is a tremendous focal point and works in the area perfectly. 

I’ll have to keep these creative ideas in my head for clients who’d like something a little different and fun.  I hope you’ve enjoyed these!

Here was the scene this morning…looking online…googling architecture…reading stuff…came across this video…and ran to my husband.  Me: “Dude!  You have got to see the most beautiful thing ever!” Him: “I am, right here.”  (Proceeds to give me a kiss.)  Me: (Blushing, enjoying the moment.)  “Uhm, wow, thank you.  But, really!  Run!”

So, I showed him this video — the coolest building ever: The Dynamic Tower in Dubai.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t want to move to Dubai. 

Thanks again, Home Rejuvenation!

One of my favorite blogs in the world is Home Rejuvenation.  It is penned by a design firm based in Singapore called KNQ Associates and it showcases the latest design trends from Asia and beyond.  Every time I go to their site, I find something else awe-inspiring.  Their latest post is a Dwell video featuring architect David Ling speaking about the Manhattan loft he calls home.

If I could do trackbacks, I would — so for now, I’m posting a video link directly.  (I really have to go learn the next level of blogdom.)  Mr. Ling is eccentric — and I usually love eccentric people.  Though I had to laugh at the whole “radiators were ugly, so I had them taken out” thing.  He had them put them back in when he “turned blue”.  LOL!   His space is…raw, grounded and beautiful at the same time.   I love how he describes the rustic or patinated areas as “layers of history”.  It’s fun for me to get lost in the musings of other artists and try to visualize what they see when they perceive and design a space.  It’s fantastic to get out of my own head for a bit, you know?  At about 4:00 minutes, the most beautiful blue wall comes along — I wanted to melt into it!  And then about 4:10 comes a truly unique “master bedroom” experience.  Wow!  (I believe it may include a version of this bed, which I’ve written about before.)   

I really likes how Mr. Ling talks about evolving a home’s design.  I believe he means to say that even if his tastes or needs change, he would probably evolve his home to tailor his new vision rather than moving out.  I feel the same way about my home — it would take a lot for me to leave this house.  I’d rather commit to it and just keep developing it as I go along life.  He also talks about his home being “a lab of sorts, things that I would do to myself that I would be hesitant to do to a client.”  Ah, we are kindred spirits in that regard!  Mr. Ling’s design and philosophy is not for everyone but I really hope you enjoy the experience of it!

We’re up to the third and last home in Fauxology’s online tour of the Street of Dreams Orlando 2008: Chica Margarita — and it is every bit as enjoyable as it sounds.  (Chateau d’Usse is the first home we profiled and Triana is the second.)  Chica Margarita was named to honor its “fun, female and Spanish influences”.  The builder is Martoccia Custom Construction and the talented designer is Anne Rue.  Chica Margarita is eco-friendly, with over 70% of the home using reclaimed or green materials.  The home was built to cater an active family — boasting a small golf course, exercise room, outdoor recreation area, a bowling alley (which glows in the dark — cool!), a theatre, a large playroom and 27 plasma televisions sprinkled throughout the house.  According to the catalog, the builder/designer team jokingly considered calling the house “Why Go Out?”.  It is priced at 8.9 million (furnished). 

Here’s the Entrance.  Not a favorite of many but I loved it!

One of the game rooms had a full-room mural.  It depicted shifting seasons and landscapes.  Really nice.

Some unusual textures - breakaway brick (left) and Venetian Crocodile (right)

One of the girl’s rooms was a favorite of mine.  Here’s the room and the bath.  The flowers in the shower are made of mosaic tiles and I love the frilly shower curtains.

Check out how cute this is - a funky, hip mural of a girl with real mirrors on the skirt and rhinestones on the cell phone. 

The infamous bowling alley.  It was created for a Gator fan (see “Gator Lanes” airbrushed in the back?).  It also has Yankee Stadium painted in the side mural.  (I guess it’s commemorative since this year is the last year that particular stadium will be used to host games.)

…and finally, the exterior grounds…

We were all floored by the beautiful pieces of art chosen by the designer and the truly original lighting fixtures.  Once again, this was a favorite among some of the group — the house favorites were pretty much evenly divided within our ranks.  Truly, isn’t that what the Street of Dreams is about?  A little something to inspire the interior designer in all of us. 

Some pictures courtesy of Street of Dreams.

Today, we continue with the second home in our Street of Dreams tour: Triana.  (To see the first home, click on Chateau d’Usse.)  Triana’s design is Art Deco flavored — though thoroughly modern.  The home has six bedrooms and all are outfitted with iPod docking stations and satellite radio — it also has five plasma televisions (with one cleverly hidden within a cabinet).  Throughout the house is a smart home system that will adjust your room temperature and home lighting, bring up video surveillance and order dinner for you.  (I wonder if we’ll even need our hands in the future…)  Triana was designed by Robb & Stucky Interiors and built by the Irvin Construction Company.

Our whole group really liked this home but our mutual favorite area was the Theatre Room.  It had an amazing sound system (which was only helped by the movie playing: Transformers) and the seating was not your normal theatre seating…it was large, lush sofas you could stretch out in.  (Sadly, none of those pictures came out well.)  It also had a beautiful wine cellar (monitored closely by security — I’m guessing they had advance notice of our arrival, LOL) and was the favorite house of some of our group. 

Here’s the Foyer:

Some of my favorite touches from the Foyer above are the cool chair (you can see it towards the middle in the pic above) and the marble stairs (lower left, above pic).

When you come up those nice marble stairs, you find this nice seating area for you and ten of your closest friends…

My mother walked into the library while I was still one room away.  She came back and told me to “contain myself”.  When I walked in, it was my complete dream room: books and a spiral staircase.  Delicious.

Some views of the top area of this library.  Aren’t those jumbo light fixtures gorgeous?

Here are separate guest rooms with nice touches: beautiful, dimensional pieces of pottery on the wall (left) and a cool ceiling fan with a ceiling that mimics the wall color (right)

Last but not least, the backyard.  So stunning it deserves two pics!

Some pictures courtesy of Street of Dreams.

Well, it has been a busy past few weeks.  In fact, I’ve been meaning to post these pics of Orlando’s Street of Dreams 2008 since our family and friends attended it not this past weekend but last weekend.  It was a fantastic afternoon — we toured each home at a nice pace and then we all headed over to Kata for fantastic sushi and Thai food. 

Street of Dreams is an annual tour of grande homes that draws about 45,000 people.  This year, three homes were showcased: Chateau D’Usse, Triana and Chica Margarita.  I will be posting pics of each home in its own little entry so that each gets a chance to shine on the Fauxology blog.  First up: Chateau d’Usse.  Chateau d’Usse is estimated to be worth about 9.25 million dollars (furnished).  I’m not sure if it was inspired by France’s Chateau d’Usse but this one was built by Hillcrest Homes and designed by CEC Interiors.  Chateau d’Usse was a favorite among many of our group.

Stepping into the home…breathtaking, no?

Love some of the cabinetry touches — different finishes, unusual shapes for doors…

A room with Venetian Plaster stripes

A girl’s room (love the corner ceiling accents) and a boy’s room (love how the clouds are taken from the walls unto the ceiling…

Two of my favorite areas: The Powder Bath with its unusual textured finish and the Guest Room with the painted cornice boards on the window.

Last but not least…the Pool!  It has a lazy river, a secret grotto, a fire pit, waterfalls, etc., etc….but my favorite area?  That hammock on the right — that’s where I’ll be with a fancy pina colada and the latest & greatest book on hand to read…or to shield my eyes from the sun while I’m napping, take your pick. 

This year the design of all the homes seemed to lean towards the more lighthearted and whimsical side of elegance.  This home was no exception, with fun touches to be found throughout – definitely a home to relax and have fun in but still be magnificent enough to show off to Jones’ next door.  If you’d like to see the homes in person, you need to hurry!  The last tour day is June 22nd…

Additional pics supplied by Street of Dreams.