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

Thank you for coming to Part Two of our Faux-cus on the Pros interview with Sisters Hands.  If you haven’t yet read Part One, please click here. 

What is wonderful about Sisters Hands is that they are planning to continue sharing their decorative painting knowledge.  Their website, recently launched, will soon feature great articles, recipes and a Q&A area.  A newsletter will also launch in the Fall. They will also have product reviews, fun stories and a few more surprises in mind for all.  How cool is that?!?  I’ll definitely be visiting often — I’m going to nominate myself as a long-lost cousin, LOL!

Here’s Part Two of our interview with the “sisters”…

Professionally, who are some of your inspirations?

Patty Henning says: Early in my career I was inspired by my first FE Instructor, Julie Robinson, who opened my world to professional finishing products and just a hint of what could be created with them.  Where else do I find inspiration?  Other creative artists.  Being an avid web user, I have a natural tendency to seek resources there. With so many fellow artists on forums such as Murals Plus or Talk Faux, I find it a great source of inspiration to see their work, be it a photo of a room just completed or a new finish in the creation phase.  Often, when I feel a connection with an artist’s style, I will check out their website or blog, bookmark it and revisit it in the future.  It’s a great way to get the creative juices flowing.  Professional businesses that offer new and exciting products, tools or design ideas, such as Royal Design Studio, Modello Designs, and Faux by Kathy motivate me. Lastly, it’s not so much who as a what.   I love looking through printed literature that focuses on home design and style.  My favorite author is Betty Lou Phillips.  Magazines and books are a great source of inspiration for me, and a great tool to help a client envision just what I can offer for their space.

What is the most positive/fulfilling project you have ever done? 

Judy Norman says: My most positive/fulfilling project I have ever done was working with a designer who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Denise and I had originally met at a local bible study and worked together for several years.  Her cancer had progressed and she had been extremely ill right before Thanksgiving two and one half years ago. I went to visit her when she came home from the hospital and I asked her if there was anything I could do for her thinking she would ask for meals, housecleaning, etc.. She said her 11 year old daughter wanted her room painted and would I have time to do that before Christmas.  I said we need to do something more than just paint and together Denise and I came up with a color scheme for her daughter. I pushed other work to later dates as I was convinced that she would not live to see Christmas. I gathered the products and went to work painting neon green walls with large black bagged flowers and hot pink centers. I painted the ceiling fan hot pink and used the three colors to create some unusual patterns on the ceiling. Her daughter chose 3 designs from about 10 different samples I had made for her.  I also found a picture frame in hot pink and neon green so she could have a picture of her mom close by. It was such a bright room I imagined the little girl might having some trouble sleeping at night, but she was thrilled with how it turned out and said she sleeps well. Denise wanted to pay me for the room and I said absolutely not!  This is a gift to you and your daughter and it is my pleasure to do this for you. We visited quite a bit over the next 18 months before Denise lost her battle with breast cancer. I can’t express how much joy she gave me in my life and this was such a small thing that I could do for her. Even though it isn’t a fancy high end finish, it is the most fulfilling project I have ever had.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you have received?

Elaine Castronovo says: I chose to answer this question with somewhat of a twist.  Some of the best advice I have received about my career came from outside of the industry, from individuals and sources that were unexpected but welcome nonetheless.  Sometimes if you take a moment to really listen to what people have to say, it can change your course or keep your head above water. Before attending my first professional class, I ran into a neighbor/friend at a local grocery store.  We stopped to talk briefly.  I don’t know that she will ever know how much her words of wisdom affected me then and how they still ring true.  When I told her how I was second guessing everything, business decisions and dealing with the guilt of leaving my family to further my education she simply said to me: ”Being a Mom and staying home with children, making them your focus, your world becomes very small.  Go away to your class - you will never regret it.” And oh how right she was.  That first class lead to many more and a whole new me, and a much bigger world. 

Another piece of advice came from a meeting that my husband had at work that was meant to pump up the employees for the benefit of the company.  The man speaking to the audience made a simple statement that still makes me stop in my tracks and I remind myself of this all the time. He asked the audience, “What is the definition of insanity?” His reply: ”Doing the same thing over and over…and expecting different results.”  This small statement keeps me in check every time I want to complain about work or the results I am getting.  And another is a quote from Connie Reeves, a cowgirl: “Always saddle your own horse.  Always know what you are doing.  Go in the direction that you are headed.”  To me, these are words to live by.  Although none of these came from professionals within the industry, they have all been the best advice that has encouraged me to keep steady, not be afraid to grow and know that I will always be learning - thoughout my career and in my life.

What is the best thing that has happened to the faux industry in the last five years?

Julie Young says: To me, the best thing that has happened to the faux industry is two-fold. The first being all of the cool, fun textures - whether it is a smooth Venetian Plaster, Marmorino, Versiplast or PlasterTex. No more sponging or ragging a colorwash to mimic texture. Most of our clients do not want to attempt a textured finish so we are in high demand. The textured finishes are so hands-on that they sell themselves… whether they are metallic or matte in color. Embossing with stencils or patterns is another asset in design. Small thin trowels are great tools for application for folks with petite hands.

The second most exciting thing to happen to the faux industry is the networking and camaraderie. You can go to any class and meet friendly willing partners in the industry. You can network thru message boards.  You can go to SALI/IDAL conventions to find like minded souls. The creativeness in our industry brings people together to collaborate and it is an awesome accomplishment.

Where do you see faux finishing heading in the future?

Renee Holder says: There are many professionals in our industry, including our group, that are making it a mission to educate the public and I believe that people are listening.  I believe that the awareness of faux and decorative painting is currently more acute than in any other time in our recent history.  I also believe that the client is more tolerant of prices now that decorative painting has become more popular and the fact that they are more educated in the time that it takes to not only apply these finishes, but all of the work that goes into a project prior to application.  Not only do we now have designers, architects and builders using our skills, we also have other trades who refer us to their clients as well, such as plumbers, electricians, tile, granite and flooring installers.  Look in any major publication and you most likely will see a decorative paint finish displayed somewhere, if not on walls, then on backdrops in advertising.  It’s basically everywhere!

For the past several years I’ve repeatedly heard that faux is on it’s way out and wallpaper is making a big comeback.  Although I keep hearing this, I’ve yet to see it happen. What I have noticed is that the wallpaper manufacturers are now trying to mimic the finishes that we apply to walls everyday.  Don’t get me wrong, I know that wallpaper will always be around, but I don’t believe it is a competitive worry.  The consumer would much rather prefer a certain look without the seams showing and the labor entailed with hanging and removing wallpaper.  They also take into consideration the fact that they can have custom color in their finishes, which is limited in the wallpaper selections. I truly believe that the future for our industry is going to continue to grow and be a strong influence in residential and commercial settings.         (End)

Well, I had a tear in my eye reading Judy’s story — what a tremendous opportunity to do something wonderful for Denise’s daughter! I bet it meant the world to her. Elaine said something really important as well: so many accomplished women never take the time to do something for themselves…when in actuality, it may be just what their own soul needs the most.  Well, it’s been a pleasure for me to transcribe this interview – I hope it’s been an enjoyable read for you!  They reinforce how rewarding it is to reach out to your fellow artisans and create a group filled with trust, respect and friendship.  In fact, the group as a whole reminds me of that famous quote: “Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.”  Please be sure to check out their individual sites as well as their Sisters Hands site…it looks to become a wonderful resource!  Have a great day!

While looking over House of Faux, I found out about artists who formed Sisters Hands, a networking and supportive resources group.  I was truly inspired by reading their story.  The ten artisans came together (nine nationwide, one abroad) by believing in “faux karma” - that if you lose your competitiveness and the fear of sharing, you will not only grow personally but your business will blossom as well.  Wow — I completely agree with this philosophy!  In our industry, some artists choose to be secretive about their techniques, their creative process or let jealousy/fear run rampant.  These artisans knew instinctively that sharing the joys of this field (along with its stresses) helps one grow, evolve and reach higher levels of artistry and camaraderie.  I had to stalk them talk to them and hope they would share with us how they came together in 2006 and how they work together today. ;)

In what was a first for our Faux-cus on the Pros series, almost the entire group was involved in the interview and tackled specific questions.  Normally, I take about five interview questions but each answer was so touching and/or had such a great message, that I decided to leave them all in and create a double-header.  So, this is Part One of our interview with Sisters Hands.  Before we get into our interview, I want to take a moment to let you know who the ten members are (in abc order) and have the chance to get to know them better by visiting their websites and seeing their outstanding work. 

Susan Bickford of Singing Walls (Nashville, TN), Marti Carroll of Fauxscapes (Baton Rouge, LA), Elaine Castronovo of Creative Lane Finishing (Pittsburgh, PA), Cindy Everett of Designer Finishes Studio (Olive Branch, MS), Patty Henning of Fabulous Finishes (Detroit, MI), Renee Holder of Artistry in Faux (Little Rock, AR), Judy Norman of Decorative Illusions (Atlanta, GA), Krista Vind of Ufauxrea (Destin, FL), Cait Whitson of Carte Blanche (Scotland) and Julie Young of Julie Art (San Diego, CA). 

Here we go!

How did you meet and begin this networking path?

Marti Carroll says: This question can be answered in many different ways depending on which sister the question is being directed to.  The answer is as diversified as the group members!  This has been an accumulation of friendships that has been formed over time. Our beginning was based on a personal desire.  I have never been one to be in the public eye, especially on public forums and I had no local finishers in which to network with.  Although I would lurk on the public forums daily, I rarely posted.  What I was looking for were finishers who would be interested in a more personal setting in which to share ideas and support.  I had made many friends in the industry through classes and conventions and decided that it was time to reach out and try to design a support network that was more intimate than a public forum.  I called a couple of friends who are respected finishers that I would like to have join in on this idea and they were very excited about it.  I set up a private message board for us to chat on and we set down a few simple rules and that was the beginning.  We are usually in contact with the rest of our group on a daily basis, discussing everything from pricing projects to how to handle a kid crisis!  We love taking classes together or taking classes from members who are teachers!  We get together once a year for our annual “faux play”, which is a fun and exciting time to share ideas and play with new products!  And when we have a project that requires a few extra hands, we know that we have our group to help us out.  Over the last three years we have supported each other both personally and professionally….we truly are sisters at heart!!

Please describe working with your Sisters.  How do you prepare and execute a commission together?

Krista Vind says: Working with other members of Sisters Hands has been a tremendous blessing in both my personal and professional life. I love what I do, but I enjoy it even more on a daily basis when I share the work, the challenges and then the beautiful results.

One of the really empowering things about being a member of a group of extremely talented and experienced artists is that I now actively seek very large projects. In the past I was reluctant, and I am sure it showed in interviews and consultations, because very large projects were just SO much to bite off for one person. A concern for me was that when taking on jobs that could last months on end, I wouldn’t be actively marketing and my business would suffer after that one project was done. I did learn this lesson firsthand early on in my career. I was really starting to enjoy some success and recognition and was so pleased when I got my first really big job.  I worked on that job for 8 months and when it was over, even though I was so proud of all the work that I had done and my high profile client was ecstatic, I found myself out beating the street trying desperately to find business. In essence, everyone had forgotten about me while I was away. Those concerns are not an issue any longer. When I take on large projects, I try to bid them so that no job will take longer than a month to complete, so the size of the job dictates how many Sisters are needed to complete it in a timely manner.

You may wonder about how this obviously affects the overall cost of a project.  When I bid Sisters projects, I include funds to cover travel expenses and labor. Generally, we call in others from the group based on the type of experience required for a particular job, the individual talents of each member as well as the geographic location of a member to the jobsite. Most often large projects are commercial (a store with an opening date) or a very large residence (someone is carrying a construction loan), so time is of the essence. The actual project price is not much different for group vs. single; it is just concentrated into a smaller time frame. When you are able to complete projects quickly, the constant change of project and scenery keep your outlook really fresh. Less time in the “execution phase” allows more time for the “design and creative phase”.

We have had the opportunity to bid projects as Sisters Hands, but for the most part, we are led by the Sister who secured the job and completed the preparations (bid, samples, etc). We are comfortable traveling anywhere to complete a commission.  Beyond the business aspects, it is not a job but a true joy to work with the talented ladies in this group. We have so much fun in all the projects we undertake, from work to “faux play” (our yearly gathering). We support each other no matter what life throws our way…..good or bad. I have no biological sisters, but I do have real sisters! 

What are some misconceptions about faux finishing that you encounter?

Cait Whitson says: The misconceptions I encounter in Scotland are various.  I chose to answer this question because I thought it might amuse to see attitudes that are 5,000 miles away and yet many of you will find them familiar.  First of all, the word “faux” is almost never used to describe decorative finishes. A faux finisher is referred to as a “specialist decorator” or a “decorative painter”. In this tiny country that is smaller than Maine and with a population of only 5 million, there is actually very little awareness of what in the USA is termed “faux” and we as a company are continually educating our clients. We have a panel van that has a description of our business on the side: Carte Blanche, Decorative Painters - Graining and Marbling, Paint Effects, Murals, Hand Painted Furniture. Despite all that information we come across people on weekly basis who will say “I’ve seen the van often……and what is it you actually do?”  I am not sure what more we can say to explain it. The terminology is misconstrued and misinterpreted regularly. I visited a client only today who said he wanted graining when he in fact wanted strie, I am asked alarmingly often if I do murals, I have been asked for dippling in the past, asked if I disturbed walls and had a designer ask if I could “do some blobby stuff”. We are often asked if the paint just does that when it comes out of the tin.

Many clients believe that good finishers can only be found in London. We constantly surprise people when we tell them that we are home grown. We even have the converse of this happening – clients who tell their friends that the work they have in their home, carried out by Carte Blanche, was actually done by a company in London. We, like all the best finishers the world over, are still fighting the sponging and bad rag-rolling image that has haunted the industry since the 80’s and the word “stencilling” is virtually a swear word.  I always think that Melanie Royals was so clever to invent the word Modello, a new word for a stencil, and I am thinking I might do the same in Scotland just so we get the opportunity to use them more often.

I think the biggest misconception is amongst the tradesmen that we work with…they are all convinced we earn an absolute fortune. I do little to dispel this as perhaps their belief, whilst at times misconceived, will turn into reality if we believe, too. 

What are some of the coolest items and/or products you’ve come across together?

Susan Bickford says: One of the most fun things we do as a group is get together once a year just to play with product and be creative.  All of us have a history with FE products, but we’ve also introduced each other to some other great product lines including Perfetto and Blue Pearl, Pro Faux, Texston, Wood Icing, American Clay, and Rosco Scenic Paints.  At last year’s gathering, we were fortunate to have some companies contribute products for us to play with.  Kathy Carroll shared some of her great Bella products as well as other products that she carries.  Misty Heath of Perfetto shared some of the new Villaggio, as well as Shimmered Suede and Portofino.  We were introduced to Blue Pearl’s great metallic glaze, and their Wood Gel Stain.  Rosco, a scenic arts company, shared their new acrylic paint line, and our favorite in that line - Crystal Gel - a great adhesive medium for a variety of thing including glass beads.  American Clay shared their Loma with us, as well as Manda Mudd, who shared their great 3 step textural product.  We all come away from our play time invigorated, producing and selling new finishes using all the new products we get to share and try out. 

…to be continued…

Phew!!!!  I myself am inspired by their thoughts and heck, all those great products to look into!  Thanks, Susan!  I found myself laughing at Cait’s designer asking for “blobby stuff” — and have also been asked if the product comes that way out of the can.  Um, no….  (Don’t even get me started on the “OH!  You do sponging!”  Sigh.)  I hope you tune in to get Part Two of our interview with Sisters Hands, including their future plans and what they say is the best thing that has happened to the faux industry.  Until then!

I really do love the Faux Finisher magazine.  Every time it appears in my mailbox, I do the happy dance all the way to my desk and sit down immediately to read it. :)  It premiered in 1999 and it has kept a great pulse on our amazing industry.  I thought it would be great to have Diane Capuano, the Executive Editor of the Faux Finisher, walk us through the creation of each issue with the bonus of getting to know her a little better. 

Ms. Capuano has been with the magazine since its inception.  She also is the executive editor of a monthly magazine, Paint & Decorating Retailer, which is a retail trade magazine. Both magazines are published by the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association (PDRA). She writes many of the articles in the magazine (particularly the profiles of artists) and also works with the contributors in making assignments and editing the content.  Let’s start our e-chat with her…

Please describe your ideal issue for the Faux Finisher.  How do you go about putting together an issue?

My ideal issue is one in which I notice an overriding theme emerge and I can use that theme for the cover and my editor’s column. For instance, for the Summer 2008 issue, I profiled John Alan, who has done restoration work in churches and cathedrals, and Katt Ellis, who does natural and rustic-themed decorative art. We also had an article from Melanie Royals, who had just returned from a trip to Morocco, where she had done work in keeping with the Moroccan culture. It occurred to me that all of these artists each had a different source of inspiration that contributed to their work. So, I was able to run with that theme and use the word “Inspiration!” on the cover in large type and then talk about the potential sources of inspiration in my column. That issue is fresh in my mind because I just completed it, but I really enjoyed the cohesiveness.

I also enjoy having a balance in each issue between what I would call the artistic articles, such as the ones described above, and the business/practical articles. Rebecca Parsons has been with us since the beginning, and she does a fabulous job every issue with her Faux Biz column. I also enjoy the Mike Cooper column, which is not only informative but fun and entertaining. Plus, the ideal issue also will have contributions from some of our “regulars,” such as Melanie Royals, Victor DeMasi, Randy Ingram/Brian Townsend, Debbie Ellison, Ed Mattingly and Martin Alan Hirsch. If we have contributions from two or more of that core group of talented artists or writers, in addition to the aforementioned columns, I consider it a successful issue.

How far in advance do you prepare the issues?

Since we are a quarterly, I can do a little bit at a time over a three-month period. Because I’m also the editor of a monthly magazine as well, the intensity of The Faux Finisher doesn’t start until about one month before production. At that point, I make sure I know who the featured artist(s) will be and arrange to do the interviews (usually over the phone), I send out reminders to all the columnists and regular contributors, and over the course of the next couple weeks, I do writing and arrange for photos. There is about a week of intensive writing, photo selection and page design. We have artists who do the feature layouts, and I then I do final edits and “standing pages” such as contents, product news pages and the editor’s column. Then, we do final checks on proofs and release the issue to our printer, at which point we start the cycle all over again!

One kind of interesting point: I work from home. I have a (very cluttered) home office, but thanks to the magic of email, cell phones, FTP sites, remote computer locations and fleet-footed courier services, I can work from home, get my job done and still be the chauffeur that my kids need me to be for all after-school activities!

How did you begin this career path?

I went to the University of Missouri School of Journalism and originally expected to be a newspaper reporter, and I did work on a couple different newspapers but on the copyediting desk. But it got to be a bit routine…every day was the same as the one before unless a major story was breaking. Then, I discovered the world of trade magazines and liked the diversity of writing, interviewing, editorial planning and working with artists, photographers and other creative people.

Any industry books that you recommend for us to read?

Ina Brosseau and Alan Marx’s new “Furniture Restoration” book…great photos, well-written text…just perfect! They are an amazing couple…as nice and warm and genuine as can be!  I’m so thrilled that they recently contributed an article to The Faux Finisher on the subject of furniture restoration.  There is also a new book by Gary Lord on Mural Painting in which he has contributions from many of the top muralists in the industry. These are big, big names, so it was quite an achievement to put a book like that together. Of course, The House that Faux Built…another great collaborative effort. I’m also anxious to see the new book by Michel Nadai (it’s bilingual, French and English), and Pierre Finkelstein has one of the industry bibles with the “Art of Faux”.

What are some of the best spaces you’ve seen designed?

Now, that’s a loaded question, because there have been so many great artists that we have featured in the pages of The Faux Finisher. At the risk of leaving out someone whose work I’ve really enjoyed and then slapping myself on the forehead later for my forgetfulness, I will venture naming a few. I will just limit myself to the artists we have featured in the magazine and/or whom I have seen do demos in person.

I always enjoy the projects of Randy Ingram and Brian Townsend because the murals they design are just out of this world in terms of their scale and their detail. Mike Cooper has provided articles on some amazing mural projects as well—a couple that involved overpasses or retaining walls along highways, so he gets extra points for having to paint while “dodging” traffic…well, not literally, but you get what I mean. If anyone could do “Xtreme Mural Painting” and make it look easy, it’s Mike.

What also sticks in my mind are the fantastic murals designed by international muralist Gez Taylor. He’s done work for five-star hotels, palaces and mansions in many of the world’s most exotic locales. And the work of William Cochran, featuring some of the most realistic trompe l’oeil I’ve ever seen, just blows me away! Speaking of being blown away, I also recall a great project done by Dave and Pam Schmidt done with a lightweight concrete to create an unforgettable home theater room with a “Stargate” theme.

I’m also blown away by the great restorative work of George Zaffle (who has done work for movie stars and government officials). And I have been impressed by the classical themes used in the work of Cynthia Borman. I also have enjoyed the innovative wall and furniture finishes that Sandra Lassley can do with a bit of metallic paint and some imagination. Similarly, the fun embellishments that Ann Snipes adds to her furniture projects definitely make them memorable.

In person, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the artistry of such legends as Leonard Pardon, Sean Crosby, Michel Nadai, Pierre Finkelstein, Pascal Amblard and Nicola Vigini who have generously demo’d their skills at such industry events as SALI, Salon, The Faux Event, Meeting of the Masters, Fauxcademy, etc.

And I’d also like to give a nod to John Catalanotto and Greg Frohnapfel of Pro Faux, who allowed me to tag along on a couple of projects that they spearheaded at our PDRA headquarters building. Having worked for several years in an office that they Venetian plastered (not only the walls, but the desk to match), I’d like to heartily acknowledge that they made the concept of “staring at the four walls around me” (as I sought writing inspiration) a lot easier to take!

I really wish space permitted me to name more of the memorable spaces and projects, but we’ve been publishing for nearly 10 years, and that means we’ve probably profiled (or published articles from) about a hundred or more artists!

But what really excites me is that there is so much great work being done and so many great artists who I would still like to feature! We have a couple exciting artists who we expect to be profiling in upcoming issues, so “stay tuned” to future issues. That’s my one unadulterated plug!

What is the best thing that has happened to the faux industry in the last five years?

The Internet! Now, there are so many ways that artists can communicate with other artists online…via forums, photo galleries, social websites, YouTube, etc. And what a great thing to be able to show a visual portfolio of your work merely by giving clients, colleagues, friends or whomever else your Web address! As an editor, I love it, because if someone is proposing an article to me, all I have to do is ask for his or her Web address, and I can immediately see the caliber of work they do. Sure beats snail mail!

Here’s a few pics of a some of the decorative painting disciplines you can find covered in any issue: murals, faux finishes and furniture. 

Furniture by Ann Snipes

Mural by Sean Crosby and Faux by Elaine Castronovo

It was very nice of Ms. Capuano to take the time to ”chat” with the Fauxology readers — thank you!  I hope you found it a pleasure reading about the behind-the-scenes magic that happens with putting each issue together.  Please take a bit of time to click on the links above and not only find out more about The Faux Finisher, but also have a beautiful stroll through the websites of some of the most talented artists alive today.   Until next time!

The Faux-cus on the Pros section of our blog is where I introduce you to professionals involved in various aspects of interior design, not just decorative painting.  Case in point: Jason Champion, whom I met at the Robb & Stucky: Unexpected Style event a few months ago.  He was with textile designer, Laurie Jenkins, and it was such a pleasure to meet and speak to them both about their craft.   I firmly believe it is important to understand the artistry involved in all aspects of the design world since it provides a well-rounded approach to putting together a cohesive yet visually exciting space. 

Jason has worked to realize his vision of fashion infiltrating functional outdoor design through his line of furniture and outdoor accessories, Jason Champion OUTDOOR.  Prior to the company’s launch in 2006, Jason worked with design powerhouses Stark Carpet and JANUS et Cie. His reconnection with the outdoors occurred when designing for the KOLO Collection, where he was inspired to push the envelope of outdoor product offerings. He single-handedly designs his own collections and also works as an independent designer for HANSEN, designing three collections to preview July 2008. His pieces can be found on the cover of the Frontgate May 2008 catalog as well as posh hot spots such as The Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas and The Grand Hyatt in Singapore. Jason has won awards such as DIFFA’s “Best in Show” in Atlanta, 2003, and a ADAC Design Excellence award. He has been featured on Trading Spaces as well as publications and radio such as The New York Times, SIRIUS Satellite - Martha Stewart, NY Post, Miami Home, Elle Decor and House Beautiful.

I’m not surprised he has been so busy and well regarded.  I’m glad he was able to take the time to do an interview for Fauxology and inspire us to a higher creative level.  Enjoy!

Where do you see furniture design heading in the future?  Versatility and durability. The lines of outdoor engineering are being blurred for interior use.

What are some of your personal favorite design and/or finish styles?  I love the Circa 50 - Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia. I also love a “life finish or patina” on metal.  

How do you go about creating a new piece of furniture?  What jumpstarts your inspiration? 1) History, 2) My Interpretation; and 3) Follow thought.  Concepts also come from me not finding things I’ve wanted to use on projects for clients.

What are some of your favorite websites, blogs and/or message forums on the internet?  Girl Meets Glamour and Apartment Therapy.

How did you begin this career path?  I have a degree in Applied Arts (Interior Design). I’ve worked with clients to develop the perfect space within their budget that encompassed the entire house.  I fell in love with the outdoors, which have no limitations in color, size or material.

Any interior design books and/or magazines that you recommend for us to read?
Met Home, Dwell and Domino.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you have received?  Get it in writing!  Contracts protect and lay out expectations for the clients.  When “selling” IP intellectual property, it must be clear on what the finished product will be.

What are some of the best outdoor spaces you’ve seen designed?  WYNN Hotel - Vegas, Central Park New York – and of course mine!

What are some of the coolest items and/or products you’ve come across?  European design for outdoor – products typically are more sleek and contemporary. Viteo’s Swing!

What advice would you offer our blog readers in regards to furnishing as a whole?  Take care of what you have regardless of where it came from.  All furniture needs care to last in any environment.

Isn’t his work sublime?  Clean, unpretentious yet still modern, hip and striking.  Recently, we were at the Grand Bohemian (Orlando) discussing some upcoming projects and there we saw part of his collection in the pool area.  Good coincidence!  I hope you’ve enjoyed Jason’s interview and his works.  Please visit his website, Jason Champion OUTDOOR, to read more about him and see more of his collection in detail.  Until next time!

A little bit ago, we were asked to provide an estimate for an awesome exterior commission.  A very posh hotel wanted their name, logo and other mural/trompe l’oeil elements to be painted very elegantly on the side of their building.  A building whose side was 60 feet wide and 15 stories high.  What a rush!!!!  (As excited as I was, I didn’t give my hubby too many details – if he knew the height and scaffold situation, he would Not Be Pleased.)  Although we were up to the challenge, I also knew it would behoove me to partner up with a firm that does this type of work frequently.  After several inquiries, I was led to the gregarious Michael Cooper of Nashville-based Murals & More.  His work is extraordinary and I thought it would be great for you to get a peak into his mind and his incredible art.  He and his wife, Mickie, also write a regular column for the Faux Finisher magazine.  Let’s corner him and ask a few questions!!

Tell us a little about yourself, your company, its philosophy and style. I have been painting murals and finishes professionally for almost 20 years. Murals & More LLC has a reputation for quality. We are not the cheapest but we are certainly not the most expensive either. My murals tend to lean towards the more realistic style. Not necessarily photo-realistic, but I definitely want people to look twice before they figure out it’s painted!

Where do you see your field heading in the future? I think that there will be more and more talented people in the field, with customers settling less and less for sub-standard work. There will always be a market for the beginners and hobbyists, but I think that the ranks of the professionals will swell.

Professionally, who are some of your inspirations? Richard Haas, John Pugh, Kent Twitchell. Awesome artists. Very inspiring. Gives me some pretty heady goals.

What are some of your favorite color and/or product combinations to work with? I like working with silicates as well as Porter Paints.

What has been the most positive and/or fulfilling project you’ve worked on? I really like doing projects for fitness centers, because of how it affects all of the kids. I also love doing large exterior projects, because of the influence it has on different people almost every day.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you have ever received? From my wife, Mickie: even if you are busy, still make five “calls” a day because you need projects to paint once you are done with the one you’re on!

Over the course of your career, what have been your favorite products? Hate to be self-serving, but I love the brushes I’ve developed.  Best I’ve ever found.

If someone had asked you when you were a child “What do you want to be when you grow up?” you would have answered:  A doctor. I was going to be a doctor all of my life, right up until my first week of college when I took chemistry.  Immediately changed my major to Interior Design. My parents were…ahem…thrilled.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current profession? Maybe a photographer, maybe in advertising, maybe in music promotion, but more than likely, I’d probably be dead.

That’s someone who loves what they do.  And, isn’t he funny?  Well, here’s some of his work for you to see:

How cool is this?  The water detail alone must have been insane quite the challenge!

Hello, 911?  There’s some big cats on the side of the road…

Oops…there goes the paint…(*shudder*)

Before (drab, drab, drab)

 …and AFTER! (Love how those three lights were worked in.)

…and just ’cause it’s so pretty…

We haven’t heard if the exterior project is going forward but I do hope we have the chance to work together.  Either way, I was glad to have the opportunity to make Mike’s acquaintance.  I hope you take the time to see the Murals & More website and check out the classes and products available — you won’t be disappointed! 

I recently received my ASID newsletter and it contained a mention of interior designer Lorrie Browne and the two wonderful websites that she manages: one for her business, Lorrie Browne Interiors, and the second, a website & blog called My Design Secrets (an online design resource).  After perusing both sites, I thought it would be fantastic information to share with the Fauxology blog readers.  I contacted her immediately and she graciously agreed to our Faux-cus on the Pros interview. 

Tell us a little about yourself, your company and its philosophy and style.  Oh, where to start?  I am high-end residential interior designer in Wellington, FL. This area is known as home to the Winter Equestrian Festival, so we have a lot of seasonal clients who are only here for 3-4 months.  I have been working on homes in this area and out of state since 1996 and I love it.  The philosophy of my company has always had two equally important facets: 

1) To provide my client with beautiful, comfortable environment that reflects their lifestyle and personality; and

2) To make it a comfortable and enjoyable experience that is well organized and on schedule.

How did you begin this career path?  It’s definitely been “the road less traveled”.  After getting my MBA in finance I worked as a financial analyst, which did not provide me the creative outlet I needed.  I went back to design school but I am grateful for my business background because it’s been VERY helpful.  But honestly, I don’t think I am so unusual.  As time passes I have met so many people who have totally changed their life’s course to arrive at the right spot.  I like to say, “You have to break the mold to feed your soul”.

Where do you see interior design heading in the future?  Our field has changed a lot over the past 5-10 years.  With so many people taking advantage of the information provided on the internet, our clients have more information than ever.  People have access to so many sources but they still need professional advice, so I think we will be doing more hourly consulting work.  Because so many people like to shop on line, I started another website called My Design Secrets that helps people decorating their own homes with a database of over 500 vendors categorized by style and wonderful professional tips.

What are some of your favorite design styles?  My home is combination of styles. It’s very comfortable and a place that my friends and family find inviting.  My upholstery pieces are fairly classic and simple.  I have a teak Indonesian opium table as a coffee table and a great antique end table my Grandmother bought at the Salvation Army.  Modern art on the walls.  How’s that for a mix?

What’s the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?  Always factor your “gut” feeling into business decisions.  If everything looks good financially on a potential project but you get a bad feeling about the project or client, walk away.  You will save yourself a lot of wasted time and hearth ache.

What is the best space you’ve designed?  The best space I have ever designed is a large home up in the Chicago area.  This was the 2nd project I had worked on with the client so I knew them very well.  I collaborated from the very beginning with the architect and builder and chose everything down to the last doorknob.  It was professionally fulfilling and everyone on the project was easy to work with and such a nice group of people.  I furnished the entire home remotely and only visited the project 3 times.

What advice would you offer our blog readers with regard to the importance of good interior design?  Do not feel pressure to include all the latest trends into big purchases because by definition, trends are fleeting.  Good design starts with understanding your wants and your needs so really consider your lifestyle and how the home is used.  Purchase the best quality furniture and window treatments that you can afford.  Also, high quality faux painting, such as that done by Garay Artisans, provides a beautiful backdrop for your interiors.  If you spot a trend you really like, you can always incorporate it with accessories or artwork, which are easily changed.   Good interior design provides an environment that supports you lifestyle for years to come.

Here are some pics of her beautiful work:                    

Please check out both sites if you have a moment (or an hour).  My Design Secrets is chock-full of great information delivered in witty style — from articles to online resources to vendors & products she recommends.  Just recently, she’s posted articles on selecting paint colors, dog-friendly design resources and gorgeous tiles.  She also has a database broken down by style and an area where you can ask a design question if you’re in a quandary.  Her business site has a nice portfolio gallery – although I must say that one of the pics gave me a start.  Coincidentally, she used one of my very favorite quotes in a client’s house.  It’s something the White Queen told Alice: “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”  Memorable words to live by courtesy of a generous and forward-thinking designer. 

I was introduced to the wonderful Stoneworks of Art by a good friend of mine: my mother-in-law, Naomi.  The company became established over 20 years ago and since then have amassed a loyal clientele in their Miami-based location in addition to clients throughout the nation, in the Caribbean and Latin America.  The company’s designs are based on Renaissance inlay stonework and their artisans use ingenious methods to recreate those designs for modern consumers.  Owner Jo-Ann Zanzuri and Omar Pineda, the Showroom Manager, took time to offer insights and considerable knowledge to us.

Tell us a little about your company and its style.

Stoneworks of Art is a national leader in waterjet-cut natural thin and lightweight stone products.  We design and produce the finest selection of classic and contemporary natural stone medallions, borders and tabletops for a broad range of? residential and commercial applications.  Our style is very traditional. Clean lines, elegant swirls and delicate elements adorn our medallions and borders. We utilize the natural beauty of stone to enhance our designs and enrich them to be fine pieces of art.

What advice would you offer our blog readers with regard to your trade?

Take advantage of the now growing selection of natural stones available. For many years, designers and builders felt comfortable with standard color selections in marble and granite. New quarries, unavailable a few years back, have unveiled extraordinary finds in onyx, limestone and semi-precious stones. Incorporating these new colors to our standard palette has, for us, redefined the look of elegance in our medallions and ergo in our client’s spaces.  Look for a company that continually keeps being innovative in their field.

The sky is the limit in terms of design. For example, one of our offered natural stone materials, Trimstone, can offer floor, wall and ceiling applications, previously prohibited due to production and installation issues. It is also very easy to install — which is great for everyone. Be aware of all your options before making your final decision.

What are some misconceptions about stone that you encounter?

Stone slabs are usually thick and used for countertops and cut to size applications. Designers and builders have avoided using these slabs for wall applications, elevators and any place where the thickness and weight was a factor. We’ve countered this factor by developing a patent-pending process of making thin, lightweight natual stone slabs for these uses. At only 3/8″ thin and 2.5 lbs per square foot, the Trimstone panels can be used where other slabs are impossible, expensive or too dangerous to use. Among the benefits are greater strength, resilience and durability, lighter in weight, easier installation, reduced chance of breakage and reduced shipping costs. So the misconceptions that stone is heavy and hard to maintain is no longer an issue.

What are some of your favorite design styles?

Although we are personally able to create endless clean line designs, our clientele overwhelmingly selects traditional, old world and sophisticated designs in rich jewel stones.

What/Who are some of your inspirations?

Our craft revolves around a blend of historical designs, modern trends and everyday inspiration.  In the case of custom work, our designers are commissioned to create patterns with only a few basic guidelines. The most insignificant leaf or bent piece of wire can inspire a striking new medallion design.

What are some of your favorite color and/or product combinations to work with?

Medallions are exquisite art pieces in your home or business. An extensive color palette of marbles, granites and limestones can create any mood in your home. We especially love to incorporate semi-precious stones like onyx, blue lazuli or any exotic stone. These unique elements give medallions an incomparable beauty.

What are some of the most common design and/or stonework mistakes that you come across?

Sometimes our clients have tried to have stone match the other finishes in their house. Stone has a natural beauty of its own and can stand alone as long as the overall tones match the house.

What’s the best piece of design advice you have ever received?

There is no such thing as a marble emergency!

It is clear that the artisans at Stoneworks of Art love their craft. Mr. Pineda let me know that their designs are hand cut by the artisans using powerful water jets at the rate of 50,000 psi, which is faster than the speed of sound.  They are then carefully assembled and polished by hand — amazing! Take a look:

While perusing their online catalog, I’m just falling in love with some of their designs. Here are some of them:

Aren’t they gorgeous?  Certainly inspiring.  I’m so happy that Stoneworks of Art was able to provide some behind-the-scenes peeks and I hope their information proved to be a fun and informative read.  (…and a BIG Thank You! to Naomi for facilitating the interview.)  Please be sure to check out their beautiful website and check back in a month for the next edition of Faux-cus on the Pros. 

Hello! Well, I’m back from Atlanta and will write an entry on that soon — but first, I wanted to make all of you privy to some changes I’m bringing to the blog. (And by the way, thanks for letting me be such a sap on the A Day to Give Thanks post. Sigh.)

Anyhoo. It all started when I was toying with the idea of adding a bit of structure to the Blah, Blah, Blog — such as adding repeat topic themes and/or monthly items. Then it really started to become a definite idea after my sister gave me a copy of the Blogging for Dummies book. At first, I was highly offended: I was no blogging dummy! Then, as I started to read the book and my feathers started to unruffle, I did realize that yes, I was to be considered a full-on blogging dummy and there was so much more to learn about the blogosphere. (Do you like how I inserted my newfound blog terminology in there? Thought so.) There are so many things to learn and absorb and you know who reaps the benefit of it? That’s right: You do!

I’m still making my way through the book and you will have to forgive some of new things I’m going to experiment with (such as podcasts, moblogging and vlogging, oh my!)…but I think it will be a fun and informative time for all of us. Honestly, you just have to sit back and enjoy the ride — I’m the one who really has the hard work ahead of me. Some of the new changes that will be implemented started in December 2007 include:

1) Faux-cus on the Pros is coming back! This is a part of the blog which features a behind-the-scenes interview with a design industry insider. One person/firm will be featured per month.

2) A bimonthly DIY Finish — complete with pics and instructions. I’ll try to incorporate more videos as my blogging expertise grows. [By the way — and I learned this today through the Merriam-Webster site — bimonthly means every two months and semimonthly means twice every month. It was cool for me to find out the difference — you can just imagine my internal dialogue with myself: “So, is bimonthly twice a month or every two months? Does it mean both? What about biweekly? Or biyearly? What’s the etiquette on that? Hmmmm…”] Basically this means that I should not be receiving any hate mail from any of you if you don’t see a new finish provided twice a month, LOL!

3) A Book-of-the-Month suggestion. I love books and have a large collection of design and pattern books (love that Amazon’s Super Saver Shipping thing). I’ll be putting up some new recommendations soon. If you haven’t seen my previous post on cool books, please check it out.

4) Mailbag - not-so-scheduled look at the Help! requests I receive. I want to post some of the most interesting and unusual questions I get and post the answers for all to see. Please note that since the Message Forum is being overrun by spammers and most people e-mail me directly anyway, we will be deleting that feature off our website by the end of the year.

5) Spotlight on Studios - this is an area where I will spotlight wonderful and creative faux teaching studios around the country. There are so many wonderful teachers out there sharing their creative expertise — I think everyone should get to know them better and take some classes to expand their artistry. I’m moving into more customized classes and feel that this would be a good way to steer all students towards some great local and national locations for workshops.

6) Behind The Faux - this will be a fun and fizzy look at the Garay Artisans crew tackling a project and individual team member profiles. This feature will cover everything from prepping to the final touch-up stages while having a great time seeing the crew interact with one another.

These are some of my ideas to make this a more interesting blog for you to read — and we’ll start if off with a bang in December — why wait til the New Year, right? Let’s get going ASAP! Also, as soon as I can work out some kinks, I’ll be adding more recommended websites in our Links along the right hand side. Of course, there will be other entries in addition to the topics above since I’m shooting to create one of the most enjoyable faux finishing blogs out here in cyberspace. I hope you think so, too. Have a great day!

Title Quote: David Bowie

I met Valerie Cuzzola, the current President of Florida’s Golden Palette, a few years ago when I joined the organization. I really got to know her when I served as Vice President in 2003-2004 and I saw how much love and effort she puts forth in creating a haven for artists and hobbyists to learn and network. All the current officers work hard as well to ensure that good friendships are created and the ridiculously affordable classes offered every month for members are well-thought out and offer quality information and introductions to new products. They even have a great newsletter every month chock full of great information and pictures! I turned to Valerie tointroduce you (my faithful blog readers) to an organization that is, I believe, vital to our local artisan community.

Tell us a little about Florida’s Golden Palette (FGP) and its philosophy. It all starts with the Stencil Artisan’s League, Inc. (SALI), an organization that began in 1984 to bring together artists not just stencillers but also faux artists and muralists — of every skill level to learn from each other and to honor old world techniques while embracing and refining “new world” artistic expressions. FGP is the Florida chapter of SALI, which started in June of 2000 and has been going strong ever since. In January 2008, we are starting our new chapter. We have grown so much and are so spread out in Florida that we need to reach those that can not drive the 2 or 3 hours (i.e., Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, Orlando) to get to one of our meetings, which we hold in a different city every time. This will result in more members for each chapter as well as SALI national.

What is FGP’s philosophy? I believe that FGP represents all artists. We are a chapter that has:
1. members that are just starting out in business.
2. members that are hobbyist.
3. members that are professionals, full and part time.
We all share our so-called faux secrets, give advice and help each other when we are in a jam.

Where do you see interior design and/or faux finishing heading in the future? I see and read that design is going back to a more relaxed atmosphere using warmer colors, using more of the bright colors in the decorations and addressing and painting the fifth wall, ceilings. Murals also have softer, more muted colors. One of the newer concepts is decorative-finished concrete floors with a few area rugs, which is a great cosmopolitan look.

What are some misconceptions about decorative painting and/or faux finishing that you or the members encounter?? Well, we still get “oh that sponge painting stuff” from years ago that really did look like a sponge dipped in paint. Decorative painting has evolved to express a much more elegant feel. Darker colors are being used more and more in small spaces. The old wives tale that dark colors in a small room makes it look smaller is just not true.  The right dark colors can make a room look larger and also add warmth.

What are some of the most current hot decorative finishing styles you see the members creating? Lots and lots of texture. Metallics. Also, the one-time-use stencils that you can order or have locally made.

Please describe your monthly meetings and classes. We usually have a 30 - 45 minute chapter meeting followed by a class. The classes can range from stenciling, faux painting, color theory, a 2-day mural class and anything in between. The classes are taught by members or we may bring in a special renowned guest. We meet once a month on the second Saturday of every month. The only two exceptions are in July when most of us go to the yearly SALI convention and in December, when we have a wonderful Christmas get-together.

What are some of the member’s favorite finishes, color combinations and/or products to work with? I think each member has their own favorites. Some love and only do murals. Others like the simple one color faux. There are those that absolutely love the textures nothing like getting out the trowel and slathering product on the walls. Oh, can’t forget the ones that would rather work from home and do beautiful hand painted furniture.

What has been the most positive and/or fulfilling project the FGP has worked on? We have worked on so many fulfilling projects. Two of my favorites:
1.The Russell House: “Grandma Russell” died in 2003 and the daughters and other family members are now running the Orlando home, which does not have government funding and survive only on donations. It was started by the Russell family in Orlando more than 50 years ago. She started caring for children who were mentally challenged and did not have anyone to take care of them. She still has the first child that she took in and the family has grown to 20 something!
2. The Children’s Home (”The Hope House”): A place where children stay when they are in between foster homes. Children arrive at the Hope House with their few personal belongings in paper bags. We supplied these kids with huge canvas duffel bags and taught them how to personalize them with stencils.

Any design and/or finishing books or videos that you recommend for us to read?? I read any faux book I can get my hands on. Even if there is nothing in there at the time I can use, it seems that something always comes up on a project that I can go back to one of books and find the answer. I’m not a muralist but from watching faux videos on murals, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and done some wonderful kids murals. One of my favorites is by Charlene Clesceri. It’s a step by step video and has been a staple in my library.

What design and/or finishing advice would you offer our blog readers? Play, Play, Play!!! Get out in your garage and practice, practice, practice. Practice on a wall in your spare room or any wall in your house. If you don’t like it…….it’s only paint. JUST DO IT!!!!! Join your local SALI chapter.

Thank you for your insights, Valerie! Both the Florida’s Golden Palette and Stencil Artisan’s League, Inc. (SALI) are very good about listening and anticipating their member’s needs and continually adapting and steering the organizations to reflect changes. This is what makes an organization valuable to its members one that can grow and evolve with the times, design styles and their member’s increasingly savvy and developing tastes. I myself have been remiss in attending the monthly meetings but have made it a point for myself in the upcoming year to reacquaint myself with this wonderful organization. If you have any creative bones in your body itching to get out, I urge you to attend a meeting and class and see how this organization can help your artistry can take flight. It’s an amazing group of people and I hope to see you there!

(Please note that this profile will also be available as an archive in our Message Forum.)