A new Face for your Book Shelves

Yesterday I started to re-do book shelves for one of my clients. Here are the step by step instructions to follow along, transforming  your book shelves and any  other wood work.

Supplies:
Latex eggshell paint
Water
Chip Brushes
Rags
Cardboard

Glaze consistency: Mix one quart of paint with one cup of water.


Colors: On a fan deck choose 2 colors of the same color range. Select 2 colors, medium and dark. I use the third; and fifth hue. For the highlight color mix the fifth color with white.


Aging glaze: I usually use a dark brown or dark grey depending what look I want to achieve. However, you may also use the last color on the fan deck.

Dry Brushing:
Submerge paint brush into paint. On a piece of cardboard work the paint into the brush. Do not work with a fully loaded brush. Remember " Dry Brushing".



When you are glazing make sure to retain some of the previous coat. You want to achieve an orderly distressed look with all  colors visible.

Step One:
Dismantle the bookshelves.


Step two:
Sand thoroughly and dust.


Step 4
Apply a very dark glaze ( I used a black green glaze). Let dry.

Step 5
Apply dark green glaze. Let dry.

Step 5 and 6

Step 6
Apply a medium green glaze. Let dry.

Step 7
Apply highlights with the lightest glaze. Let Dry.

Happy painting until next time 

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Transform Your Kitchen -Tuscan Plaster For Kitchen Cabinets

Tuscan plaster- Kitchen Cabinets
An exclusive finish from the Faux Academy

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I developed this finish for one of my Italian clients. These clients traveled to Tuscany/Italy looking for distressed kitchen cabinets. They fell in love. However, shipping these cabinets to the USA was cost prohibitive. Due to  the operational difficulties, they called me to distress and create an authentic Italian "look" for their cabinets.

Their family in Italy owns a vineyard and true to their heritage, the couple built an authentic Tuscan home, here in my neck of the woods

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Tools and Supplies:

Mustard Yellow Latex eggshell paint
White Latex eggshell paint  (mix with yellow to obtain a light yellow hue)
Walnut Stain
Paint thinner (for clean up)
Whiting
Rags
6" Putty knife or Penguin Trowel
Brushes 

Base coat:

Any surface within reason. In my clients case I worked with raw wood cabinets.

Step by step instructions for yellow cabinets

1. "spot" stain the cabinets. Let  set (semi dry)

 2. Mix Whiting with the  yellow paint to a "pudding" consistency.

3. Trowel the mixture on to the surface. Making sure to create valley and peaks. Be sure to let the stain show through in some areas. Let dry overnight.

4. Mix white latex paint with some of the yellow paint to obtain a light yellow mix.

5. Dry Brush the surface with this mix

6. Dry brush until you get an somewhat orderly, distressed look

Good luck and all my best until next time

I d

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Faux By Kathy - Professionalism times two!!!!!!

I just feel, that I need to share my  recent experience ordering from Faux By Kathy

We all seem to be familiar when something goes wrong in our business.  The bamboo drums are so fast, that one hardly can take a breath trying to rectify the situation. And of course.... we don't rest until everybody knows. On the other end of the spectrum... the bamboo drums are none-existent when everything runs smoothly with a class, order, or whatever.
So, I am using my bamboo drum to let everybody know, how pleased I was with my recent order experience from Faux by  Kathy. 

I found it somewhat hard to go through her website, however I know that this is my issue. I suffer from impatience and that instant gratification thing. I did not want to take time, but I decided to do it anyway.


I placed my order which was very easy to do and believe or not, within a few hours I received this.

Faux By Kathy
------------------------------------------------------
Order Number: 2288
Detailed Invoice: http://www.fauxbykathy.com/store/account_history_info.php?order_id=2288
Date Ordered: Monday 08 August, 2011

The comments for your order are
Your order has been updated to the following status.
New status: Processing

Please reply to this email if you have any questions.


Immediately I thought - How "PROFESSIONAL". I ordered online many times, but this was the first time, that I was informed that they in fact were working on my order. 

A few days later I received this:

Order Number: 2288
Detailed Invoice: http://www.fauxbykathy.com/store/account_history_info.php?order_id=2288
Date Ordered: Monday 08 August, 2011

The comments for your order are

Hi Heidi,
Thank you so much for your order.
We were able to ship it today.

Agnes
Your order has been updated to the following status.

New status: Shipped

Please reply to this email if you have any questions.


With this notice I was totally at ease again. My order was ready to be shipped. Nice Touch. Thank you Kathy for a job greatly done. 

All my Best,

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It's all about color - How to create your color scheme like a professional

Working as a faux finisher and decorative artist,  I have learned that  some of us are afraid of color, although color is the most important aspect of interior design. Choosing the right colors doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some simple  rules you can apply and hopefully you will be able to step out of the color la, la land.


My last blog  tried to get you started in the  color selecting process. Now I am trying to explain the next steps, so you will be able to make the right color decisions. After all, our homes are full of color and we want to feel comfortable in our homes.

Beside warm and cool colors we differentiate in tone in tone(monochromatic), analogous, complimentary and split complimentary color schemes. To make thing less confusing, I only will discuss the main and most important (IMO) schemes. 


Monochromatic: Use tints, shades and and tones of the key color. Tone in tone or monochromatic is balanced, quiet and visually pleasing. No high energy level in this  color scheme.

Monochromatic, tone in tone using shades, tints and tones of the key color

 

All Images of Paula Grace Designs

 If the quiet simplicity and soothing effect  of the tone in tone color scheme is letting you fall asleep during day, step it up a notch to the analogous color scheme.


Analogous:
The analogous color scheme uses colors which are adjacent to each other 

Analogous cool design

Analogous warm design

Analogous warm design

The analogous color scheme uses one dominant color with punches of sumptuous richness. This scheme is not as vibrant as the complimentary one and one must be careful not to overdo it with lots of hues of too many colors. This color scheme looks much richer then the monochromatic one.

I hope that these tips on color design  selections  make your life a bit easier. Stay tune, more to come soon.


All my Best,

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It' All about color - Creatinng color schemes- Where to start

A few hours ago, I posted the Pantone's color palette for 2012. Immediately, I received some e-mails with the obligatory question " How do I select color schemes for my home"?


For some of us it may feel like a daunting task, but it really isn't, if you follow certain rules.I would suggest that you invest in a color wheel, which you may buy in any art store. This color wheel will proof to be a valuable tool in all your decorating efforts.  I can promise, that this tool will take away any of your fears and will allow you to look at your color scheme with the eye of an interior designer. So, not to worry, invest in this inexpensive tool.With the correct color scheme you are able to set a mood, make a statement or just be energized or if you have lots of stress in your life, you can use color to sooth your soul.

 First, decide if you want to have a warm or cool environment. You may also intermix warm and cool colors


Warm colors ( reds, oranges, yellows) seem to be advancing, moving towards you; thus decreasing the size  and space of a room.  However, if you want to create a warm, comfortable and cozy design style, use warm colors, intermixed with a few cool accessories.

Cool color hues ( blue and greens )tend to recede, they move away from you, visually suggesting a larger and open design style. Consequently, if you are dealing with a small space, use cool colors, intermixed with some warm accessories.

 

Cool Blues 

I hope  that you have gained a little insight into the world of color, and that it will be  easier for you now to select the "mood" for your home.


Stay tune, next blog will be about  how to choose your colors from a color wheel.

All My Best,

xoxo












.

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It's all about color.... New trends for 2012

In March of this year Pantone, the world renowned color authority,  published nine color palettes. Nine distinctive palettes, each with a much thought about name. Don't ask me how they dream up these names or in what relationship they stand to each other, because I just don't know.

Every year I am excited when the new color trends are published by Pantone. I was raised in the fashion industry, so color always has played an important part in my life. For me it's all about color, style and fashion. If you want your home to be trendy, all you have to do is look at fashion fabrics. I guess, I am fashion forward because my PJ's fit the 2012 Pantone "Back to Fuchsia" palette

Courtesy of "Nidhi" Pattern, Colors and Design

My "Fuchsia" PJs

and my blue PJs match the "Indigo Effects" palette.

My Indigo Pj's

Personally I love the "Resilience" palette. Possibly because I always had to be resilient.

Resilience 

The Oil Yellow, subtle and quiet and the peaceful Oasis green are really  fulfilling my color sense. Resilience or stress free? Who knows? All I know is that I felt compelled to buy some blouses in exactly these colors and I am raking in compliments.  

Subtleties

Transcending

Reflection

All color palettes are courtesy of "Nidhi" Pattern, Colors and Design
Maybe you will be inspired with these new colors and are ready to add some to your home decor. You always can pick up a few accessories and change the look of your home.


Until next time.


All my best,


xoxo 

Color is the most powerful way to change and coordinate the look and feel of your home.  

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