Holiday Spice! - Don't forget your Fireplace Mantles

Click on picture to enlargeBlack Satin Base with DistressingClick on pictures to enlargeWarm Red, Coffee Rubbed!Kitchen Island - Chocolate DistressedJust completed a fun project assisting my son, Heath Sewell - The Faux Guy, transforming ordinary white fireplace mantles into eye catching islands of color!  Many of us have these beautifully detailed mantles in our home and don't realize how dramatic a difference it can make to paint and distress them...and it's so affordable!  This is the place you can add rich color.......blues, greens, blacks and reds!  Like a beautiful scarf or bright piece of jewelry, they accessorize a room and pull it all together.  And don't forget your kitchen island or bar areas....these opportunities are dramatic too.  Otherwise overlooked, when painted and distressed are suddenly a substantial and even ornate anchor in the kitchen and can add warmth and character where plain white is just ignored.  The holidays are a great time to dress up these areas, but any time of year Decorative Art can add layers of interest and fun to your home!  Happy Holidays!!!

A Collaboration of Artists

Artists are often reclusive types that have singular vision and need a void in which to work...and then there are those that thrive on the input and thoughts of other creative souls.  I owe much of my success to those creative souls that were patient enough to share their ideas, critiques and energies with me.  A collaboration of work can be so rewarding....synergies released that benefit not only the client, but the artists as well.  Please enjoy the video I've created from work on such a project recently completed in Atlanta.

Family Fun!

Dining Room before Dining Room after - click to enlargeI just completed another project for a family I had worked with several years ago (when we created custom faux finishes in kitchen, powder rm, mstr bath, son's bath and family rm) ....and although the children are taller, the family is just as fun, playful and open to creative ideas as before! 

Here the dining room is transformed from a casual mood to a warmer, more formal feel.   The gold glaze reflects light keeping the room from being too heavy.  The antiqued technique used to create the painted medallion pulls the eye up and opens the space, while completing the ceiling.

  Bathroom beforeBathroom after - click to enlargeIn the daughter's bathroom it was time to replace the floral wallpaper with something more vibrant and spunky to complement the colorful blue walls of her bedroom and funky artwork.  Here we created jazzy geometric shapes that playfully dance around the room!

     Foyer beforeFoyer after - click to enlargeFinally, the foyer's builder white walls were ready for a remedy.  I suggested a warm earthy color to pull the chocolate and gold of the dining room in with the existing rich red of the living room.  I didn't want to faux paint this area but instead of color alone, suggested we add a bit of interest, mystery, and fun with several tone on tone diamonds placed around the foyer....of different sizes. Notice the diamond pattern on the front door.  Enlarge picture to see two of the wall diamonds!

My clients were a joy to work with and now have a completed look throughout:-)

Award Winning project in Atlanta Residence

Click on image to enlarge

Wall Expressions is proud to announce that Atlanta designer Maria Nutt of McLaurin Interiors is the recipient of the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers 2011 Silver Design Excellence Award in the category of  'residence greater than 3,500 square feet', for Maria's design of a Buckhead Atlanta residence.  Wall Expressions was delighted to work with Maria and provide a custom faux finish on the dining room walls.  Atlanta's Paint Doctor did the painting throughout the home and Bires Remodeling did the remodeling work.  The professional photography was provided by Chris Little Photography.  Congrats to all!

Don't forget your floors!

Click on images to enlargeChristine Blight of Christine's Creations is opening a new design center July 1st, 2011!  She asked me to provide a finish on the new wood floor as you enter the store.  We decided to create a beautiful checkerboard pattern using a walnut waterbased stain followed by a clear topcoat to seal and warm the remaining unstained wood.  Please come see her latest design ideas, furniture, and accessories at 8838 Main Street in Woodstock, GA!