#421...art atop mirror

I recently removed a giant plant from next to the small settee in my front bedroom, and replaced with a side table and lamp instead. The new arrangement left the giant  Ikea Pax wardrobe mirrors feeling very open and bare, so I hung some art up atop the mirrored doors. I used 3m Command Strips to hold the framed embroidery pieces on the mirrored glass. I like how the art personalizes and obscures the look of the Pax.

#420...new press for bath

My bathroom, which was once featured in BHG Kitchen's and Bath's magazine here, is currently featured in the Fall edition of BHG do it Yourself Magazine. 

 

 

 

 

#419...loft tour

My cousin Marie is going to be staying with us in our loft for the next year while she completes an Anesthesia Fellowship at Texas Heart. Her extended visit prompted me to clean, organize, and de-clutter my loft. It has been awhile since I've shared any pictures of this space, which has previously been featured here and here. The loft is about 800 sq ft of space above our garage, separated from our bungalow. Tyler re-worked the staircase to the loft this past fall, which you can see here. The loft includes a sleeping space, a full bath, a painting area, my sewing/craft studio, and a lounge area with projection TV movie wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#418...my way

I  was recently commissioned to create the above graffiti style painting of the lyrics to Frank Sinatra's song "My Way".  My client Kristy had seen a similar painting in a local gallery, but the size and price were not right for her, so I took the challenge to paint her one for her living room.

I got a 48x48 canvas at the art supply store, and using my acrylic paints and medium created a spatter/drip background painting.

Next, I used a blue paint pen to begin drawing on the bubble font letters to the words of the song.

Then, I began painting in each line of the lyrics in the negative space created by the lettering.

This step was the most tedious. I added some paint texture to the top of some of the lines, and used some oil-based paint pens to outline the lyrics when I finished coloring in the lines. In total the painting took me about 30 hours to complete.

#417...spec house style

I recently worked with a local builder on design selections for this house which is for sale in a near-town neighborhood. I got involved in the project after the exterior was painted. I helped with selection of interior cabinetry and wall colors, lighting, counter surfaces, tile and stone selection, and stair rail design. Spec houses need to appeal to a broad range of people, so my job is to select a backdrop of neutral colors and classic materials that buyers can tweak and personalize easily to their specific tastes.

 

 

 

#416...e-design boards

Here are a few virtual room design boards that I've created lately for clients.

playroom

 

 

master bedroom

 

 

home office

 

dining room

 

 

family room

 

 

master bath

 

 

 

#415...audrey's desk makeover

We were out in California this past weekend for a visit, and my 6-year old niece Audrey asked me to help her make-over her brown wood desk. The desk formerly belonged to Audrey's Dad when he was a kid.

Step 1: Lightly sand the desk to scuff it up, which I did with a mouse sander.
Step 2: Make Audrey change out of the school dress she came out to paint in.
Step 3: Paint. 

We used a 4" smooth foam roller and a brush. We painted the desk with a white enamel that we got from the "oops" section of the local hardware store for $2!

We painted about 4 coats of white paint on the desk. I lightly sanded with a sanding sponge between coats. Audrey's Mom spray painted the old drawer pulls with silver spray paint, which really make them look clean and new.

While Audrey was at school, I painted a few butterflies, bees and lady bugs onto the desk at her request.

We moved the desk back into Audrey's room to surprise her when she got home from school. I made the wall hanging fabric letter "A" for her a few years ago. You can read my tutorial on making 3-D fabric letters here. Before Audrey was born, I painted a large surfing mural on the wall opposite this desk, which you can see here.