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Correcting Unsightly Brick

This fireplace was an ugly and overpowering red, orange and black. I worked with the client to produce this soft, chalky finish in lime paint.

Lime paint softly phosphoresces, the ‘bloom’ of the finish being achieved over time and different humidities. A beautiful powdery feel to the touch and eyes.

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A Ladies Couch Throw

My client wanted to recover her couch with something intoxicatingly lovely. We worked together on this cornucopia/Medusa image, pulling from design sources she enjoyed.

It is painted in artist oils, on a canvas ground and will be sculpted into a fitted throw.

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Wood Grain and Toner Samples to Match Floor

Here are two samples of woodgraining. One is traditional in that it has been flogged and brush grained. The other is a series of toners with a brush drag.

The floor beneath them is what the clients loved and what I was matching to.

The clients have a young family and were upgrading and streamlining their Mill Valley home. The dated looking stair post balls had to go, which created a bald void in the finish and also the stair railing did not match the floor.

Continue reading “Wood Grain and Toner Samples to Match Floor”

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Powder Room Textured Walls

A small powder room with a lot of atmosphere, this jewel of a space was designed by JoAnn Hartley Interiors with the DIY passion of the client’s husband.

The wall finish began with the love of the tile floor.

The tile itself is heavily striated, with shades of gray, silver and pearlescent, all slightly raised in relief.

It was decided to match the walls to the floor but in a much looser pattern – quite the challenge! Continue reading “Powder Room Textured Walls”

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Villa Taverna San Francisco – Barbary Coast Speak Easy

One of my favorite projects of the year and a new creative connection with Alice Wiley Associates and Susan Marazza.

The revival of the the club’s back bar was overdue, the paneling outdated and the walls too conservative a hue for what was, in essence, a Barbary Coast Speak Easy.

Colour saturation was essential and the designers and I wanted the space to glow with a luminosity that harkened back to a time when its timbers were firstly a candlelit tall ship, then a sculpture garden and residence to Frida Karlo and Diego Riviera and today the prestigious private club of discerning locals. Continue reading “Villa Taverna San Francisco – Barbary Coast Speak Easy”

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Touch-up to a Fire Damaged Wall

This wall had been doubly impacted by fire damage and also the removal of a panel of sorts. So, a faux finishing restoration was in order.

The wall finish is a type of caenstone with mica filaments throughout and is not easily touched up. I used custom tinted lime wash and gilding, creating/mimicking the texture by a skip and scratch sponge finish.

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House Fire Restoration – Walls/Ceilings/Picture Frame

(Quotes from owners)
“After a frightening house fire, our walls and ceilings were black with soot and looked beyond saving. Peta transformed smoked-stained walls to pure beauty, including preserving the porous texture and subtle color variations of unpainted plastered walls.” (Jay Helms)

“I endorse the “magician” comment. I live in a Grade 2 listed building about 400+ years old and Peta worked her magic on the stairway. Also gilded an ancient picture frame repairing the missing pieces. She is my idol.” (Jenny Keehan)