As I was randomly websurfing last night I decided to randomly click on a couple of blogs I had saved in my “favorites” years ago and since lost track of. One of them was Olive Juice, a sweet blogger whose latest post was about fundraising for another blogger, Stephanie aka Nei Nei who had recently been involved in a horrible plane crash with her newly certified pilot husband, Christian.

A couple of click and hours later I have read through multiple other blogs including Stephanie’s, The Nei Nei Dialogues, and her sister’s cjanerun. I am so moved by not only the poignancy and irony of this tragic event, but also by the power of faith and love that permeate this family and the larger blogging community in general.

Money is being raised to help Nei Nei and her husband through the long recovery process and to help her family care for their 5 beautiful children. Both NeiNei and Christian thankfully survived but were badly burned in the crash. A special blog, NeiRecovery has been created and it’s super easy to donate here. Spread the love!

Well, we’re cautiously optimistic about getting the Art of Living Uptown project back on track in January 2009, but waiting a few more weeks to see how construction is progressing before we make that announcement. Meanwhile, the design wheels continue to spin (constantly!) and we’re looking at options for a large art panel for the powder room. I purchased this divine book 5 or so years ago that has lace patterns from the 20′s and 30′s, knowing that SOMEday it would provide the perfect inspiration for a design application. I think that time has come!

What I love about these patterns, and the elements that make them up, is that they are sexy and feminine with a masculine edge. VERY Marlene Dietrich or Greta Garbo. They make me want to pluck my eyebrows into high arches, put on long black gloves and accessorize with one of those long cigarette holders. 

Well, just to give you a really good idea of why we postponed the Art of Living Uptown project till January (fingers crossed behind back), here is a picture I snapped of Barb when we visited the penthouse space (via a REALLY scary wire cage elevator running up the outside of the building) a couple of weeks ago.

It’s kind of hard to do wall finishes when there are NO walls!! So instead, we brainstormed some more, goofed off in Barb’s Faux Works studio, and ate constantly. I’m always endlessly hungry when I travel?!? It WAS really good for me to be in the actual space and see at least the framework. It WILL be a very swanky space once we get our hands on it!

I also had the chance to visit the new studio of Debbie Hayes of Faux Design Studio in Greensboro. Debbie was on the recent Peacock Pavilions painting trip to Marrakech with me and she was inspired to decorate with a little bit of Moroccan color and flavor.

We cut some custom Modello patterns for her, including this custom lettering for the studio display window.

More Modello patterns were used to etch an old door (now screen) and some Royal Design Studio stencils on the wall behind. I’m sorry I didn’t get pictures that really highlight how VERY COOL this space is. She has leased a corner spot in a recently converted old cotton mill. The renovation is just gorgeous and leaves the incredible wood floors intact, along with the open ceilings and old brick. It’s just a very special vintage space-the kind you don’t find here in San Diego. OK, we DO have good weather but architecture that is both interesting AND affordable is nowhere to be found. Congratulations Deb!!

Well, I’m sorry to say that our Art of Living Uptown project has been postponed to some unforseen construction delays-what else? Is there ANY construction project that finishes even close to on time these days? We now anticipate to be doing the actual painting on-site in January 2009. Hey-it will be here before we know it!

Now for the good news! The book on our initial project in Brandywine, PA is now available here! The press release goes something like this:

The Art of Living Project, created by Barb Skivington and Melanie Royals in 2006, was conceived as an opportunity to nurture creative lifestyles and livelihoods by designing decorative painting projects that would help to elevate decorative art in general, as well as the artists that participate in these projects.

An additional intent is to use these projects to educate the design community about the ever intriguing and expanding possibilities of incorporating decorative finishes into interior designscapes, and ultimately, to use the projects as a form of fundraising for local charities by opening the locations for touring.

The first Art of Living project took place in Brandywine, PA and included 20 participant artist/apprentices who learned and worked over two 5-day sessions to transform 10 interior spaces in a French Country-style home.

This new Art of Living book-Decorative Finishes Inspired by the South of France, chronicles the project from inspiration to execution. It features step-by-step instruction for each of the 12 unique finishes that were completed at the Brandywine house along with the beautifully photographed finished spaces, biographies of the participants, product and tool glossaries, basic stenciling instruction and a Resource Guide.

The featured finishes include: Faux Wood Inlay, Gilded Chateau Ceiling, Aged Italian Brown Leather, Bronze Bas Relief Fruit, Reverse Gilding on Glass, Cherry Blossoms, Country Chateau Plaster, French Distressed Damask, Designer Patterned Stripes, French Putty Plaster, Tumbled Marble Tiles and yummy Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup (a Venetian Plaster treatment!).

In case you’ve forgotten, or perhaps never seen photos of the finished spaces, here’s a review of just a few

  

Get it here or through Faux Works Studio.

One of our Art of Living Uptown penthouse projects calls for a faux marquetry Modello ceiling in the Media Room. This will be a decidedly masculine room (Barb has dubbed it “the man cave”) but will also be visible from the glam entry so it calls for some decoration that will draw the eye in and add just the proper amount of Hollywood Regency splash. I think I found the perfect inspiration while web surfing today!

This design is actually shown on an old book binding. Isnt’ it perfect!?! The ceiling will have two large, rectangular panels, so I plan to reinterpret this to have one more color in the center stripe so that we can introduce 3 different colors of stain and we will use copper leaf in the circles and half circles. I can also totally see this design being perfect for a paneled floor screen or on the front of armoire doors. Yummy!

At long last, we are pleased to announce the next project in the Art of Living series by Barb Skivington and Melanie Royals: The Art of Living Uptown-Carving a luxury penthouse condominium from an historic high rise in downtown Greensboro, NC

During this project, 20 artist/apprentices will have the opportunity to explore and execute high-end contemporary surface finishes in an exquisitely appointed setting: A new high rise luxury condominium home with a Hollywood Regency design theme.

This project brings together the artistic and teaching talents of Barb Skivington/Faux Works and Melanie Royals/Royal Design Studio and Modello Designs, fine custom home builder, Wolfe Homes, the decorative finishing line of products from Faux Effects International, interior design by Mark Darnell and selected furnishings from famed furniture house, Henredon.

The result of this combination of art, design and architecture will be open for a month of touring in October, 2008. Festivities will include a hosted Grand Gala party and other special events. Each week the tour proceeds will benefit a different local charity.

Our project space will also be the location of special design seminars hosted by Henredon during High Point’s International Furniture Market, October 20-26.

More details on events and tour dates will be announced closer to the opening.

BUT FIRST, we must create!

The finishes we have planned for the penthouse have been designed to showcase the versatility of combining decorative finishes and patterns over a wide variety of surfaces including walls, ceilings, glass, wood, mirror and contemporary art panels. Leaving the “Old World” look in the past, for now, we want to explore how tactile decorative finishes can add to the overall sensory experience and elegance of today’s contemporary interiors.

This will be accomplished over two training and applications sessions to which we have invited a range of working decorative artist to participate with us.

Session 1:  July 29-August 2, 2008

Media Room Marquetry Ceiling
A traditional technique reinterpreted in a contemporary pattern and chic color palette for a custom coffered ceiling.

Gilded and Incised Grand Entry Dome
Classically applied gold leaf with a delicately incised Oriental trellis border.

Architectural Feature Wall with Trellising
Master Bedroom feature wall with inset architectural panels showing off a two-tone trellis treatment.
 
Neutral Ground Plaster
Simple, elegant and essential says it all.

Embedded “Chopstix” Wall Treatment
Hollywood Regency meets Zen in a soothing but seductive rich wall treatment.

Contemporary Art Panel Series
We’ll be pulling out all the stops and exploring new artistic territories for a tri-panel series for our hallway and another large panel to complete a powder bath.

Session 2:  August 12-16, 2008

Gilded Gingko Leaves
A custom ceiling light fixture will shine with layers of delicate Gingko leaves formed from hand-tinted Japanese gold leaf. Expensive, but worth it!

Media Room Feature Wall
Custom carpentry will frame out a tactile wall treatment with a contemporary edge.

Barbara Barry Bedroom
A beaded wall treatment in a contemporary, interlocking oval pattern will provide the perfect backdrop for Barbara Barry furnishings designed for Henredon.

Soft-Touch Textured Ceiling Treatment
Recessed ceiling panels in the master bedroom will get a soft-touch layered plaster finish to add visual interest, color compliments and good acoustical qualities at the same time.

Polished Plaster Grand Entry
High shine sets the mood for our most glamorous space.

Mirror, Mirror
Facing architectural, 8’ niches in the large living/dining space will receive complimentary patterned and patinated mirrored panels. Light reflecting but heavy on the drama!

We will be documenting the design and application process, as well as the amazing final results in a new book, The Art of Living-Uptown!, available at the end of 2008. We hope you’ll come back to follow our progress and process! Barb is promising me that she will overcome her blog writer’s anxiety and post occasionally. Let’s hold her to it!
 

What do these things have in common?!

Construction site of a new penthouse condominium.

Fabulous furniture from Henredon

Some samples of finishes from Barb and Melanie’s wild artistic weekend together. 

Did you guess the next Art of Living project-Art of Living Uptown? You’re goooood! More details soon. It looks like I’m going to get my Kelly Wearstler moment after all!

A few weeks ago Eric and I travelled up to one of our favorite towns in California, Paso Robles for some weekend wine tasting with our good friends Bob and Lee Ann from the Decorative Concrete Institute. They had been teaching that week in Santa Barbara and “wino weekend” was the perfect add-on, along with their associate Mark and his darling wife Debbie.

It just so happens that another friend Paul is the winemaker for two great Paso wineries, San Marcos Creek and Hearthstone and we got to go into the storage area at the wine-making facility at Denner Vineyards to taste about 8 different variatels from Hearthstone’s 07 harvest. Although all were delicious, we are all eagerly awaiting the bottling of the fabulous Zin!

The weather was a little chilly, putting the kabosh on our picnicing plans but our hearts and tummies were warm with fun friendships and good times!

Besides red wine, Bob and LeeAnn are also very much into riding their Harleys and they have a very special cross-country trip planned beginning June 8 to help raise money for Breast Cancer research. Their goal is to raise 10K and you can find out more about contributing to this special cause right here! 

Well, yet another year has come where I have skipped the egg dying ritual, BUT I HAVE been looking today at Pysanky egg decorating sites. What an amazing and detailed, classic artform that uses a wax resist and layering method with the dyes. It is actually similar to some of the finishes I do on walls and wood-but without this amazing detail. This is my favorite one, featuring the award-winning art of Patty Wiszuk-de Angelo.

Enjoy a special day!

OK, so I’m a little late to the “I Love Kelly too” party. She’s highly admired by every self-respecting design afficianado and mentioned repeatedly on design blogs everywhere. It wasn’t until I wrote this post, that I ordered her books, though, and now I’m head over heels and desperately seeking a room to decorate in orange and black or somthing.

So much so that I ordered the limited-run version of Domicilium Decoratus. I am the proud owner of number 3,142 of 5,000, thank you very much. This is the exact book “I” would do-if I had her looks, her taste, her talent, her checkbook! Modern Glamour, from 2004, is equally inspiring. Even the writing. I barely read CAPTIONS in most of the design books I own, but I read this cover to cover. Selected photos above. More books in the works. Sign me up!