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!

Blogs are delicate little creatures. They need to be nutured, cared for, coddled, sheperded, caressed and attended to. The truth is, they are high maintenance and they are a lot of work! Like children. If this were real life this blog would be removed for protective custody and I would be jailed for abandonment. Phew! It’s just a blog. But a lovely one and one worth some attention! I have been busy showing favor to my other blog Designamour while this one has languished, but there is a buzz in the air and projects in the works that need to be shared and this is the place to do that!

After a couple of false starts, there is a NEW Art of Living project to be announced. I am not actually here to announce it. I am just here to provide enough information to pique your interest and leave you hanging. Insidious isn’t it?

I can say this. Barb has been working hard to develop this project for us:

• In her current hometown of Greensboro/High Point, NC
• It will be in an “urban” setting (as much as Greensboro allows)
• We will be teaching and designing the spaces with contemporary finishes and yummy textured pattern

Barb is greatly inspired by Kelly Hoppen

My taste leans more towards Kelly Wearstler 

Plus, I would REALLY like to look like THAT in that dress. Is this a reality show in the making? Lord, I hope NOT!

Welcome to the Art of Living website! We are in the final stages of preparing our first House Project, located in the beautiful Brandywine area of Pennsylvannia for touring in October. All proceeds will benefit local cancer charities. For the latest information click here.