The Midas Touch – Gold & Silver Leaf

April 2, 2015

We wish just touching walls or ceilings turned them to gold but we have to do a little more work to create the lovely finishes that mimic King Midas’ Touch. There are many materials we can use to create a golden or silvery finish but none of them have the look that gilding does. That is due to the fact that nothing really glimmers the way actual metal does; originally gold leaf was gold that has been hammered into thin sheets and was used for gilding. Now most gilding is a metal leaf made up primarily of copper. True gold leaf and metal leaf are available in a wide variety of shades. When we use gold or metal leaf we apply an adhesive to the object or surface, carefully cover that surface with the leaf and then burnish it by hand before finally sealing it. Metal leaf is actually lighter than air so it is a very delicate process that takes time and finesse.

There are a great many spaces and things we gild on a regular basis. Most commonly we are asked to use leaf on domes but it is also a lovely finish for furniture, cabinetry and walls. These photos below are a compliation of our favorite creations and/or inspirations!

Silver Leaf Dining Room

We love how this silver leaf ceiling is one of our own and adds opulence to the modern neutral palette of this room.

Gilded Eggs

You can gild your Easter Eggs this year too. Little Inspirations blog will give you step-by-step instructions on how to have your own golden eggs without the goose!

Gold Leaf Art

This art installation is painted silk and gold leaf. What a beautiful piece and it only costs $15,000. You can buy yours here!

Metallic Plaster with Gold Leaf Design on Groin

Another one of our projects is this, metallic plaster and gold leaf design on the barrel ceiling make this master bath the jewel of this home.

We hope your Easter is golden!

Fashion Meets Finishes

March 25, 2015

Fashion Meets Finishes

The 2015 Spring Couture collections are gorgeous! As we looked at the top players in the fashion world, we noticed some pretty significant correlations between our finishes and what’s hot right now in fashion, so we thought we should share!

Featured

Chanel

Chanel has done it again! What an iconic brand and an iconic woman. If you haven’t seen the movie “Coco Before Chanel”, you should. Grab some girlfriends and have a wine and movie night. You won’t be disappointed. The Spring-Summer 2015 Collection is unbelievable. The way Chanel keeps it’s classic, defining style yet pushes the envelope with new ways of utilizing color and design is astonishing. Just like Chanel is pushing the envelope, so are we, with our new, surprising luxe contemporary finishes, definitely not to be missed. Our clients are in love with these unexpected designs that bring fine art to the wall.

Chloe

This Chloe’ blouse and skirt from the Spring/Summer 2015 Collection is breathtaking. It’s soft detail, fluid fabric, and muted tones bring forth an ethereal eminence. This reminded us of the wall finish we completed this stunning residence with the extremely gifted designers of Slovack Bass Design Build. Pearl Fresco with a soft all over tone-on-tone pattern gave the room the soft detail and airiness just as the dress has done.

Monique Lhuiller

Glass beading is a great way to bring elegance, sophistication, and glamour to a gown. The same rings true with walls! This Monique Lhuiller Spring Collection 2015 gown is a showstopper. The way that this designer chose to structure the dress and layer shades of the intricate beadwork is exquisite. This gown reminded us of our cherry blossom glass bead installation that we completed in 2014 in collaboration with one of our talented decorators.

Louis Vuitton

This Louis Vuitton handbag has made its debut! The use of unexpected texture and color has made this handbag a piece to be coveted. Pictured next to it is one of our wall finishes featured in our showroom. You can envelop your walls in couture, something one of a kind and fabulous. Finishing walls in a room brings so much more to the space than can ever be achieved with flat paint or wallpaper. The dimension is uncomparable. We had a blast on our hunt for this season’s top picks! Hopefully, you enjoyed this as much as we did! Come check us out and see what other unexpected finishes we may be hiding in our showroom.

Happy Spring!

We’re Green with Envy – Happy St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2015

While everyone is swilling green beer and pinching their friends, we are celebrating with our favorite vibrantly verdant creations! A few of these photos are our very own works of art, while others are just something we found share-worthy. We hope you enjoy these photos and your St. Patty’s Day!

Emerald Jewel Box

This bedroom is one of our very favorite creations. We loved the opportunity to use such vivid colors and fun designs.

Peter Pan Decal

What a clever way to paint a kids room, and we love it in green!

Teal-Riffic!

Although this isn’t exactly green we’re going to count it because its one our absolute favorite colors and projects. Who wouldn’t get the most out of the work day with a vibrantly glazed cabinets like these!