Segreto Finishes ~ WOW!

I have been thinking about writing this post for a while, but I just got re-inspired and decided to write this on the fly.
Okay, I can not say enough about Segreto, but before I try, I have to talk about owner and artist Leslie Sinclair.  Never in all my years in business and in life have I come across such a genuinely responsive business owner or human being.  I do not know Leslie personally, only through email correspondence and through her blog, Facebook, and Pinterest (I follow her on all the above). But her personality shines through so totally and obviously even through online media.  I started out with a question for someone at Segreto when I came across some of their work on Pinterest which led me to the website and blog. I emailed a question that I thought would not get answered and received an immediate response with the answer from Leslie.  She was so willing to share information and was genuinely sincere about helping me with my questions.  I was a bit stunned, but realized this was a person who loves her work and loves to share it with the world.  I was instantly a fan of Leslie and of Segreto.

Now onto Segreto.  Gosh, what do you say about such beautiful and creative work? Every time I see something come across Pinterest or read her blogs http://segretosecrets.squarespace.com  I almost jump out of my skin with excitement for the beautiful finishes they create and the spaces that they transform. I would have never thought that there is actually such an endless amount of creativity in one person or business. Segreto is based out of Houston and I only wish that it was closer to Birmingham so I could see their work in person. 

Leslie has recently published an absolutely beautiful hardback book called, Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors. This is a MUST have coffee table book. BEAUTIFUL!  Leslie is not only talented, but naturally surrounds herself with a bevy of very talented designers, artist and other creative people.
 http://segretofinishes.com/the-book.html


Below are just a few of my favorite photos from Leslie's and Segreto Finishes work.

This last one is my absolute favorite bathroom EVER!

Remember ~  Delight the Eye........Nurture the Soul.

Bye for now,

Colleen

Let there be light

One of my favorite ways to accessorize and make a big impact on a space is through lighting.  I love, love lighting, whether it be chandeliers, sconces, lamps, pendants, or candles. Its all so beautiful to me, but something about the warmth and coziness of lamp lighting feels special.  With lamps that make a statement, and are placed in just the right spot, its easy to make a space look and feel great.  When you walk into a space and it feels really good and inviting, and you can't really put your finger on what specifically makes it feel that way, its probably the lighting. So in short, lighting is HUGE in designing a great space.

Today I am focusing on some of my favorite lamps and will follow up with other lighting types and styles in a later post.  

Probably my Absolute favorite table lamp. The Garden Spire lamp from Barbara Cosgrove

I absolutely love this crusty old looking fragment lamp with linen shade from Bliss Studio

 

Texture, Texture, Texture.  This iron lamp from MSM4 Imports is gorgeous!

The Chaves lamp by Aidan Gray, what can you say? It's Aidan Gray. Very cool.

Ahhhh, the Quatrefoil floor lamp.  My all time favorite floor lamp by Suzanne Kasler

 

The Pattern Makers floor lamp by Regina Andrew.  If I can't cant have Suzanne Kasler's, I want this one.

 

Zeugma Imports makes tons of these lamps in different shapes and sizes.  Love the warmth of the old wood texture and linen

Aidan Gray La Gray lamp for a bit of casual elegance.  LOVE IT!

This sweet little lamp by Gallery Designs is one of my favorites simply because it is SWEET! 

For shear elegance, this Rococo crystal and iron  lamp from Restoration Hardware is awesome.

Truss lamp set by Aidan Gray.

Into the bit more modern.  This icy glass lamp by Regina Andrew gives a room a cool and sleek look. 

The unique shape of this Thorpe Pinched edge porcelain lamp from Arteriors Home is just simple and pretty.

This Bodega driftwood lamp by Arteriors Home screams "Please put me in your beach house". 

Royal Marine Tripod floor lamp from Restoration Hardware.  Just really, really cool.

There are many, many more lamps that I really love, but for obvious reasons cant show them all.

REMEMBER ~ Delight the Eye............Nurture the Soul!

Bye for now,

Colleen

Loving Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

So, I finally decided to get myself a small retail space and sell my refurbished furniture and cool items that I pick up at market. I have been wanting to do this for a long time and I figured there is no time like the present.

I have been so excited about the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that I just can't stop painting.  It seems that everyday I am painting another project to put into the new space.  I am finding old things to refurbish everywhere.  If it can be painted, I am painting it with ASCP.  I LOVE this stuff.

This will be my first post in a series of posts documenting my preparations for my retail space. I have 1 week to get ready for move in and I am working day and night to paint, tag inventory, shop, and plan. This is very exciting for me and I can't wait to start selling.

Below are a few projects that I have started using the chalk paint.  I am still experimenting with the paint and coming up with new ideas on every project.

I used Louis Blue on the base and pure white on the detail, then dark wax.

Duck egg on the base, drawer in Old Ochre, then Dark wax.

French Linen on the base, then dry brushed Pure White and Paris Grey, then lots of dark wax.

I seemed to get so excited about getting started on the project that I ALWAYS forget to take before pictures.  I will start doing a better job at that so that the vast differences with be apparent.

There are many more projects in the works and I will post as I go along. I hope everyone using ASCP is as excited as I am about it.  It is great stuff!

REMEMBER ~ Delight the Eye..........Nurture the Soul.

Bye for now,

Colleen