Glorious Gracie....!

I think you all know by now that I have a penchant for all things Chinoiserie.....

I recently was asked to embellish a small powder room done in Gracie paper. The trim and door were white and competed with the scene.

I based coated everything in a high green. Gracie wallpaper is very complex with layers of  subtle washes of color for their backgrounds. I used three to four washes to make the design seamless.

Details were extended into the moulding to complete the scene...now, on to the door!

I based the door and then began the layers of washes....all straight acrylic paint thinned with water and wiped back. No glaze.

The layers gave a soft patina of age and depth. Accents of corals were added to the edges and bevels...

A main element of ornament was added to the top panel with small accents in the lower panels...

A bird cage of bamboo was added with songbird and foliage...colors were  a traditional palette..cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, raw sienna, burnt umber, alizarin crimson and bone black

The client designed the birdcage with thatched roof and bamboo design.

 This is a teeny room under the staircase and hard to shoot an interior shot with a camera!

It's always about the details...there are no shortcuts.

I can't wait to see the room with the sconces and mirror hung! It was a lovely project to be involved in.