Mad-Men Inspired...

Mad-Men, the 60's inspired drama on AMC, has brought the glamour of the 60's to the forefront again.

When I walked into a new job recently, I thought immediately of the show.
Looking at white walls, I was told to use these glass plates as my inspiration for this dining room.

Wall colors and style came from the three biedermeier pieces in the room....

I used the flame design in the crotch mahogany of the sideboard and built-in on the opposing wall to determine the wall's six colors and direction of movement.

This room went from blah white to rich, wood tones with the use of metallics and satin paints.

There was now a masculine feel ...rich, dark and sophisticated...

Taking a cue from the two end chairs, now it was time to address the white ceiling!

Using a  flat base color called "mink"(Benjamin Moore), the ceiling was transformed into a subtle giraffe print.

Mink was applied in a flat finish, and then in semi gloss  to stencil the tone on tone giraffe pattern.

The look was now complete! 60's sophistication re-interpreted fifty years later.

Here is a before and after.....the plates now seem at home with the biedermeier  and the room has that Don Draper drama!

Louis Shanks

I recently had the chance to visit the Austin location of Louis Shanks furniture store...

I could show you scads of photos of their well made, high end furniture, and believe me, there is plenty of it! But what caught my eye was the repeated used of paper to decorate....

Books folded and displayed on desks and in secretaries......

Books bundled together with twine, their spines removed exposing the glues and gauze bindings...

Other books with black and white illustrations, folded to make an abstract pattern of design....

...and then there were the scrolls.....

.....bundled paper scrolls tied with twine and placed in everything!

....filling nooks......

and crannies in secretaries......

pages with tinted edges rolled and placed in glass sconces......

Since 1945, Louis Shanks has offered quality and inspiration to the furniture market. The Anderson Lane store I visited is the corporate headquarters for the Austin, Houston and San Antonio based stores. This three story store is over 100,000 square feet and carries lines such as Henredon, Lexington, Stickley,Bernhardt and Sligh.

Theodore Alexander

So, don't forget the details....people notice it all when visiting your home!

Viva Il Papa!

Paxton Gate! When in San Francisco a few weeks ago, I took time to visit their wonderful shop.

I have wanted a Jeanie M  taxidermied mouse for over a year.....now was my chance to take one home...

After gathering up some porcupine quills, I went to the glass case and decided on the Papal Mouse....my home has a lot of Italian influence and he seemed to speak to me...

Due to their fragile nature, (and , the fact I own cats!) I bought a glass cloche to keep Il Papa safe..

Paxton Gate is a shop of curiosities, garden plants and quirky collectibles..

The outside of the shop is just as interesting...monkeys abound in the painted vinery.

If a Hamlet mouse or a Bride and Groom mouse set are still not enough for you, how about medieval armour for your mouse?

Jeff de Boer photo

Jeff de Boer creates intricate armour for cats and mice...

Jeff de Boer photo

This might have to be my next quest!

Thanks Grant for the link!

The Windows of Castroville

I have spent the last week painting near the town of Castroville in central south Texas....

This german settlement  stays in a time warp and is known for its lace curtained windows.....

There is a morphing of cultures here with the Hispanic and German influences creating a new style...

Some homes reflect the typical adobe style ranch home with draught tolerant plants....

But most have the traditional lace curtained windows that bid me to sneak through total stranger's yards to photograph for my collection!

Luckily, it was a sunny day and I found lots of different styles to document....

This is from the Old Alsatian restaurant where I always stop to eat...

I love the way this awning took the lace curtain effect and reinterpreted it in metal....

This has always been my favorite window....three rows of perfectly tatted lace above the wood shutters...

These windows from the past  help inspire me for future projects....take a look at your windows and decide if anyone would like to sneak through your yard to photograph them!