Inspired by a coffee break

This client knew she wanted a botanical presence in her dining room. We looked through books and magazines but nothing made her pulse quicken. We decided to take a coffee break. I commented on her pretty mugs. She said they were her favorite, a gift from a friend, and that she would be upset if they ever broke. They were white mugs with a yellow wash; the negative space was the look of bamboo. I suggested I use the mugs as a jumping off point and she was thrilled. Here is the finished product.

Making the most of architectural details

Modern homes often feature clean lines and open spaces, but that does not make them boring. Here we chose a wall that unites the living and dining room to accent. This intense blue wash was applied in three layers giving it depth and character. And no – the dark color did not make the space feel closed in.

Radical little dude

These surfer and snowboarder images replaced cute little bugs in the room of a cool little dude I had the pleasure of working with. He was five years old and way too hip for cartoon looking insects. We chose some pictures, I showed him a drawing and it was time to hang-ten (but we let mom think she got to give the final thumbs up).

Who would let me do this?

I have to admit – sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and the fool who gave me carte blanche was me. That’s right, this Starry Night made into a mural is right behind me as I type. It is in my home office and I love it. I recognize that this is not for everyone, but I have always loved this painting, and a home office is a place that doesn’t have to follow any rules. It is a great place to express yourself (and fortunately my husband is just wacky enough to like it too).

Getting down to business

Here is a conference room in a local business. Interested in standing out from the crowd, the owners allowed me to put the line art from their logo into the finish. This is hard to see in the picture, but on the left side the line is extended to draw the eye toward their many awards and recognitions. Financial institutions just love lines!