Karen Jorgensons' Blog

Stove Surround

2011-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Christmas! That's what I was thinking when I wrapped up my brushes and swept up the floor. This kitchen is open for business.

This finish was installed over a previously plastered brick. It was created with a textured plaster tinted to a deep dark chocolate brown and then glazed even darker. I darkenend the arches even more to give the impression of years of cooking having smoked the openings.

The motif at the top was created by trowelling a cracked plaster through a custom Modello. The plaster was then antiqued to relate to the tile backsplash.

Bring on the eggnog!

Living Room Remodel

2011-11-29T09:24:00.000-08:00

When a job I was working on got postponed one week before Thanksgiving I decided to take advantage of the time and remodel my living/dining room.

I've been collecting ideas for awhile now and I worked really hard to get as many of them done in the time that I had.

I painted the walls, installed a chair rail (first time ever), made valences out of thrift store dust ruffles and put up a bunch of new shelves.

The color scheme is eclectic but very far from where I started. I'm really lucky in that I have a good friend, I'll call her Melanie, who gives great design advice, especially when my husband cooks a great meal, supplemented with great wine.

When I showed her my original color palette, she guided me back to who I truly am, and what I truly love. I couldn't be more grateful for her guidance and in love with my new room.

Open House

2011-10-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

Our Open House is right around the corner. All the hard work that my friends Julie Young,Vicki Schultz and I have put in to this showroom, will be on display.

Liv'N iT Designer Showplace is a great resource for designers, architects, contractors and builders. All the great vendors are represented in one place so that design professionals can bring their clients in and show them all the pieces of their project put together.

I designed a custom countertop for one of the kitchen displays, and it's just stunning. Everyone that walks in just has to put their hands on it.

What we like to call the "mosaic room" was embellished with metallic plaster on the walls, gold leafing on the chair rail and a beautiful gold metallic ceiling.

We lined one of the hallways with faux wood marquetry, using a technique designed by Melanie Royals of Modello Design Studio. It looks and feels like wood inlay and makes a room feel so much richer.

We have three other rooms that we've transformed with our artistry, but I'm not going to reveal them here. You'll have to come up and see it in person!

Capitola inspiration

2011-10-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

Our daughter is in school year round, which gives us a two week break in the fall. About every other year we go to my husband's aunt's beach house in Capitola, California. The cottage and the town are almost too precious for words.

I take one day to go antiquing by myself and I always start by having a pastry and a latte at Gayle's Bakery. The place is always busy and always worth it. The mosaic tile tables are so charming.

We also walk a lot in between eating and napping. Northern California is a much moister environment and so you see things like this moss everywhere.

I took a picture of this because it's stunning, but also because I would love to create a finish like this for the walls in my living room. Hmmmmmm.

This was the first time we ever took our new dog Percy on a road trip. He handled it really well, and by handling it I mean he slept a lot. My husband and him went on miles-long hikes while I took the girls on shopping excursions. We wore ourselves out and slept like the dead at night. What can I say, it was Heaven.

Decorative Niches

2011-09-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Decorative niches are a great place to add some pattern and increase the "Wow" factor of a room. This pattern is called Silk Road Suzani and was designed by Melanie Royals of Royal Design Studio. I stencilled it in a warm gold and over glazed it with a brown glaze in a striae fashion.

This family has collected items from all over the world, and display them prominently in this room. This Moroccan pattern compliments them without taking the focus off of them. It's a small way to add a lot of beauty to a room.

Unique girl's bedroom

2011-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

I just finished one of the funnest jobs ever. I love working in children's rooms, but this one was over the top. So follow the progression and look for the surprise at the end.

Blank canvas

Basic tree form

The finished, more detailed tree.

I enhanced the walls with a soft sienna glaze. It really warms up the room.

And now for the surprise.....

You didn't see that coming did you! How fun is this!

I can't take the credit for the idea. The client found it in a Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Theirs was pretty basic and was only branches. I thought a whole tree would be prettier and these branches will curve right over the girl's bed.

I bought the flowers at Shinoda's, a local wholesale florist supply store. They were clearanced because they're considered Spring colors.

I also painted the built in closet to reflect the mural.

I loved adding those flowers and leaves. I kept thinking, "This is what display people at Anthropologie must feel like all day."

But the best part was when Elisa said,

"All my friends are going to be so jealous."

Isn't that the whole point?

New Showroom

2011-08-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

I am involved in a brand new venture with two of my best friends and it's so exciting. We have been asked to be the resident artists for a designer showroom in San Diego. Liv'N iT Designer Showplace is an all-inclusive showroom for contractors, builders, designers and architects. It houses samples from a variety of vendors to aid design professionals in selling complete projects.

My two friends Julie Young and Vicki Schultz have their own successful companies in North County, but for the purpose of this space we are coming together to form a new group called Studio Alliance to serve the needs of the professionals that use this showroom

The owners of the showroom have given us free reign to add decorative painting to this fantastic space and show off all our talents. They will be hosting an Open House focused on our group this September, so keep your eye out for your invitation. The photo above is a small glimpse of what we've got going on right now. It's a small taste of what is sure to be a great display of what artists can bring to the design community.

Cabinet refinishing

2011-08-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

This is the Before shot for the cabinet refinishing project I just finished. I'm proud to say I finished it on time and on budget.

This kitchen belongs to my favorite client. When she bought the home the kitchen had just been remodelled. She loves every square inch of it and every knot in the knotty pine. And there's a lot of knotty pine. So she started thinking it might be nice to change the color of the woodwork on the island....the island we fondly refer to as "the biggest island in the world."

Let's just say, it was a brilliant idea. I put a finish on them with two colors of dark stain, but allowed the knots to still come through. I also distressed the edges so that it looks lightly worn.

It really brings the kitchen up to date with the current trend where islands are different from the main cabinetry.

Her granite was really close to the same color as the pine, but with this darker finish the granite looks so much richer. It's like a whole remodel for the price of a fraction of one.

Great idea!

My new Etsy shop

2011-07-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that I've just opened a shop on Etsy. If you haven't stumbled across this website, be warned, it's addicting. It's a marketplace for handmade goods. Any artist can open their own shop and sell their goods all over the world.

I will sell original art as I get inspired to create them, but mostly I will be selling things that I find worthy of a makeover.

I love finding unwanted, unloved pieces and taking the time to sand, strip and paint them back into beauty.

My shop has a small offering right now, but the inventory will grow as items find their way home with me. Please visit my new shop and let me know if you're looking for anything in particular.

Happy Shopping!

Giving Back

2011-06-26T22:53:00.000-07:00

Artisans by the Sea is the local chapter of the International Decorative Arts League, a national organization of decorative painters that is responsible for the existence of my company. The San Diego chapter raised me up, taught me how to paint and how to run my company.

Every year this club performs an act of philanthropy. This year we helped SAY San Diego remodel their Healthy Start preschool. This school is special in that it takes care of military families. Something near and dear to all of us who live in San Diego.

We base painted the kids' bathrooms.

Ursula and Audrey added balloons to the childcare room.

Julie painted the center's goal prominently in the main room. See the finished product at the top of the post. Modello Designs donated the custom quote Modello.(Thanks Melanie and Eric!)

In the interest of raising up the next generation, we had my daughter (experienced) and her friend, Gabe, (first time stenciler) dress up the girl's bathroom with Royal Design Studio designs.

Karma added branches and a toucan (Lynn Brehm design),

Julie and Vivienne added a parrot (Royal Design Studio).

This added a little magic to the walls of the boys' bathroom. (No pictures of me because I was running the camera)

This club has a special place in my heart and it has a lot to do with events like this when we all pitch in and the art just flows.

Aurastone Island

2011-06-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

I just finished this Aurastone countertop in a home in Carlsbad. The homeowners had just built this island and wanted the countertop to be a real art piece. The wife is a fine artist and was hoping to be able to add a few brushstrokes to it as well. She had originally considered a concrete countertop that she would add a mosaic border to it, but she worried that racing to put a border on before the concrete set was going to be too stressful. When I told her I could put in a beautiful faux mosaic border into the countertop, exactly how she wanted it, she was sold.

Because this was a brand new island with no top, the base was created from plywood and 3/4in MDF.

Aurastone base goes on top and sticks right to the MDF.

This is the layer that the homeowner joined me on. She had a great time putting her own hand to the final product. We were going for a natural stone look, with a few mica flakes and a couple deep veins.

I designed a mosaic wave border and Modello designs fit it to the countertops dimensions. In this photo the Modello is in place and ready to have plaster applied. I used Lusterstone in the border.

The Modello came off and then the epoxy went on top.

The beauty of this product is that you can make any kind of top you want; only your imagination limits you. They have a countertop that is completely original. It has the look of a mosaic border without the drag of dealing with grout. It will never chip or stain or come loose.

All ready for Fourth of July!

Two "New" Tables in One Weekend

2011-05-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

These two end tables have been horribly abused by puppies, teenagers with no knowledge of coaster etiquette and yes, even a few spilled wine glasses. We bought them new, with a distressed finish, but the chipped paint and water rings on top are a little more distressed than even I appreciate. Aurastone to the rescue!

Aurastone is a counter top refinishing product that I've been working with for over a year. It sticks to anything, which in this case, was chipped painted wood. I added mica flakes into the base product and then painted subtle marbling effects and texture to make them look like natural stone. An all-solid epoxy is poured on top and buffed to a smooth satin finish.

Aurastone is so durable that no matter what kind of horrors are visited on these tables, there will never be any scars.....or stains. Whenever I save a piece of furniture, I always reward myself with a visit to Anthropologie for furniture jewelry. I love new knobs, and Anthropologie can't be beat for unique hardware.

So there they are....two new tables in one weekend.

And now for something completely different

2011-05-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post....this is one of those projects where someone tells me what they want, and I think, "Well, I've never done that before, but why not?"

This is a beautiful home in Coronado and the client wanted handpainted shells on the backs of the solid colored dining room chairs. I made a stencil so that the size of the shells would be the same on each chair, but then handpainted all the details. Very happy with the finished product.

Happy Birthday

2011-04-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Mom. I miss you every single minute of every single day. I'll be raising a glass in your honor tonight, but sure wish you were here to share it.

Pacific Sales Project

2011-04-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with a fantastic opportunity this week (thanks, Sarah!) by being allowed to redo four kitchens at our local Pacific Sales. Pacific Sales is a kitchen and bath showroom full of the best appliances, fixtures and home theater products.

This is how the first kitchen started...

I plastered the walls with a textured plaster, stencilled the back with a Royal Design Studio pattern, and glazed the whole thing to bring it some age.

This is how the second kitchen started...

I plastered the wall with metallic plaster and then trowelled more plaster through a custom Modello. Totally elegant.

The third kitchen before....

I plastered the walls with a textured plaster, stencilled the Moroccan pattern with a Royal Design Studio stencil, and glazed the whole thing with a nice ochre glaze.

The final kitchen began like this....

I plastered the back with two colors of metallic plaster, and applied metal foil through custom Modellos. Love it!

This is a great opportunity to showcase my craft and an easy way for you to see my work in a great environment.

serenity mural

2011-03-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished this mural today for a lovely woman, who just bought her dream home on the water in beautiful Coronado, California. The quote reads, "May you always have a seashell in your pocket and sand between your toes." It's a perfect sentiment for this cozy beach house. She asked me to paint the quote by the front door, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do a mural as well. She loved the idea and is absolutely thrilled with the results. She said, "I feel like we should have a Grand Unveiling!"

So I'm unveiling it here on my blog....Tadah!

Personality

2011-03-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

I've been injecting a little personality into a new home in Coronado this week. One of my favorite clients just bought a house on the water in Coronado and wanted to put her own style in to the place. She picked this quote for motivation in her office. This quote was done through a Modello which is why it's so crisp and graphic. All the others were hand painted freely.

This quote sits in the dining room and is a personal note from the owner to her guests.

This quote is above the kitchen sink and is a constant reminder of what's really important.

Each of the bedrooms have been named. This bedroom's title is very personal. It hints to the fact that the owner gave birth to one of her three sons in this bed in 1966.......the mattress was replaced, I swear.

And finally, this is where the Queen sleeps, I mean, Admiral. Sleep tight!

Modello Motif

2011-03-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today's project was for one of my favorite clients in Sabre Springs. In case you're wondering, my favorite clients are the ones who give me a beginning idea but trust me to make it truly beautiful. They wanted something with a bonsai tree. I designed this motif with help from Michelle at Modello Designs.

The walls in this bathroom have an orange peel texture, so to make it smooth for the design I plastered the whole area in a creamy, ivory metallic plaster. The Modello was applied on top and filled in with both custom and standard colors of Lusterstone metallic plaster. A truly unique piece of art.

Scraptastic

2011-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

I was working on Roc-lon (primed specialty canvas) for a client's project and when I cut off what I needed I was left with a 24 inch square scrap. It was fate. I have been looking for a square of anything to be my base for a centerpiece I've been creating in my mind for about a month but haven't had any luck. I have a square dining table, which I love because everybody can see eachother, but unfortunately, not a lot of linen companies sell products for square tables. The
Roc-lon is perfect. It's a great product to paint on and it can be wiped clean if your guests get a little crazy with the wine.

What I really loved about this project was that I used scraps to make the whole thing. My good friend, Melanie, knows I'll take anything home rather than throw it away, so when I work with her she lets me take home anything that she can't use. So the Roclon came from the end of a bolt, and the stencil I used was a first run for a new Royal Design Studio design that had some flaws in it. The green fabric was from a thrift shop tablecloth that I cut from an oval down to a round. So it's all free. I love free.

The pots have seedlings and bulbs in them that will be beautiful when they come up. The violets I got from the local farmer's market for $2.50 if you can believe it. My mom always had a violet in her kitchen so when I saw this one it just had to come home with me. So, yes, I should have been working, but I'm telling you,

this little tablescape just made my day.

Calling all interested parties!

2011-02-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

I woke up inspired today to do something new and definitely out of my comfort zone....I cold called a building firm. Cold calling, for those of you with risk free jobs, is when you walk in to a place of business without an appointment. I have been meaning to contact a local builder, in hopes of offering my services, for several months. Today, I decided was the day. I fashioned a custom envelope out of watercolor canvas, embellished it with acrylic paint, metallic foil and (of course) a Modello. I filled it with a brand new copy of Modello by Design, and walked boldly straight in to their office.

I'll let you know if anything comes of this. Wish me luck.

Mini Makeover

2011-02-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

I wandered in to Architectural Salvage in Little Italy last week and found my inspiration for the landing on this staircase. This area has been the wrong color for over a year, but without a solid idea, I didn't want to make a move.

This color went with the old color scheme, but no longer enhances the new palette.

At the front of the store they had two boxes of these carvings. They're all different sizes and colors, but all really pretty. I picked out 9 favorites and scurried home.

Once I blocked in the colors, I used Modellos to add multi-colored metal leaf corners, then hung the carved panels. It's a little different, I admit. But I love it.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2011-01-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

Some of you may not know this, but I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I've sat in the cold for midnight showings. I've visited filming sites in England. The theme song is my ring tone. It's bad. My husband, who loves me anyway, took me, my daughter and her best friend to Florida to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.

I of course loved the whole place, but was really taken in by the faux finishing, expertly applied, over every inch of the park. This fireplace and wall of antlers looks like it's been around for centuries. It's hard to believe this wall is only a few months old.

This photo is of the back of the bar at the Three Broomsticks Pub. It's fun to watch the hog's head, which watches you and snorts. But just look at the walls! The moss and mildew stains along with the aged paint and wood are fantastically applied.

These are the brew handles, with my husband's favorite, London Pride. Having seen thousands of these in London (my husband really likes pubs) I can guarantee you that these look just as aged as any in Britain.

This is a Pensieve, an object in Professor Dumbledore's office. You don't have to believe in the magic behind these movies to appreciate the beauty in these mirrors. I do patinating on mirrors, so I was really fascinated with the kinds of effects they achieved here. Truly beautiful.

More patination, this time on metal. I know how to do this too, but I was still appreciative of their making every effort to make sure every detail was thought of.

This post was part of an outdoor greenhouse that I just loved. I've been to a lot of theme parks and seen a lot of faux finishing, but the effects in this park were created by true artisans with a real desire to transport you to another world.

Job well done.

Matilda Mouse's House

2011-01-22T19:04:00.000-08:00

Matilda Mouse's House Antique and Garden Event is held once a month in a barn on the Betty Crocker Estate in Valley Center, just North of San Diego. A creative group of women dress up this big barn with antiques and magic and for a few moments time just stands still.

Today the entrance was adorned with this great iron bed and vines and twinkle light and a tray full of chocolate. Sounds like a dream bed to me.

It's a true junker's dream, but you really need to know what you're looking for. Like these crates full of table legs. They're so awesome, but what am I going to do with them?

My daughter was in love with this sign. It really sums up the secret of life the true pursuit of happiness.

I love this vignette. I really enjoy seeing how they mix the modern with the vintage, antique and shabby. If you ever get a chance, it's definitely worth the drive.

In Memorium

2011-01-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

Love you and miss you, Mom...my heart and soul, my strength, my guide.

Putting you in your place

2011-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

In California we are all very aware that our most valuable investment is our home. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners use this as the reasoning behind why they painted their home beige, or for the very brave...darker beige. They believe that their decorating decisions should always take in to account how it will affect their ability to sell the home, somewhere down the line.

Being a homeowner I understand this line of thinking. But being an artist, I just can't live with it. I have seen it proven out time and again that when a home truly reflects its owner, the home is more dearly loved. Now who doesn't want to LOVE their home and not just live in it?

Personalizing a home with a painted quote is a great way to inject a bit of yourself into your home. The painted florals on the edges of the design coordinated with the home's fabrics. This kind of embellishment takes less than a day to do.

This is a great example of a room that most people would have painted beige or maybe taupe. But aren't you glad they didn't? The warmth on these walls only makes the vanity and fixtures look more luxurious, and I promise you that tan paint does not have the same effect.

This room had existed for many years with light gold walls and a white ceiling. The texture I added to the walls in combination with the colored plaster on the ceiling truly enhanced the furniture and accessories this owner had collected over the years. This client informed me after their first time entertaining in the newly remodelled space that he was surprised to have noticed that even he looks better in the room. Color affects everything.

Now kids rooms are a place where most people will break away from neutrals and allow their children to pick their favorite color. We took this a little further in this room and allowed this teenager to design the image over her bed, as well as have a paint party with her friends.

I know I'm starting to make some of you uncomfortable, so just keep reminding yourself....it's only paint, it can be painted over. At a time in life when most teens feel misunderstood, this lucky girl feels free to be exactly who she is. Isn't that worth the price of queasy stomach and a couple gallons of paint?

I'm starting to sense that you think I may have gone too far in this room, and I may have. But this is my studio, so I'm allowed to do whatever I want in here. I designed this so that I would have places to hang all my little mementos and inspirations to keep my imagination flowing freely.

So let's go back to the beginning.....will I have to paint this out when/if I ever want to sell my home? Of course I will. But for now, this is my favorite place in the world to be, and I get to be here every day. Take a leap! You'll be glad you did.

Stairway to Heaven

2011-01-11T13:50:00.000-08:00

Nowadays we don't see as much fine craftsmanship anymore. It's all about the bottom line and speed. That's why I love this staircase so much. It looks like a time intensive, inlaid wood staircase, but in reality it took 28 hours total to achieve.

I started by having select, unfinished maple installed on the risers. Select maple is a great smooth surface with little to no knots, so the artwork is the center of attention.

The pattern is created by using four different stains and custom designed Modellos which are adhesive stencils and come in a limitless array of patterns. I used two different patterns, alternating them up the staircase.

Each color is applied separately, after which the coordinating Modello pieces are removed.

A very durable urethane product is applied to protect the design from wear. It's a stunning addition to this home. Separating it from all it's cookie-cutter neighbors.

Guest bath remodel

2010-12-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

I just finished a stunning remodel that I'm so pleased with. It's also a complete remodel which included wallpaper removal, a new countertop and cabinet refinishing. Take a look at the before shot.

Pretty hideous wallpaper, ay? It highlighted the really boring Corian countertop and the basic maple, stock, vanity. The first thing to go was the countertop.

I replaced it with my new favorite product, Aurastone. It's a new countertop resurfacing product. It allows the artist to create any kind of stone they'd like, and seals it with an all-solid epoxy coating that is extremely durable, ecofriendly and food-safe. Not that you eat in the bathroom, but it's still a nice quality to have in a countertop.

Following the messy job of wallpaper removal, I applied my new favorite lime plaster, Vella Venetian plaster. It's a zero VOC plaster that's more affordable and durable than what we've been working with in the past. I wish you could feel the silkiness of this product. It feels like glass except warmer. Lights reflect with a shimmer off the surface and just ooze luxury. I finished out the look with stencils from Royal Design Studio done with custom mixed stains.

The vanity I kept, but refinished to look like an old French vanity, complete with knobs from Anthropologie. I distressed it with faux termite holes and everything. It's really pretty. Just goes to show you how different a room can become with just a little paint and plaster.

Distracted

2010-08-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to apologize for the lack of postings lately. I did something completely uncharacteristic of me. I'm a planner, I don't make life decisions on a whim. But when I came upon this little guy, I just couldn't help myself. He's half beagle and half pug, and my daughter named him Percy.

So I'm kind of like a mom with a newborn, trying to work my sample making and job schedule around naptimes and feedings. Luckily puppies don't take as long as babies to become self sufficient.

A Study in Red

2010-08-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'm working with a designer on an accent wall in a client's home. They were looking for something in red. This is the one they went with, but I thought you'd like to see some of the worthy runners up.

This finish is created by layering different colored metallics over a relief of bamboo leaves.

This finish is layers of metallic plaster over variegated metal leaf.

Very deep crackle. This would be great in a niche or as a counter top.

A very dramatic crimson Venetian plaster with a gold wax finish.

Just keep all these in mind as you start to see the stores filling up with holiday goodies...yes, even though it's only August. Imagine what you could do with a dramatic red dining room when you're entertaining this Fall. Hmmmmm.

Real Homes of the South Bay

2010-05-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Real Homes of the South Bay home tour, hosted by Foliage Furniture & Interiors, was a huge success. I had a great time and met a lot of great people. I was able to introduce a lot of people to current trends in custom wall finishes and countertop resurfacing.

I got the impression that people are ready to start investing in their homes again. The tour was able to show how working with a designer and trained professionals can make a big difference in helping you create a home you love and reflect who you truly are.

I really enjoyed working with the homeowners and helping their homes become the beautiful sanctuaries they longed for. One especially sweet story was about the room above. The little girl who is supposed to sleep in this room, hasn't spent a night here in quite some time, preferring to sleep in her parent's or sibling's rooms. After embellishing this room with a few stencils, her mother told me the next day that her daughter slept in there for the first time since forever and that she loves her room. It's amazing what a little paint can do.

White tile makeover

2010-04-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

For everyone who has endured the upkeep and disappointment in their white tile countertops, this makeover is especially sweet. The main reason I decided to learn how to use Aurastone was because it promised it could be installed right over white tile. I was blessed with 3 white tile countertops in my home. One I demolished myself two years ago, which was a lot harder than I thought. Although the countertop guy was impressed that I got through the whole demo unscathed. Regardless of my skin being intact, I was not relishing the idea of taking out the other two in our bathrooms.

Enter Aurastone.

I created this Aurastone countertop right over the white tile, and you can't even tell it's under there, which is awesome. I wanted to keep the painted tile backsplash so I added stencilled details to coordinate.

I imbedded recycled glass and mirror right into the tinted Aurastone and I'm in love with the resulting texture.

It's also nice knowing that no matter what my daughter does, it will never stain, chip or peel. Even better than that, it's completely custom designed and there's no other countertop out there like this one.

Stunning makeover

2010-03-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

I finished my first Aurastone countertop today. I am in love with this product. Last week I had a boring white Corian countertop in my powder room. Today I have a beautiful countertop that looks like something I would have shopped at a slab yard for and waited two weeks for it to be delivered and installed. But no......I made it! I'm addicted.

Now all I need to do is find cool tile for the backsplash, stain the cabinet and plaster the walls. It's going to be stunning.

Soft Palette

2010-02-26T12:04:00.000-08:00

According to my friend and designer, Michelle Larson, grey is the new brown (which was the new black). I've really been enjoying creating palettes with grey as the central color. This accent wall has several shades of grey and is accented with lavender, eggplant and espresso brown. The whole design is done with Lusterstone which is a synthetic metallic plaster with a subtle shimmer that is just lovely when the lights hit it. The geometric images were created through the use of custom designed Modellos. It's a contemporary finish for a unique condo in downtown San Diego and the client absolutely loves it.

Aurastone

2010-02-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

Aurastone has become my passion of late. It's a cutting edge, eco-friendly architectural coating with unparalleled durability and aesthetic appeal. It's designed specifically as a counter top overlay system. It can be used both indoors and out, on any flat surface. It can be installed over tile, wood, stone, granite and laminate.

The design possibilities are endless and I'm just starting to explore all that can be done with this innovative product. The above sample has been embellished with a second "stone" layer through the use of a Modello, which can be completely customized for any surface.

If you're in the market to remodel your counters or tabletops, Aurastone should be at the top of your list. It has a zero VOC topcoat and has been food safe approved by the FDA. Since it can go over your existing countertops it doesn't require your kitchen to be torn up and rebuilt and most installations take no more than 3 days. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.