High-Rise Living

The book launch party at Boxwood was amazing thanks to the Boxwood crew. Great food, great drink, beautiful flowers and a fun crowd.  The fab Red Vault was there and posted some great party pics on their blog! http://blog.theredvault.com/2011/09/fabulous-fun-at-leslie-sinclair-book.html

This charming renovation was a wonderful example of how you can take a small white box and transform it into a warm, inviting and comfortable space. After living in the same house for over 40 years, these homeowners were ready for a lifestyle change. Wanting a handicap accessible place with security, no maintenance and the comfort of a concierge staff, they moved from their 5,000 square foot Dallas home to this 1,100 square foot high-rise - now that’s what I call downsizing! Enlisting the help of their daughter, who happens to be renowned interior designer Kara Childress, they edited their existing furnishings and accessories to create an easy, fresh look that incorporated some of their favorite traditional pieces. 

Because the new space is small, keeping a consistent finish throughout really helps enhance the flow. For a rich, but casual look, the depth provided by this tinted plaster, applied to both the walls and ceilings throughout the unit, makes the space feel bigger. I love how this light fixture from BROWN, the series of old herbieries in the entry, and the wonderful bench with the trim detail create a a warm inviting feel as you enter the space that continues throughout.

Kara tried to adhere as closely as possible to the “less is more” philosophy and get rid of the “dust catchers” her parents had accumulated over the years with four kids and thirteen grandkids. Kara chose comfy slip-covered pieces blended with traditional elements like the 18^th century commode and glass-topped Corinthian coffee table. The mirrors seemed a bit dated when they first moved in, but by cleaning up the trim and plastering floor to ceiling, the reflection makes the space seem twice as big. 

Here are the homeowners looking like honeymooners enjoying their beautiful yet comfortable new living room! The inspiration for the space came from their existing pair of hand-colored botanical engravings and two French chairs with a soft floral fabric. Preferring the morning sun, they got this spectacular view overlooking the city that Kara framed with silk draperies in the same tones as the other upholstery. “We instantly added character to the simplistic architecture, embellishing those bones with such uncomplicated objects as family photos and handsome lamps and fixtures, the space feels collected and personal.”

The kitchen was a key place to bring in that homey feel. Painting the existing cabinets, adding a backsplash of antique tiles from Chateau Domingue and removing sliding doors that closed off the space gave the small space a whole new dimension. I love the surfaces here, with elegant crema marfil honed marble floors and practical Silestone countertops.  BROWN provided these beautiful kitchen pendants – check out the great reflection they cast on the plastered ceiling!

This beautiful antique door from Chateau Domingue greets you as you enter the master bedroom retreat creating a special place. Kara mixed soft textures with warm wood pieces that create interest. To customize the original construction, all of the floors were replaced with these wide wood planks and all the door openings were enlarged or made into casements. I think having the different bedside tables and lamps is a great way to add “his” and “her” personality to a bedroom.

According to Kara, “the closet was originally a big wall of heavy sliding doors that were coming off the track.” I love the solution she came up with -  replacing the doors with a fabulous linen drape on a track installation so that the drapes literally disappear into the walls but create interest to an otherwisw utilitarian type hallway.

Kara opened up the master bath by knocking out walls and making it one big space. They built a free-standing shower and added a Restoration Hardware console as well as a mirror to conceal the medicine cabinet. This turned out to be a functional, beautiful, warm home full of character, personality and intimacy.  It really shows how a small space can feel like home with the right design and finishes!!! Thanks Kara and team and her wonderful parents for sharing their home with us!! 

Well, I am off to the Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas this week where I will be checking out and blogging about the wonderful finds there. The Marburger Farm Antique Show has been a favorite source for antiques for more than a dozen years. I am so excited and honored to have my new book, Segreto: The Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors featured at this outdoor festival with a special book-signing event. I'll be in the main promenade area.  2248 S State Highway 237, Round Top, TX 78954.  Hope to see you there!!  Come by and say hi!!!  xoxo -Leslie

Giving History A Fresh Twist - Part III

We’re finishing up our tour of Paige’s beautiful home and grounds this week. Renovated and expanded by builder Steve Goodchild of Goodchild Builders, this older home was updated and customized with personal touches to make the space better suit Paige and her family’s style. With five boys, Paige does a wonderful job creating casual yet elegant rooms that are virtually indestructible and easy to clean. This pool house is no exception! I love the way she adds some of the same personality here that we’ve been seeing in the main house.

Using the pool house and grounds for casual entertaining, playing bocce ball or just hanging out and watching a movie, Paige wanted a yard that would be simple, tailored and low maintenance. Without having too many flowerbeds of color that need to be changed out every season, the backyard utilizes green perennials that will look pretty for several years. The pool house is fantastic – looks just like a miniature version of the main house!

This kitchen area was formerly an entry, small kitchen and outdoor closet.  The space was completely gutted to transform it into this terrific open kitchen.  Paige brought in light materials that wouldn’t feel too heavy near the pool. Notice how the wooden ceiling is painted a different color, than the plastered walls. I really like how this sets it apart and marries the ceiling to the floor.  The steel casement doors are perfect not only for creating an indoor/outdoor space on beautiful days but also for easy clean-up so close to the splashing water from the pool. This light fixture, from Chateau Domingue, is an 18^th century Lustre from Turin, Italy – it serves as an unexpected, elegant element that adds just the right amount of color.

The stove area was inspired by a picture of an old ice cream shop that had a whole cabinet of marble and ice box doors. To give the look a more modern feel, Paige chose brass front doors with very clean lines. She also added this great island, formerly used to roll chocolate in Provence, from Chateau Domingue – it brings in so much old charm, balancing the sleekness of the marble.

In the great room, Paige tried to use as much of the original material as possible. I love the finish on these original wood walls that were sanded down to a natural cooler. They lighten up the room so that the brick fireplace remains a focal point. The floors were also original to the old pool house, but a few more matching slate tiles were added to fill the space.

Wonderful fireplace!  These bricks came from the old original post office in downtown Houston!

 The pool house shifts from the light and airy feel of the kitchen to a warm, hunting lodge atmosphere.

Paige has a cool collection of these “memory jugs” that add a great sense of history and character. According to her, “Years ago, when someone would lose a loved one, the family would decorate jugs, vases or other items with small belongings of the deceased as a reminder or memory of them. Each has its own personality and story… I love that!” They remind me of the craft projects in school where we would glue different pastas, buttons, and other objects to cigar boxes or bottles and spray-paint them. This would be a fun project for your kids to do!!

Paige and her family love the beach, and each child collects a favorite shell on each trip.  She uses them in baskets, on shelves, on coffee tables, as accessories to bring a bit of the beach back home.  They surround her with many wonderful memories.  What a fantastic way to involve the kids in taking part in decorating their home!! It shows that its the personal touches from the heart that make a house a home!!

 

 This is the pathway to the back of the house. 

Paige restored this wonderful area off the back of the pool house. The brick walls were already original to the home but the area hadn’t been used in some time and was more like an over-grown mud pit. Putting in a special grass that’s perfect for bocce ball, the family now utilizes the area for games, archery and outdoor entertaining.

I love these statues original to the space that are propped on the wall.  Paige--you did an amazing job!! 

Lots of exciting news to share at Segreto!! My book launch party is at Boxwood Interiors this Thursday the 22nd starting at 6:00.  You are all invited!!  Special thanks to the Boxwood clan on hosting such a fun event.  On Saturday, the 24th from 1-3, I will be signing books at the Accessory Place in Town and Country. For more information on events or the book, go to www.segretofinishes.com .  Big Thanks to the Susan Fox who writes a FAB Blog- Love Where You Live -She wrote a really nice piece on my favorite projects!!    And one last thing, a friend of mine opened a wonderful new store in Katy-Multiplicity.  They have a gallery, gifts, jewelry, a wonderful space and gardens where they have venues and a studio for art classes. It’s worth the trip!! 1306 Avenue A Katy TX. 

Have a great week, and thank the Lord for the rain!!! Till next Monday! xo Leslie

Giving History A Fresh Twist - Part II

Continuing our tour of Paige's gorgeous 1950s John Staub home from last week, I wanted to focus on their incredible kitchen, den and breakfast area renovation. Completed by Steve Goodchild of Goodchild Builders and the interior design by Paige herself, this major remodeling project added on and transformed the former carport into the hub of the home to suit the family's modern lifestyle. 

Working with the family on their last house, building designer Robert Dame was their number one pick to tackle the kitchen-den-breakfast area remodel.  "I enjoy working with Robert ,” Paige says “because he has a clear understanding of the importance of scale and proportion, while keeping in mind the history of the home."

 

Restricted by ceiling heights of under eight feet, the space was challenging.  For this multi-functional, high-traffic area, it was important to create a light, airy and cozy feel that stayed true to the character of the original house. Providing a sense of history, 1 x 6 pine boards were applied horizontally on the walls, traditional cabinetry with brass hardware was built in and reclaimed Belgian blue limestone counters were installed.  This mix, along with the white marble, makes for a soft color palette that keeps the space feeling open so that the ceiling heights become a non-issue.  Hats off to this dream team - walking into this new renovation, visitors would be shocked to learn this area didn't exist before.   

Making sure that this new addition would stay in line with the architectural style of the original home was a significant consideration for builder Steve Goodchild: "With an existing home, we must become one with the original artist and follow his line of the thought. My favorite part of the home is the kitchen because although it's the newest, most modern addition, it still complements Staub's original design." I love that both the walls and ceilings have a consistent finish, allowing Paige to blend together fun accent elements without making the space look choppy.

Because Paige spends a majority of her time in this kitchen and living area, she wanted something that wasn't "overdone." For an elegant yet comfortable feel, she incorporated open shelves that keep the kitchen casual as well as reclaimed concrete tiles from Chateau Domingue for an interesting backsplash.

This area, originally the carport, morphed into the main TV room. Seeking a casual feel, Paige fell in love with the linen look of slipcovers. But to ensure durability that could withstand her five boys and also prevent shrinking, Paige cleverly washed the fabric twice before having the slipcovers made. She now continues to wash these weekly! 

I always find accessorizing to be difficult to do in my own home so I'm really inspired by the way Paige combines such an interesting mix of accessories.  I had to ask whether she buys what she likes and makes it work or whether she buys just for the space?  Her answer: "I buy what I like, but I constantly have to edit in order to maintain balance."  And I think balance she maintains!!!

The art in the breakfast room is eye-catching! It's a Charles Schorre that was a gift from Paige’s parents years ago.  The ceramic truffle hunting boar, breakfast table and chairs all came from AREA while the hanging light fixture was found during a trip to France. I adore her use of the contemporary art with the industrial elements and antique furnishings - It's so warm, fun and interesting!

 

Found in Round Top, this mirror made from fisherman's knot roping is another great example of the way Paige ties in unique pieces. I love the mixture of textures in this powder room, resulting from the combination of the mirror's frame, the tile and the sink basin!

 

There are even more unique items to be found in her landscaping. I love that she's able to incorporate her wonderful style even into the outdoors! Thanks again to Wade Blissard my FAB photographer!!  Next week, for the last part of this house tour, we'll have a look at the pool house and the grounds.  

Thank you so much for all whow have purchased my new book Segreto:Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors and to Joni Webb for giving the book such a wonderful review on COTE DE TEXAS (a blog favorite of mine  http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/ under West U Home Tour.) The responce has been heartwarming for me!!  I now have redecorated my dining room floor to ceiling with books!!  Hope it becomes the new rage-ha-ha.  If you have ordered a book for pick up or would like to purchase you can go by my gallery on Thursday from 10-2 for pick up- 1200 Blalock #314.  I hope you have a great week!!!  Please pray for us Texans to get some rain!!!!  xoxo  Leslie

Giving History a Fresh Twist!

When Paige and Todd first saw this home in the heart of Memorial, a lush, tree-filled Houston neighborhood, they fell in love before they even walked through the door - and who wouldn't? This tucked away home built by the infamous Detering family in the 1950s was designed by well-known architect John Staub.  Entering the house for the first time, Paige immediately felt the soul of the house and knew this was the perfect place for her family of seven to call home. This fabulous house and guest cottage has just too many beautiful spaces to share in one blog so it’s a two-parter (and believe me, you'll want to stay tuned)!!!

 

Steve Goodchild of Goodchild Builders was enlisted to complete the renovation. Paige, who has always had a love for design, decided to tackle the interiors on her own! Growing up, Paige’s favorite thing to do was spend time with her family decorator, Ernie Hankins.  Whether they were scouring the antique shops or looking for fabrics, they always had fun together. She can still hear Ernie constantly reminding her Mom, "Not everything in a room can be the star, Stephanie!"  This advice has stayed with her every step of the way.   

Although the house was more traditional than Paige’s personal style, its elaborate moldings and beautiful hardwood floors are original to the home and add great character and history. " I felt that the classic elegance of the house would serve as a great juxtaposition to our art collection. I knew this combination would make the house feel young and alive again."  The walls were originally plastered with a canvas backing on top and then covered with layers and layers of paint through the years, causing the plaster to lose its original luster. To give the surface more depth and a hint of sheen, we removed the backing, tinted the same type of gypsum plaster used originally and re-plastered. "The plaster played a very important role in the overall look of the home," states Paige. " I wanted the walls to be elegant and special, yet not overpower the moldings, our art collection, and special pieces of furniture. Plaster creates a polished backdrop and is something that you feel the instant you want in the room."  

 Adjacent to the foyer is the formal living room. I say "formal", but Paige has done an amazing job of not making any room "off limits" to their five children. Paige’svision for the home was to have a feel of casual elegance with some very special touches, and she succeeded in designing just that while also bearing in mind that their five boys would be running in and out every door with their cleats on!  "There isn't a floor they can ruin or a fabric that can't be washed."  I love this tree limb table that Paige purchased over 12 years ago from Annette Schatte Antiques.  It is still one of her favorites as well!!!  

These homeowners have a wonderful art collection!  It's been a shared passion for the couple for years, and whenever they find a piece that speaks to both of them, they buy it.  "We don't have a rhyme or reason when buying art, we just collect what we love," says Paige.  Her favorite part of this calming room is the coffee table from Chateau Domingue that originated from an orangerie outside of Paris. " I love anything with a story." 

Paige effortlessly combines modern elements like this acrylic coffee table with a variety of fine antiques. The arrangement of the living room furniture was so important because she wanted to have an area that was comfortable whether she was just having a glass of wine with a girlfriend or hosting a large party.  The different seating areas allow for plenty of versatility.  

 

Off the living room, there's this beautiful den area that doubles as both a library and a study.  Applying a high gloss varnish brilliantly updated the original glazed finish on the paneling!!! Paige instantly fell in love with the Ikat fabric from Bergamo and used it for everything in this room.  She creatively coupled the fabric with this great cow hide - a perfect material for her family because they have an elegant look but are virtually indestructible!

 

The dining room walls were originally covered in hand-painted wallpaper. While this treatment is authentic to the era of this home, it just wasn't Paige. Instead, we chose to plaster in a richer color than seen in the rest of the home and then paint all the trim and casements to match. Notice that by having the walls, casements and ceilings the same color, the entire room is seen as a whole, and not the individual lines of the trim. This is an easy way to change the feel of a very traditional home. Theto-die-for vintage Italian Murano glass chandelier from AREA and gorgeous antique dining table are perfect for this 1950s home. Notice the centerpiece on the dining table - again, so unexpected!!

She creates a contemporary feel by bringing in this large, abstract mixed media piece entitled "Biloxi" from Thornton Dial. Dial is most often classified as an outsider artist, a term that attempts to cover everyone from naive painters like Grandma Moses to institutionalized lost souls. The strong colors in the work pop against the mellow colors in the walls. Keeping the look clean, Paige enjoys not having a rug under the dining room table. 

The charming main powder bathroom centers on this rustic stone sink from Chateau Domingue, a reclaimed 19th century stone fountain from a garden in France.  The 18th century Italian mirror, also from Chateau Domingue, and the unique scones from Bill Gardner Antiques draw the eye towards the ceiling.  I love the ledge on top of the sink - great for placing soaps and accessories - and the one handle for hot and cold--soooo unusual!!!  

The bright and cheery office is Paige's favorite room in the house! It's her "black hole" where she comes to disappear. As Paige explains, "When you have five kids, having a room to call your own is essential!"  Wonderful floors are a great way to give character to a small space. Whether you use paint, carpet or tiles like these reclaimed concrete ones from Chateau Domingue, be creative and don't be afraid to add personality.

 

I love the charm of this bar area!  The pot sink from Chateau Domingue is such a beautiful, outside of the box accent! And the scones from Round Top Antique Fair and reclaimed Belgian blue limestone counter top are great accompaniments to the plank paneling.   

And, of course, here's the talented and beautiful Paige!!  Thanks so much for trusting me in the home renovation and for opening your home to us, Paige!!! Be sure to stay tuned for more next Monday! We'll be checking out the amazing kitchen renovation, guest house and grounds!!! Better watch out, Paige - you may just have to start designing interiors as a profession!!! Many thanks to Wade Blissard for the wonderful photography.

The Book Is Finally Here!!!

It’s been an exciting week around here at Segreto! The new Segreto Finishes website,www.segretofinishes.com, is up and running, AND I just received the first few advanced copies of my book, Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors…I definitely feel like a big girl now!!!  I really wanted to share many of the beautiful homes that I've been so privileged to work in and honor all the wonderful homeowners, designers, builders, architects and tradespeople that I've enjoyed working with over the years. It was, without a doubt, a new experience for me to put a book together, but I truly enjoyed the journey! To give you a sneak peak inside the new book, I've included a few of the main images!

Here is the cover!!! I wanted to open with an image that didn't lean too much to any one style, but rather compelled you to peak inside, so we used this snippet of a mirror resting before a plastered wall. My hope with the book was to showcase our work in a clean, simple and elegant fashion - in a manner that would look good on any interior coffee table. And it's certainly turned into a true coffee table book, consisting of 300 oversized pages filled with photography and tricks of the trade.  It even has a gray ribbon page marker that I just love!

I decided to self-publish in order to have more decisions in the final content and creative direction (I now think because I'm crazy).  It was definitely a challenge, but I put together a wonderful team of people who helped me through the process. While multiple talented photographers have their work featured, Wade Blissard was the primary one.  I was so lucky to have met him, all because a member of my staff gave me a special Christmas gift - for him to photograph a home! And we started working on this project almost immediately! 

The book is divided into several sections to help the reader navigate through different finishes. In the first section, I focus on homes that we've plastered, giving a bit of background on what the homeowners were hoping to achieve. Since I work in all design styles, the book combines a multitude of them, with tips on how to choose finishes for those styles - from French to contemporary (like the one above), traditional to eclectic. 

Choosing the colors, typeface, basic flow and layouts of the book were so important but a big first for me. I brought a client and friend of mine,  Muffy Buvens (mbuvens@wardandames.com), on board, and she worked magic! She's a wonderful graphic designer who managed to get exactly the look I wanted on all the book layouts. Muffy and I, both having busy families and full time jobs, spent many nights, mornings and weekends together!  The whole process took about a year-- and bless my family and amazing clients for being so supportive during that time. I am forever grateful!!

  

The book's second section highlights homes that use a variety of finishes to create that special personal touch. Every finish in these homes works together in order to flow from room to room while still imbuing each space with a sense of character.  I have to extend a big thanks to Karen who runs me and my office, Isai who runs my plaster crew and all of my talented artisan staff who pulled extra duty during this process to make sure that all my current and future homes are as beautiful as the ones showcased.

I absolutely love seeing the evolution of a kitchen when the cabinets have a series of glazes applied! Cabinet finishes are just such a wonderful way to turn built-in, spray-painted cabinetry into quality furniture. They soften the space while creating character, charm and drama.  I dedicated an entire section of the book to these transformations and then followed it with a section on beautiful baths to give some hints on how to finish these tricky spaces.

While beautiful photographs of amazing interiors showcase different ideas on how to use finishes, I also included a reference at the end of each section that offer readers some finish options. The spread above is just a small range of all the possible cabinet colors and techniques Segreto's team creates.

I hired Nicole Jacobson (nhjacobson1@gmail.com), a young English graduate from Vanderbilt, to help me edit - that was a lifesaver!! She was like an angel...she came into my life during the editing process and then flew away the day of completion to North Carolina as a newlywed.  Someone from above was definitely looking out for me!  I was so impressed with this young talent, and I know teaching me grammar 101 couldn't have been easy for her!! She's definitely been missed at Segreto!!

The last section of the book focuses on our special finishing techniques - from faux finishes to ceilings to murals to decorative painting, we cover it all. Along with images of different techniques, I also tried to give a brief history of these finishes and an explanation of why they work well in certain spaces.

The resource directory in the back of the book records sources of the great builders, designers, artists, architects, building designers, antiques and trade that have their work featured throughout. I really enjoyed researching this section - it was so interesting to learn more about all the people, companies, stores and products that made these homes as gorgeous as they are. As I am in the midst of redoing my own home right now, it's a great help to see where to purchase the lighting, flooring, rugs, etc. that were used in the interiors I've fallen in love with. 

Thanks again to my family, staff and clients who have helped me along, not only through this journey, but also through distribution by hosting book signing events, throwing wonderful parties or carrying the book in their stores. Boxwood is hosting the launch party on Sept. 22nd beginning at 6:00. Everyone is invited!!   Visit the events page on the website to see what's coming up and RSVP to the all the various functions. I hope you enjoyed the preview of the book - it is now available for purchase and will ship mid-September through www.segretofinishes.com under 'book'!!!  The website will accept credit cards (so cool - like magic) or you can contact the office at 713-461-5210 to order by check. I hope you all have a great week and let's pray for some rain!!