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!!

It's all in the Details

When building a home from the ground up, where does one even begin? To realize this vision, a design "dream team" was assembled. Building designer Robert Dame started the process, builder Sandy Ballard of Suncor Builders handled construction, and interior designer Sheila Lyon was brought in to pick all selections, finishes and additional furnishings.

For me, the theme of this home embodies "Its all in the Details!" I hope you enjoy seeing what careful thought was paid to every detail and how that can impact the personality of a home. 

Notice that much of the art and details in the interior have a focus on nature and animals. The wife is a veterinarian who rescues birds and wildlife and wanted to have what she loves resonate throughout the home.

 

Beginning from the exterior of the home -- which looks like something found in Normandy!-- the details begin.  I love how this combination treatment of stone and brick on the facade gives an authentic European look ...It is so well done, natural and not contrived or forced looking.  The blue shutters with wonderful hardware really complete the exterior feel of the home.

"Bob" the cat enjoys the sunshine in the well lit entryway.  What do you do with that large wall space above the front door? To give the illusion of light without changing the structure of the house, this stained glass window is back lit in front of a recessed wall rather than actually facing the outside. There is not really a window there--so the outside looks like stone.

You'll notice that custom stained glass windows appear throughout the house. The idea came from the owners' love of the beautiful stained glass windows in European churches. All were made by hand in Carmine, TX. 

The mirror and sconces from Decorative Crafts are the focus of the fireplace mantle wall.  The mantle, which was first painted white,  was lost until we glazed it to bring out the details. The new finish balances out the carvings of the mirror and sconces above. 

Who would have thought to bring in the Norman design even on the air conditioning vents? This turns something utilitarian into something decorative! These wood patterned vents were selected from Pattern Cut.  

 The stenciled wall designs and decorative touches on the ceiling make this dining room oh so Pretty in Pink which is the home owner's favorite color!!

Not being able to find the perfect shade of rose to complement the dining room drapes in a wallpaper, the walls were hand stenciled with a champagne metallic paint to give the effect of silk fabric coverings.

We painted a traditional hand-drawn medallion on the ceiling to showcase the wonderful chandelier and create formatlity. This touch of rose on the ceiling ties it into the walls and fabrics.

Because the dining room is so large and open, corner treatments and line details were added to the edges of the ceiling to give this room an intimate feeling.

Of the powder bathroom above, designer Sheila Lyon feels that "In rooms with a captive audience, each detail makes an impact and adds to the overall look." The custom venetian plaster walls feel like marble and are a wonderful compliment to the crystal sink and gold hardware, all from Hollywood Hardware. The bird paintings and accessories throughout the home reflect the home owner's love of wildlife and pulls nature indoors. Surrounding yourself with accessories and art you love is a great way to make a new home feel like your own!!

Certain doors throughout the home, such as this one leading to the wine cellar, are hand carved to bring attention to them. The intricate woodwork was done by a local craftsman, who happened to knock on the door to the home owner's office one day looking for work. Loving his samples, they let him start on one door, then Sheila designed and had him add many hand carved touches through out the house- including the front doors!

 An old world gypsum based plaster was applied to the walls which sets the tone for this wine cellar. 

Another stained glass window has the fleur de lis the homeowner loves and is the center of in the wine cave! Notice how the stone carried in from the outside and the brick ceiling that was embedded in the exterior stone is used here.

Painted electrical covers - just can't resist pointing this out! These details really allow the space to be seen as a whole instead of focusing on the distracting electrical plates neccesary for city codes!!

The kitchen, den and informal breakfast table share a large space overlooking the backyard deck and pool area. This awesome room with a view of the surrounding bayou is both the home owner and Sheila's favorite space for good reason. Notice the large hand carved stove hood designed by Sheila and crafted by the same artisan that created all the doors.  It, along with the cabinets, is covered in a series of glazes to create a European furniture look.

 

On the island where Sheila wanted a bit more character, dimension, and detail, we distressed and applied a series of stains to lend a furniture-quality old world finish.  Notice on this island and on stained furniture pieces there is darker shadowing in the groves. 

Sheila and the homeowner worked together to create  a dramatic and fluid staircase railing which was embellished with a bronzy leafing paint to highlight the details in the design without creating an over-the-top, all gold railing.

 

 

Even the ceiling on the second floor has some detailing on it! It really breaks up what would have been a large flat white plane. I love ceiling treatments whether they are wood, plaster or hand-painted. If you look historically at ceilings in the past,  most were adorned surfaces such as this.

 

Now, we go into my favorite room of the house, the study. The homeowners really wanted the intricate ceilings that they had seen in past century Normandy architecture. Robert Dame did an amazing job creating this study which could have been taken from medieval times!! Sheila added the carved touches on the fireplace mantle and pulled the colors from the homeowners existing rug, which are reflected in the chair and drapery fabric to give the room depth and warmth. 

 

Love these detailed ceilings!! Sandy Ballard from Suncor Builders executed Robert's vision masterfully!! 

 

Stained glass windows, wood craftsmanship and unique ceiling treatments again appear in the circular stairwell ceiling.

 

The master bathroom is a serene blend of neutrals with gold and crystal accents. The custom built cabinetry, designed by Sheila to look like furiture, is complimented by their specialty paint finish.  Sheila loves floor designs and this spectacular one really makes and defines the space!!  The graceful shape of the mirrors is a nice way to add height without overpowering the room.  Sconces placed on mirrors is always a great look!

 

 

The custom armoire was built to fill the client's storage needs, and is finished consistent with the cabinetry as not to break up flow of this wall.  It allows the tub placed in between the vanity and armoire to remain the focus of this wall. 

 

See how the floor inset pulls the marble from the vanity tops and the tub deck. The master bathroom walls were treated with a three-color faux technique to blend seamlessly into the furniture finishes.  Gold and champagne metallics were applied first to give depth and a bit of sparkle, then a neutral top coat softened the look.

 

All the guest bedrooms in this house are named like rooms in The White House. Here we have the blue room. The bed was the homeowner's own when she was a little girl!! 

 

In this case, the vision for the blue room came from a small desk the owner's grandmother received as a wedding gift in 1901. Her father repainted it blue in the 60's for her mother and voila therein lies the inspiration for the cabinets and finishes Segreto matched in the bathroom.

 

The blue room theme translates to the bathroom. Finished cabinets and intricate tile work keep the two adjoining rooms consistent. Sheila designed the floor plan of this room and decided to incorporate "armoire storage"  for guests and added an arch to soften the tub area. Love the beautiful tiles above from Walker Zanger.  

 

The antiquing really makes the mirror frame so custom.  Here is another birdie element--a beautiful soap dish for this room.

 

 The pink room has a floral theme which is carried onto the tile in the bathroom, also from Walker Zanger, as well as the soft pink marble. 

 So pretty the detail in this tile.

 

Because there was a unique space between the doors of the cabinetry and the granite top, a hand-painted design was added to give interest to the cabinets, while pulling the fleur-de-lis pattern from the tile and custom mirror. 

Green tile designs keep the color scheme consistent on the walls in the green room suite. 

The multi- functional upstairs game room incorporates a bar area, comfy seating, TV and various games. Here again are the amazing details and wonderful shapes of the ceiling. 

Little well thought out details again!!! The fleur-de-lis appears in a new format, as hardware and carving on the cabinetry!! The walls here started with a black base paint, and were topped with a metallic faux finish to pull in the shine from the tile backsplash.

 

 Curved paneled walls and arched ceilings lead to the movie theatre. Look at the shape - even the wrought iron has a beautiful curve and detailled posts.  

The second downstairs powder room is located adjacent to the outside living space. The custom stone sink from Hollywood Hardware resembles an outdoor bird bath, again pulling the homeowners love for nature and animals inside. The mirror from the Ellouise Abbott Showroom was painted to alter the tones and dress up the space. 

The pool and outdoor living room area (which is air-conditioned by the way!) overlook the bayou view and catch a prefect breeze. Yes- I actually  felt a breeze in Houston in August! The animal theme resonates in the backyard with swan statues and a trickling fountain that surrounds the pool.  

Thanks so much to the team who did such a great job on this home!!  I had so much fun doing the project and really enjoyed seeing how the thoughtful consideration on all of the details truly added up to one amazing house! Would love to hear some comments and until next Monday when i post again!!

Also great news! Our new website is up! Check out the new look at Segreto Finishes !!! --hope you all have a great week.

Kid's Rooms--It Brings me Back!!

Gosh my kids are all grown up, but I never get tired of doing kids' rooms.  It's a place where fantasy takes over and being serious is just not important.  I hope you enjoy looking through these places of imagination--where kids have their own space and create rooms they can have all to themselves.  these rooms were all designed to last 5-7 years and many have lasted for much longer. Tips on making these kids spaces last is to paint in a more realistic fashion (every age appreciates art), and if your child is 2 or older involve them in the process. The younger ones love to name the animals we paint, smell the flowers, and try to pick up the balls on the walls--too cute.  The older ones really feel that they have their own refuge that they helped design and I so enjoy listening to their ideas about how they want their rooms to feel.  Whether you are redesigning your child’s room or creating a fantasy land for those grandbabies, have fun with the process it’s a way to go back a bit to your own childhood!! 

With a soft and dreamy room in mind for this little girl, a carousel was created which highlighted the wonderful ceiling shape. The color palette in this room is so soft and sweet--fit for wonderful dreams!!

I love the animals--takes me back to my childhood and my favorite ride the carousel!!! 

 

I worked with Designer Shelia Lyon in these next three rooms designed for a family's young children. The tree in the corner of this nursery is just enough and combined with the stuffed animals crates and outside park.  The over-sized animals are so fun for a little boy's room. Small touched really create an impact and are easy on the pocketbook.

 The stripes on the wall done in cream and pink with a small green pinstripe transform a space into a room fit for a princess!  This treatment can last well into the teen years.  I love the upholstery detail on the bed.

Some hip-fun colors make this playroom place of creativity and inspiration.  The walls are painted a color from the fabric, which is also used as inspiration for the motifs painted in the arches over the windows.  Shelia's idea of putting cork as the bottom paneling is brilliant--what a perfect place to hang their art work at a level they can reach!!  Thanks Janet Lenzen for these three professional photo's!  

CHOO CHOO! What little boy wouldn't love a train bed?!  When we first started with the mural we asked the him what his dream bed would be like. He said with great joy "A TRAIN!" So on this project, I brought my dad in, who is a retired engineer and carpenter, to help. My dad custom built this bed for him to make his dream come true!!  The mural created behind the bed makes this toddler feel he is in motion!!

  This Jr higher has had a love for basketball since he could walk. This mural of his favorite players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant was painted so he could always enjoy the game, even in off season. Even when LeBron switched to the Miami Heat, we went back to change the jersey and shoes to match.     

 This outdoor mural was actually painted on the ceiling and not the walls of this 9 year olds room.  It gives a wonderful detail and certainly will give him nice dreams as he looks up counting deer instead of sheep as he goes to sleep.

Creating an 'Alice In Wonderland' theme for designer Julia Blailock's own little girl's room was certainly fun—from the Mad Hatter to Alice peaking over the crown molding, this room has lasted this adventuresome little lady from birth through elementary school.

What a great idea for a teens room.  This bright lady researched all the inspirational words and phrases that we painted around the room.

Designer Anne Lydick wanting to create a reading nook for his then 6 year old who loves soccer, the shape of the space was used to create the goal. To insure the room lasted, which it has through the Jr high years, the portrait of the boy playing soccer was painted to replicate him at an older age.

Painting things that are realistic certainly insure that your murals will last.  Many times in kids rooms they already have things hanging on the walls, so a ceiling is the perfect place to add interest.  A different sporting ball was painted in each corner of the room! For Girls flowers and ribbons in the corners do the trick!!

This college-bound boy was relocated to the smallest room in the house which needed a bit of a lift when he came home to visit.  The mural incorporated his school and fraternity and was painted right on the wall—these are great ideas for canvas pieces that they could take with them and keep for life rather than as a mural. 

This playhouse was created in a cubby that was a previously unfinished space near the den.  Murals were painted to open up the space and fill a room where you couldn’t add much furniture—the clock, phone, windows, curtains, sky, and even the Christopher Robin characters were painted to make this place space come alive. 

Creating a western room for this 9 year old where he could dream of living on a ranch takes him away everynight when he goes to bed.  Adding windows in smaller rooms really opens up the space and makes the room feel larger.

Working with designer Elizabeth Koval was enchanting in creating castle scene!!  This is where Prince Charming will sweep this little lady off to her Cinderella Castle--placed behind a sitting area with a table and chairs creates a separate play space in this little girl's room. Murals like these can be painted on canvas and applied to the wall so the mural can be saved when the child outgrows it and reapplied in her own children’s room. So special and so sentimental!! 

  Want to wake up in a jungle every day?! The swinging chair under the leopard is a fun, cozy place to sit. The leaves on the burlap drapes were actually placemats found at Stein Mart and they really complete the look...how creative!

 Wanting a soft, whimsical room, these walls have a tone on tone stripe. This was done using a gloss and a flat paint of the same color.  A thin silver pinstripe was placed on either side of each stripe giving a bit of sparkle to the walls.  I love the butterflies floating above the crib. this room could last from birth to graduation.

This is my little girls room (he-he she is 18)!! Creating separate spaces in rooms for teenagers gives them that apartment feel they love. Here the bedroom is separated from a sitting area.  The panels over the couch and bed help define the sleeping area from the sitting area. The rug was originally in the penthouse at Caesar's Palace and was the color inspiration for the room.  This drama-queen loves old movie stars, so she has Audrey Hepburn painted in her bathroom to complement the Marilyn Monroe prints above the couch. The coffee table and side tables were found for 50 dollars each at a shop in the heights, then painted to go with the theme of the room. I just took this princess to college--she is LSU bound. I will see what empty nesting has in store for me!!  Exciting news for me for two reasons. The first is I will see the first completed bound copy of my new book Segreto:Secrets to finishing Beautiful Interiors. We will be sending out an announcement soon or you can register for a copy on the book release section of the blog!! I am holding my breath!! Second thing is I am off to California to go to my in-laws wedding anniversary.  Away from the heat for a week!!!  Yayyy!!  I hope you all have a wonderful week and will visit with you again on next Mondays post!!

Industrial Ranch Part 2!!

Sorry about the posts that keep getting sent to you each day!!  Technology!!  I hope you enjoyed seeing the transformation last week of this wonderful ranch style home with an industrial twist!!  Although the home took longer to build--all the tile, finishes and furniture selections were made and installed in 4 months. Last week we left off with the kitchen, this leads us to the back hall and master suite.

 

I think the old plow over the painted console from Judith McClellan is such a wonderful combination with the jade lamps from Heights Antiques on Yale. I love shopping in the heights.  You may have to dig a bit, but there are some great finds for throwback prices. The chandelier is from MAI Consigned.  I am so honored to have one of my art pieces "Glimmer"  hanging in the back hallway!!

  

Leading into the master suite here is another one of the skins that Beverly is finding a home for.  No worries...Karen says its friendly!!  The homeowners don't want to worry about their dogs ruining things, so Beverly purchased remnants from The Great Rug Company on Fondron and had them bound.  This way, guilt free, the owner can just replace them when they get too worn out.

  

 This table which brings in the industrial element with it's zinc top was from Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top. 

 Look how beautiful the master bedroom came out!! The homeowner's only real request was for her bed and bathroom to feel like her favorite beach resort in Costa Rica. There is that headboard look again that I love.  The beautiful side tables, bed and ottoman were all made by Randall Edwards.  The mercury glass vases from Judith McClellan were made into lamps by Alcon Lightcraft.  Their scale is just wonderful.  Longoria Collection bedding is always soft and luxurious.

  

This combination of unique and individual items really works and shows Beverly's knack for accessorizing to complement and complete the look of the room!! The side tables next to the couch are actual beehives that Randall Edwards has made into tables!! The lamps are alabaster and made by Eddie at Alcon. The Shell adds that island charm and was a find from Carolyn Thompson Antiques.   The pillows from Boxwood tie the bedroom and bathroom colors together and give the room the splash it needs!!

   

A picture of a traditional bathroom with bright walls was the inspiration for the room.  Mary Malik from Materials Marketing, an absolute genius with tile, helped lay out the bathroom tile as well as for the rest of the house.  We finished the ceiling which helped transform the space into that beach retreat. Starting with a thinned down primer to take the red out of the wood, a series of stains were applied, then sanded it back for a worn effect.   

 The bits of color in the tile really bring in the blue from the walls and give the space a resort feel. The glass tiles in the shower are marvelous!!

 

Where does Beverly find these things?  The antique etching seems to be made for the chair.

The furniture in the boy's bedroom and sitting room is all custom made by Randall Edward. The headboard fabric is from Robert Allen. Because of the time frame for ordering fabrics and the home deadline, many of the fabrics were from Glick Textiles, Interior Fabrics, and High Fashion Home where you can buy it immediately off the bolts--no waiting necessary. 

Painting the trim a darker color can give a more finished, unexpected look in a bathroom.  Benjamin Moore's Gun Metal paint was used in the boy's bath and really complements the tile well.

This little lady is an artist so the walls were left bare to diplay all of her masterpieces!! I really like the shades in the room and how their pattern gives interest next to the clean bedding. 

Daughter number two's draperies are from High Fashion Home. I love the splash of orange. Bulletin boards are greet way to keep things organized in a room—it the cork color doesn’t go in a room, it can always be painted on or covered with fabric.

 

The pop of orange here is tied in from the old table Beverly found!!  

This settee that was in the daughter's room before comes alive with the lovely pillows from Boxwood.
        

 Another beautiful tile selection from Materials Marketing in this bath.  Wouldn't you just love to come home with your bath counters arranged and towels displayed in baskets?

The upstairs game room is so eye-catching with the iron fence from Heights Antiques on Yale hung over the couch, the quirky lamps from Interiors on Dunlavy, and the basket side tables from Judith McClellan! Then there's that great pop of color again with the orange pillows -- this ties the look together so well. The neat coffee table comes from MAI Consigned.

I couldn't show this house without showing the fans on the back porch. These are from the Big Ass Fan Company.  The homeowners first saw these fans in an airport--they work great and are made right here in Texas.  Hope you enjoyed this home and appreciate how the decisions were made perfectly and put together so quickly to create someone’s forever home!!  Hats off to the Rudy Colby, the building designer, and Stefano Costantini, the builder and Beverly Shaeffer, the designer, that pulled it all together. I was certainly honored to be a part of the team!!  Hope you have a great week!!  I am moving my baby girl to LSU this week and will be a true empty nester!!  Yikes!!

Industrial Ranch

When I'm asked to think of moments in which beautiful design magically comes together overnight, I will now always draw to mind how MAI Consigned owner Beverly Shaeffer, along with her design team and her go-to stylist George Brownley, transformed a 10,000 plus square foot home in an incredibly short time frame. They worked on everything from finding the perfect furnishings to putting food in the pantry - all in three days! This project was such an evolution from 4 months ago when there was no tile, lighting, finishes or furnishings selected. The results are gorgeous, and I love how these elements have worked together to create a unique ranch-style home with an industrial, sophisticated twist.

Welcomed by a lovely note, a bottle of wine and beautiful flowers scattered around, these homeowners who had been out of the country would have never known what a whirlwind the house was in just days before. Building on the same lot as their previous home, the homeowners became overwhelmed with the many decisions needed to meet their July move-in date. Thankfully, building designer Rudy Colby recommended Beverly Schaffer to come to their rescue. When Beverly started the project in March, builder Stefano Costantini from Costa Custom Homes was in a holding pattern awaiting some design decisions, so the pressure was on to make selections FAST.

Though the design choices were reached quickly, the result has an air of aged sophistication. As you walk in the entrance, the distressed beams, beautiful plastered walls, lime-washed staircase railings and dark wooden floors make you feel as if you are stepping into a quaint European hunting lodge. 

To the left of the entrance, this charming dining, wine cellar room with wine racks and a brick-covered wall and ceiling was utilized as the staging area for lighting until just two days before the unveiling.

 

I love the mix of these antique built-in wine crates with the distressed wood finish of the new cabinets. This lovely landscape painting by Darlene Walls was out on approval from Segreto Studios -  try to spot where it ends up!

 

This wonderful one-of-a-kind, custom-built table by Randall Edwards is complemented by these Randall Edwards upholstered chairs that have a great two-toned effect.

 Just imagine how stunning this will be once the wine racks are full!  The homeowners have been saving some of their favorite, beautifully labeled bottles from special events to display in the shelves—this will not only add their personality to the room but also showcase some meaningful memories. The centerpiece painting of a Napa Valley landscape is another one by Segreto Studios artist Darlene Walls - very fitting for this cellar retreat!!   The two old mirrors set on either side of the door leading to the bar area lend a great reflection of the room's various elements.

 

Inspired by the unusual, tree trunk-like sink bowl that the homeowner and her friend found at the Marburger Farm Antique Show, this powder room meshes beautiful antique and rustic pieces with more modern, clean lines. The simple industrial look of the plumbing fixtures and the stone basin that Beverly and Rudy designed  gives the space that chic contemporary feel while the mirror and sconces incorporate an interesting, aged touch.  Polishing up the same plaster finish that's used throughout the main areas of the home dressed up this room and set it apart.

 

The vestibule leading to the great room features both a really cool, glass bowl light fixture that Beverly found at Carolyn Thompson's Antique Center for just $127.00 and an antique Catholic altar fragment from Antiques and Interiors on Dunlavy, sitting atop a table from Beverly's own shop MAI Consigned.  With her gift for mixing unusual elements together, Beverly turned this beautiful, lodge style home into a welcoming retreat full of unexpected combinations.  

It was so fun to see the various items scattered everywhere...I felt like I was doing some shopping myself. I loved this dog bed from the Fabulous Flea, letting Beverly know that if it wasn’t used at this house, it would be perfect at mine!!! 

Because there is a full wall of windows, a stone wall with a fireplace, and an open kitchen-great room floor plan, this wallspace over the cabinet is the only place for both the TV and art. Beverly was originally planning to have Segreto paint a piece of art on large panels and mount them as sliding doors to would hide the TV, but then she saw these wonderful panels by Debbie Mosley at our gallery and will use these for the screen instead. Because the flat stain on the cabinet wasn't producing the right effect, we started to transform this piece just three days before the unveiling! Here is the lovely Karen, my amazing right-hand gal, testing out the scale of the paintings in the space. The white primer on one of the cabinet fronts is our first step in the painting process of the distressed look we're going for.

Rikki, part of the Segreto Finishes team, worked on a Saturday to finish up the piece before the homeowners' arrival that evening!!!

He did a beautiful job! And I think Debbie's panels will look amazing when installed on industrial glides!!! I love how her pieces rethink landscapes in a contemporary way. 

 

Did you find Darlene's small landscape? I love its placement here - pulling in the same colors of Debbie's panels on the other side!  And here we find some of those wonderful Boxwood pillows again!!

This large taxidermic piece is just one representative of the homeowners' large collection of mounts, skins, etc. that they really wanted to use. So how did Beverly incorporate these two friends?

 

Since these two had been fighting all day, they had to be separated - hehe - ending up on the mantle of the billiard room's fireplace.  Creating a masculine, hunting lodge feel in this space, many of the mounts are displayed here in interesting groupings.  I love the turtle lamps on the mantle— perfect!!

Seeing the kitchen in this state two days before the clients returned just made me tired for Beverly!!  The homeowners who love to cook, bake and entertain unexpected guests wanted to have a space that was comfortable and could accommodate all!!  This large kitchen that opens to the den is just that! Featuring two large center islands, a sink-stove area and a large cabinet that displays dishes and houses an elaborate coffee bar, these homeowners definitely have space to entertain and enjoy meals!!!

I love the combination of lanterns and custom industrial lighting from Italy. Very unexpected and very cool - both fixtures came from Brown.  There are also two small sconces by the sink that coordinate with the industrial piece.   

These recessed shelves built into the brick near the stove are a perfect place to store spices and seasonings. 

The far island with this wonderful copper sink also integrates some of the reclaimed brick, and the custom counters are reclaimed wood built by Custom Floors Unlimited.  We did a painted finish on the island's cabinetry to lighten up the space and take a break from all the stained wood.

 Wow, what a beautiful kitchen that suits all the homeowners' needs!!! Unbelievably these barstools from Boxwood matched our island finish exactly!

 Hats off to building designer, Rudy Colby.  This space is so well thought out for both aesthetics and functionality. Leading from the side kitchen to the homeowner's office is this great prep cooking area with a sink, more ovens and a steamer—perfect for catering in the kitchen.  The Sub-Zero and Wolf showroom (located at 2800 Sage Road near the Galleria area) has wonderful chef presentations to showcase all these fabulous kitchen appliances.

 The butler’s pantry located between the prep area and the bar is any foodie's dream—not only is all the food placed in the room, but all the shelves have been labeled!!

The series of glazes on the cabinets in her office provide warmth, charm and a bit of  femininity.

 

 Cabinet finishes makw such a difference in can a space! They can soften, define, add interest, etc., but regardless of the effect, they always transform one-color sprayed pieces or built-ins into incredible furniture accents. I like this one so much I did the same finish on the previously stained built-in cabinet in my den.

This home has way too much to share in one visit!  Next week, I'll take you through the fabulous master suite, the bedrooms, study and outdoor patios. How they managed to unpack and furnish in three days and make all selections and complete the builing process in just 4 months is beyond me - I won’t complete my kitchen and den redo in 10!!  Thanks Beverly, Stefano, and Rudy for bringing me in on working on such a wonderful project and sharing it with us all!!  To get the blog sent to you every week, be sure to sign up under subscribe and it'll come straight to you every Monday!   Hope you have a great week!!