Leslie Sinclair's Blog, page 13

DIY-Create Your Own Framed Art Pieces!

Hi Friends! I hope you are having a great week! I loved seeing so many of you last week att he book signings!! Quickly approaching is the gift-giving season so here is a DIY if you need some gift ideas! I had a fun mother and daughter crafting day with Kirby and thought I would share with you how we created new art pieces for her apartment.

Kirby, who just moved in about 6 months ago because her roommate is getting married is now moving out. Although I will really miss her, it has been fun hearing her ideas on how she wants to decorate her new pad! Remember when she designed my son Matthew’s place in Dallas?! She definitely has a nack. Above are items picked for her living room. Super cool don’t you think and…….all on a budget!

For our art project, this grouping of paintings was her starting inspiration! She loved the concept of small art pieces with large matting, combined on a wall, reading as one statement piece. Her vision was to hang six art pieces over her sofa.

She shopped online and found these frames at Michael’s with the double matt. They were 40% off so she got all 6 for $169.00–not bad!!

Of course, I have lots of art supplies just ready to create. I used garbage bags as a covering to protect my table!! A must! I wish I had a plastic disposable table cloth on hand, next time for sure. Any paper will work for painting your own artwork. If you will be using a lot of water or paint to create, thicker paper works best.

Kirby pulled the colors she wanted that were in her fabrics and we both just started painting. This is something you can also do with your kids. If you are specific about your color palette, make sure to only have available colors you would like them to use!

The fun part is there is no right or wrong way, and you can always layer with more paint. Sometimes our “mistakes” turned into our best pieces.

White having our painting days, I got two texts from different blogger friends that they Loved Segreto Impressions and were going to post about it. The first was from Hello Lovely . I love how she styled it!! Her blog has won too many awards to count! Go check it out!

After we completed a few, we put them in the frames to see how they would look.

She decided these were too busy- actually, Kirby said: “Mom these stress me out, I want a more soothing combination of colors.”

So we layered a metallic pearl paint on top. All gals love a bit of shimmer!

Happy with the outcome, we chose our favorites and put them in the frames using tape to adhere them to the matte.

If you need to take a break and look at some inspiration, Tina with The Enchanted Home posted Segreto Impressions as her seven Sunday favorites. She started blogging about when I did and not only posts about wonderful things but also has the most amazing shop!! This week she also shows a wedding to die for!!

We had so much fun together, it was a true collaboration. She was so excited about the outcome and I loved seeing that big smile on her face.

Look how the pieces added to her vision boards for the space. I think they are going to look beautiful over her sofa!

We had some art pieces left over, so back to Michael’s! Kirby went and purchased these smaller frames to put on her shelves. What a great gift these would make. She is now deciding to give them all to her friends for Christmas!

I hope you enjoyed hearing about our crafting day! This would be a fun idea to do with friends, kids, and even your Mom! I hope to see you at the Kinkaid Bookfair if you have kids that go there or at Marrone Market in Friendswood this Saturday!! Till next week! xo Leslie

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Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Hi Friends! This is an exciting week for book signings opportunities if you live in Houston!! Come chat with me and shop at Three Doors on Wed. MAI and Back Row Home on Thursday!! If you order online and want a signed copy please put in the message box. There is a glitch in the software and we are not able to see if you just check the box for signed copies!! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Before we start all the decorating, table setting, cooking, and entertaining talk, let’s think of three things we are thankful for, and text or email someone we care about something super nice and thoughtful!! Hopefully, we will brighten their day and they, in turn, will make someone else’s day special too!!

I think we should make that our tradition each day through out the holidays!!  Since Halloween is over, it’s time to think about Thanksgiving!! My pumpkins from Halloween are still alive and looking good so I thought I would take off all the spiders and re-purpose the pumpkins.

Maybe its a bit busy but I am going to go with it anyway!!

You may have a traditional set of dishes that you look forward to using each year.  I personally like to mix and match and change things up each holiday season. So, I pull from what I have and see what combinations work.  You might be surprised with what you come up with!!   I kind of like this orange and blue mix.

I have a bad habit of sometimes waiting until the last minute to prep for Thanksgiving.  The hard thing about that is sometimes it is difficult to find enough of any one item when I need to add something to the place setting.  The great part of my procrastination tendacies are that most of the Thanksgiving décor is on sale.  This year I added enough napkins and a few velvet pumpkins to mix in from Pier 1.

For Halloween I made split pea soup for an appetizer which was a big hit, so I was thinking of trying a different soup recipe for Thanksgiving and wanted something special to serve it in.   My favorite find were these pumpkin soup bowls from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy’s.  The price was greatly reduced-due to my last minute shopping- and, I could get them just in time for the holidays!

After playing around with so many combinations, I decided on this place setting!

Mainly because I liked how the napkin rings coordinated to the centerpiece!!

I really wanted my family to remember and reflect on all the good they have received each year. Seeing this great idea from Country Living inspired me to create a family activity we could add too every year at Thanksgiving. Moo or Vista Print are affordable ways to create the cards. I went to Moo and created 50 different picture cards on the front and left the back blank, so each person could write what they were thankful for that year. I chose 5×5 postcards, but you could use the business card size which are 2×2. At the end of each season I will save them in a box which will be brought out each of the follow years. It will be so fun to read and relect on past years and add to each season.

These burlap placemats actually were left over wrapping material I used to package Segreto Vignettes for Christmas!!  I purchased them from Uline.  You can get them in all different sizes and buy in bulk!!

Everyone had so much fun looking through the pictures from the past year!!! This definitely will be a tradition I will continue!!

The soup bowls were a big hit too!!

This year my typical 12 guests went down to 6, and these six were really health conscious eaters.  I opted to try roasted chicken with cauliflower rice dressing and roasted vegetables–one pan style!!

It really turned out great and I was surprised how we all liked the cauliflower version as much as the traditional dressing with bread!!

You know I cannot follow a recipe, so I can’t give you an exact one to try. Here is your inspiration.

Ingredients:

Frozen cauliflower rice from Trader Joe’s

Turkey Italian sausage

Fresh thyme, sage and rosemary.

Italian seasoning- I like essence of Provence from Trader Joe’s. Sea salt and pepper.

Chopped or julienne carrots, celery and onions. HEB sells them all already chopped. 

Add your favorite veggies to roast. Brussel sprouts, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes and all roots are great! 

Cut up veggies and marinate in oilve oil, fresh rosemary and seasonings. Brown the Turkey sausage in a pan. Add the onions, carrots and celery. When soft, add the thawed califlower rice and season with the fresh and dried herbs. Clean the chicken, rub with olive oil and seasonings and insert the cooked rice mixture into its cavaties.  Cover pan with foil, drizzel with olive oil and layer with vegatables. Place the stuffed chicken on top and cover with foil. Google how long to cook depending how big your bird is. Take foil off to brown the last 15 minutes or so. 

A beautiful food display can make such a difference. Layer with greens and garnish with fruit or flowers!!

I think I am going to try this festive fall salad next time from The Novice Chef! Looks delish and so stunning!!

Here are some more beautiful tablescapes! I love the green, gray and orange from Dining Delight!

Sugar and Charm create a beautiful arrangement with coppers, grays and whites!

The Fashionable Hostess created this simple and elegant tablescape with whites, greens and grays!

I don’t think you can ever go wrong with these napkin rings from Pottery Barn.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I appreciate each of you and the many gifts you have to offer others. Remember to spread those gifts this holiday season, to family, friends and beyond! Hope to see you before Thanksgiving but if not Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Till next week, Leslie

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The Evolution of the Fireplace-Ready to Snuggle?!

Hi Friends! I hope you are having a great week! What an amazing week for me! We had the launch party for Segreto Impressions with the people whose homes or projects were in the book! So much fun! I also loved seeing so many of you at DASH and hearing such great reviews on the book! With fall in the air, visions of snuggling up in your favorite chair with a good design book come to mind! So, flame up those fireplaces on a cool, crisp night, relax and enjoy!

Fireplaces have been used since the Stone Age serving as the only heat source, as well as the only option for cooking and baking! Today, they are still used for heat (maybe not in Houston) yet have transformed into a decorative element bringing families together. But how did they evolve?

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In the middle ages, holes were dug in the center of the room for the wood and in the thatched roof ceilings for the smoke to escape. Imagine the constant worry of the ambers igniting those roofs!

The more affluent built homes out of stone, and some are still standing today. I had to show this one, the wood inset into the plaster walls is to die for!!

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Beginning in the 11th century, two-story buildings were more common. Chimneys were moved to the outside wall allowing for a fireplace on each floor and redesigned to create a draft and expel the smoke vertically! The photo above is what survives at Aydon Manor (1300 AD) in Scotland. The openings were large, allowing for a bigger fire and more heat. Think about the smoke intake the people of the day inhaled!

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In the 1600s and early 1700s, a typical fireplace was wide and deep with an open recess. These walk-in fireplaces were normally designed without a mantel. They were large in scale so they had ample room for cooking and heating!

The reclaimed fireplaces from the past are still used today, like this beauty from Houston’s own Chateau Domingue, seen in the newly released Segreto Impressions coffee table book. I loved collaborating with architectural consultant Sarah West on this lovely home.

In 1600 AD, Prince Rupert of Rhine, nephew of King Charles I, invented the fireplace grate allowing air to reach the wood from underneath and fuel the fire. This beautiful reclaimed fireplace is from Renouveau Antiques. The home’s interiors, designed by James Mol, are featured in the second full home spread in Segreto Impressions!

In the 1900s, with the introduction of central heat, fireplaces were relied on less for heat, and design became more of a factor! Hard to imagine though this look was all the rage in the late 60’s when my house was built!

I wish I had known then what I do now! The brick could have been slurried!!

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Or plastered over giving it a modern, clean feel. Most plasters have a fire retardant quality which is perfect for reinventing your fireplace!

Today we have taken our love for plaster to heart and developed our own signature SegretoStone line. Many fireplaces we build on-site, but now we also offer pre-cast plaster fireplace mantles, built off-site and easy to install!

My daughter Kirby, who has taken over our Instagram account, always gets lots of likes on our alternative to stone or concrete versions. If you don’t follow us, take a peek at our Instagram page!

Here is another design of ours. The mantle was made off-site, installed and then we coated the overmantle on the job to create quite a statement in the room. For more fireplace inspiration follow my Pinterest page. I hope you are all snuggling up by your fireplace with someone special!

For those who have ordered your books already, they are shipping this week! I hope you all enjoy it, as this one truly is my favorite to date!! Love you all! Till next week! Xo Leslie

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Defining Spaces With Paint!

Hi Friends! I hope you are having a great week!! It’s an exciting one for me! Segreto Impressions will be here!!

We received a partial shipment, so I have seen it first hand. The covers turned out prettier than I even expected, velvety in feel and showcasing a ceiling we did with hand formed plaster roses!

We will be launching the book-with a sneak preview for those who have homes/projects in the book on the 23rd and then will be at Dash’s opening party on the 24th from 6-9 at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards St. in booth #4 Dash Home! I can’t wait to share it with you-truly my favorite Segreto book to date.

Defining Spaces With Paint!

Sometimes we want to define a space without walls or create little nooks within spaces, and what a better way to do that than with paint.

Pinterest

What a wonderful way to create a reading nook in your home with adding color! This whole room may seem dark but you could also reverse the pallet and have the darker color on the inset defining the space.

My Desired Home

We love this idea of using paint to define a home office in a one-room space. This could also be a perfect kids study hall. By bordering the space with a color, it seems like a totally separate office area!!

Use your imagination-paint can take many forms!! In this instance we are creating a working map to make this wall special, defining a play area!

Murals Wallpaper

Or what about an ombre look! So many colors that make amazing combinations. You can do tone on tone ombre or this gradual face from blush to seafoam!

Lovely Market

The bold blue color creates a dramatic floor to ceiling accent wall and is bordered by a painted trim, bringing in the golden tones from the rug. Pulling other tones from the room, you can create a separate space that still feels cohesive.

Cote Maison

Stencils really pop and can make a big interest statement but still flow with the room since the base background of the stencil is the same tone as surrounding walls!!

This home office was painted silver and has a raised graphic white plaster layered on top! Cool and contemporary, this one of a kind treatment defines this space.

Pinterest

What a dramatic way to showcase your favorite accessories, family photographs or special artwork!! Pick a color that enhances what you are hanging and the other items on display. This is an easy project, all you need is paint, a level and tape!

My Domaine

For a home with no trim, this is an impactful way to create drama and give a contemporary effect, which in this instance gives a modern European feel to the space. Love the old world art straddling the painted line, paired with a contemporary chair.

My Minimalist World

Mid-century modern-Yes, please! The yellow blocking painted over the door and trim is truly what makes this space unique.

By Koket

Solid stone walls are works of art! Don’t save it just for baths and bars, recessed niche’s in entryways are perfect vignettes for special treatments!

Who doesn’t love this paper by Porter Teleo! We actually have used this concept for many of our painted inspirations. Can’t find the colorway you would like–just say paint!

Here is a rendering we are currently working on for a client! I am super excited about seeing this installed!! The beauty of it? We don’t need to worry about how the repeat design will wrap onto the ceiling!!

Desire to Inspire

Quick Tip…when applying accent walls with paint, use the basecoat of the other walls in the room in your graphic, as pictured, giving a better flow to the space.

If you are getting your holiday list ready- make it easy. We can ship directly to your loved ones and hand-write a special note from you! Order yours today! I hope to see you at Dash. If you can’t make it here is where I will be for the next couple of weeks.

Three Doors– Wed Nov. 6th from 1-3 2402 Bissonnet St.

Memorial Antiques and Interiors-November 7th from 10:30-1:30 (the New Studio) 7026 Old Katy Rd.

Back Row Home– November 7th 2-4, 8570 Katy Frwy #111

Kinkaid Book Fair Family Night

Aidan Gray/ Dwell with Dignity -November 14th –1-8- Cocktail reception from 6-8. 1436 Slocum St. Dallas, Texas

Monroe Market– November 16th-11-1  610 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, Texas

I hope you all have a wonderful week!! Till next time! XO Leslie

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A Halloween Dinner Party-Spooky!

Hi Friends!!  It’s time for my annual Halloween dinner party!!  In thinking about this year’s table, I will share last year’s event. Decorating for and hosting a dinner party for my kids and their dates have been a new tradition for us in the kids later years as we are not competing for time spent with their boyfriend/girlfriend’s families like we are for Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving!! I love thinking about how to make things unexpected and special each year. It’s become an event we all look forward to!

Here was 2017’s tablescape!!!  I thought it was so cute but this year’s decor additions definitely were more dramatic!!

You can see the placemats, salad plates, napkins, napkin rings, orange glasses and most of the scatter in front of the centerpiece are the same.   I am such a bargain shopper for my table-scapes.  I like to be able to mix and match and change things out without feeling guilty.  I also try to buy things that can work on multiple occasions.  For me,  the tablescape hunt is half the fun.

I did some pre-planning with looking online for Halloween table-scapes and ordering certain things from Amazon.  A big tip I found out this year, which transformed my table, was when I went to Michaels looking for a few more things and discovered that their entire Halloween décor was 80% off the week of. This year it is already reduced to 60% off. The spiders, both big and small, moved the pumpkins I made into the creepy zone!!

I also found these cute ghost dishes and clip-on spiders with green sequins which I added to the fall pumpkin napkin rings I already had. I did still see these at Michaels just last week.

What is Halloween without candies!! These ghost dishes, also from Michaels were the perfect fit!

Decorating the chandelier can totally transform the room.  Embellishing it with skulls, spiders made dinner feel even more spooky!

Amazon is such a great resource for tablecloths!! Starting with black, I layered it with a lace spider topper and purchased them both for under 15$! The chargers were 31$ for a set of 12, napkins 12.99$ for a set of 10 and although I bought the black wine glasses from another site I found these on Amazon which are similar.

Party favors are a must! These glasses retailing for 8$ a piece at 80% off, were a steal at 1.60$ at Michael’s of course. I liked them so much I bought one for my Segreto staff and filled them with all sorts of goodies. The dollar store is also a wonderful place to shop. Sometimes you can find holiday socks, bandaids, bracelets and glow sticks-perfect for their goodie bags. Amazon is also a great source.

I can’t have a party without a craft! These gingerbread haunted houses were so much fun to make! Sold at Trader Joe’s, it was perfect for all ages!!

With kids who are 20 and 30 something, a unique bar is a must! Using glow in the dark bracelets as stir sticks made each drink a concoction.

And now for dinner!

I started with homemade split pea soup! It was one of my favorite dishes my grandmother made, so it was only fitting I used her dishes to serve the soup in!!

I found a recipe on A Sweet Pea Chef that was really great! Also cooking in a slow cooker made dinner quick and easy!! The first course received rave reviews!!

My husband, being the fisherman that he is, caught eight trout which became our main course. Cooking the trout in tin foil allowed me to prepare dinner early. I added lemon, fresh dill, tomatoes, shallots, seasoning, and a little olive oil!

Adding color to the table, these vegetables were left to marinate in a large gallon baggie drenched in olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, fresh rosemary and pumpkin seeds. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Put foil or natural parchment paper on your cookie sheet, use olive oil or Pam for easy cleanup and spread vegetable mixture in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes, stir gently, then bake another 15-20 minutes until tender. Sometimes I will cook partially in the microwave to soften if I am in a rush. This is always a crowd-pleaser!

These mini pumpkin pies, are so cute, and made with wonton shells so they are low cal and healthy as well. The recipe was from Beach Body on Demand, no less.

I hope you enjoyed my Halloween dinner party preparations! The best part is that it has become such a fun evening for our family and one the kids now look forward to. Who says you have to go trick or treating to have fun! To see more Halloween ideas go here, and here!

What’s a Segreto blog post at the end of the year without the mention of holiday gift-giving and the Segreto Design book series. We have a package and save option where you can get both books, Impressions and Vignettes, at a disounted rate. One for you and one for a friend! A win-win! Till next week, xo Leslie

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In the Limelight! Country French & Luxe

Hi Friends! Thank you for all that came and said hi at Marburger. They moved me to the dance hall this year and I know I had said the food court so I am so sorry I missed those looking for me. It was a great show as always and I hope you found lots of goodies!

This week I wanted to share with you some beautiful homes that were showcased in two of my favorite magazines! First, this issue of Country French magazine features Houston entrepreneur, budding designer, and developer Kristal Dayal’s gorgeous home. Take a peek inside her family’s “sanctuary”!

You can see with this being last year’s Fall/Winter edition, it took me a while to share. With this lovely cover, great inspirations are definitely within!

Can you spot the blue Segreto painted doors! Talk about a bold statement. Although the doors and hardware date to the 19th century, they wear a new Segreto finish. These antique doors also conceal a television and other tech equipment- beautiful and functional and a great alternative to furniture pieces or built-ins flanking the fireplace!

This beautiful home was designed by Newberry Architecture!! They did the plans before the building in many of the projects in our new book, Segreto Impressions! Visit their website as well to gaze at many truly remarkable homes!!

This beautiful painted and gilt chandelier casts a spotlight on an ornately carved 16th-century writing table in Kristal’s foyer. She mastered elegance and this space makes you feel like you are traveling back to a more romantic place and time!

An abstract painting by Sheema Muneer and a branch chandelier offer playful counterpoints to the dining room’s antique Swedish table and chairs and tole sconces. This dining space is the perfect setting for special family gatherings!

This breakfast room is anchored with a family-friendly reproduction table with a pearlized pink leather banquette (my favorite color) and a set of 18th century Italian chairs. How beautiful! We love this banquette and the leather upholstery is kid-proof!

Working with Newberry Architecture and Kristal Custom Homes (family business with her Dad), Kristal created a wish list of iconic country French elements that would give her family’s new house an old soul. Coffered and groin-vaulted ceilings, imported limestone mantels and pavers, and recovered barn wood beams and floors, and of course, perfectly imperfect finishes form a time-honored foundation!

Yes, you have seen this home in the sneak peek of Segreto Impressions! An unbelievable Parisian apartment feel that it also made the cover of LUXE! Contemporary art and furnishings fill this Houston home which was inspired by apartments in the city of light! Designer Meg Lonergan and architect Kristin Schuster redesigned this traditional house to accommodate much of the couple’s impressive contemporary-leaning collection of art.

This entry exemplifies designer Meg Lonergan’s skill at combining simple and ornate styles. The blue plaster Drag Light by Julien Carretero hangs above an antique table from Royal Antiques in New Orleans, which Lonergan updated with a new iron base. Super cool! The walls coated in plaster by Segreto give that sleek backdrop and marries the 1940’s architecture with the homeowner’s sleek new furnishings.

The music room’s gilded Louis Philippe mirror reflects iconic midcentury modern designs: a Poliedri Murano glass chandelier by Carlo Scarpa from Jean-Marc Fray and Marco Zanuso-designed Lady Chairs, which flank an Egg Collective side table.

A grid of abstract works by Benjamin Edmiston from David Shelton Gallery transforms a corner of the master bedroom into an inviting space for lounging. The elegant Landscape chaise lounge is a Jeffrey Bernett design for B&B Italia. I just want to lounge here!!

We hope you enjoyed the homes as we loved collaborating with these designers, builders, homeowners, and architects! This was just a snippet of the full home which opens the 30 home tours and sections on kitchens, baths, and finishes to follow in our new design book, Segreto Impressions. Order now and be the first to receive your copy! Getting all the book signings scheduled and will let you know soon.

Next week I can’t wait to show you ideas for my annual Halloween dinner party! Till then! XO, Leslie

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Time for Fall Gardens!

Hi Friends! Fall is finally here! I am off to Marburger Farms Antique Show for an early signing opening day!! Come see me from 8:00 am-3:00 pm right across from the front offices and in front of the picnic tables in the food court.

This is an old map I found but maybe it will help you maneuver your day!! Also signing up for Katie from Roundtop newsletter has really helped me maneuver all of roundtops shows, diners, and nighttime happenings! Looking forward to saying hi to all!.. and now for the post!

I was so inspired by the fresh veggies which my friends produced in their own home gardens that I decided to give it a try myself!

What I didn’t know is that to have a spring garden, the soil must be prepped in the fall. So….. I may not be able to have a pumpkin patch this year but come next spring, I might be able to have my own farm to table right from my own backyard!!

Raised bed gardens seem to be the way to go when starting a garden at home. Whether you choose containers or build a frame box from wood or stone, elevating the garden gives you more control over drainage and soil composition. For me, it also seems less overwhelming as I can start with one small plot.

If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, I found this and a large selection at Walmart! When deciding where to place your new garden remember just like in real estate, location is key!  Choose an area that receives a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight as veggies grow best in full sun!

Stephanie, who shared her salsa recipe made from her own farm to table veggies, started with two L-shaped raised beds in her own yard. Preparing the soil, she uses a mix of Blue Micro Life and cottonseed meal for her fertilizer. She loves Wabash Feed & Garden, a Houston staple for over 100 years. I have shopped there for hardware, pet stables, and their antiques! One more reason to visit!

Stephanie always enlists help from her daughter and her cute grandson Klaus! Kids love the garden! There are all sorts of tips on how to get the perfect soil. A good garden mix amended with compost and organic fertilizer topped off with a good quality native mulch is what Buchanan’s Native Plants recommend. Stephanie’s trick is to mix a couple of 50lb bags of the cottonseed meal into your soil. This way earthworms, nature’s greatest composters, will be attracted to your gardens and do the heavy lifting for you to create that perfectly balanced soil!

The one thing I know for sure is water… you must water even before there are plants in the dirt! The City of Houston permitting office sells rain barrels and compost bins. They’re compact and can fit into your car! For those that don’t have sprinkler systems, this is a great cost-saving way to water your garden.

This is one of my client’s gardens! I love that flowering plants are mixed in as well and all the beds are not only for veggies!! Such a beautiful decorative element!

photo: PIPLETTE TREATS

Edible flowers are the new Haute addition to any meal. Southern Living shares which ones to plant and what they taste like! Some I even have at my own home and didn’t know they were snackable!

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If it all seems too overwhelming-indoor herb gardens are a great way to bring a bit of freshness to your cooking and beauty to your kitchen at the same time!

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How darling is this to get your kids or grandkids to learn how things grow! Start seeds in ice cream cones and plant in the ground—cones are biodegradable!

Another great gem in Houston, to find unique and helpful gardening tips and tricks, is The Houston Farmer’s Market. After talking with Stephanie and hearing her mention all of the wonderful vendors, I had to check it out for myself!

From produce & spices to health remedies & specialty cookware you won’t leave empty-handed. If you decide to visit this vibrant gem in the city, make sure to swing by North Side Banana Co. They have been at the market for 60 years (and counting)! I left with some of the freshest, best-tasting bananas, beets, and apples! Look for Farmer’s Markets in your own area!!

With the holidays coming up, the perfect gift is on everyone’s mind!! We even can ship them directly to your friends and family with a special personalized note from me. You can either order online or send Elizabeth@segretofinishes.com an email. if you would like boxes of 6 shipped to your address email Elizabeth rather than purchasing on the website as we can provide better shipping prices. A gift that will give your design enthusiast inspiration for years to come!

I am always getting requests for the sold-out Segreto books. Ambrose Furniture was rearranging things and found a box of 4 hidden. They said they are happy to ship. Just email ambrosefurniture@hotmail.com or call. them at 9979-822-4071. Thanks, Joshua

Till next week, XO Leslie

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Segreto Impressions is Ready for Pre-Order!

Hi Friends! Well, the day is here. Segreto Impressions, my favorite book to date is ready for pre-order! Why is it my favorite? Below is a sneak peek!

The pages are filled – yes over 400 of them – with an eclectic mix of simply beautiful interiors. The opening page starts with this stunning dining room in which we hand-painted a mural for Marie Flanigan complimenting her amazing decor!

Listening to you, I took the best parts of what you loved the most from all the previous Segreto books. Segreto Impressions starts with 30 full home tours, is followed by large sections of your favorite rooms like kitchens and baths, and then has a full section on different finishes, innovative ideas and even ideas on space planning and how to pick impact areas for special treatments. With so many top architects, designers, and builders involved in the rooms we teamed up with to create these places our clients call home, the visual inspiration is like no other Segreto publication.

This book is much more personal, sharing more of myself and my journey, as well as the homeowners’ and designers’ visions. We all want to live beautiful lives and enjoy precious moments in time with those we love. Home is often where we can do that the best. It’s where we raise our families, entertain friends, and create memories that will carry us through our entire lives. I hope that this book empowers you to craft a home that reflects your inner self and helps you discover who you really are or aspire to be.

The opening home tour was a wonderful home dear to my heart as I had also customized it for the previous owners. With a totally new perspective Designer Meg Lonergan turned it to a more contemporary direction.

With high gloss ceilings, plastered walls and even Segretostone floating shelves, this truly became these homeowners Parisian apartment right here in Houston. It is an amazing house-and the book shows the full tour!

With so many different design styles, Architectural Consultant Sarah West also did all the furnishings in this lovely European style home. The homeowners, with a deep appreciation of history and the reclaimed, incorporated century-old elements which make this spacious home feel warm and inviting.

There are so many beautiful examples of how to incorporate more contemporary elements- following today’s trends. The coffee table, set on brass cubes, is one of Sarah’s designs. The top is actually made from a piece of salvaged architectural glass! LOVE!

The kitchen section starts with a close-up image of a table we marbleized for Designer Linda Eyles and is followed by image after image of unique and inspirational kitchens!

Designer Lindsey Herod, with her flair for color, did an amazing makeover of this previously French-Style kitchen for the editor of the lifestyle blog L Avenue.

Bathrooms are places where we relax our souls, and allow ourselves to unwind and refresh our start to each day. Enjoy the journey touring so many beautiful ones, incorporating pieces into your own place of solace. And yes, the walls are hand-painted by the Segreto team, and not paper using the homeowner’s favorite colors and florals.

This re-model by Goodchild Custom Homes and Renovations was designed by Riley Suffel and created out of one of the oldest farmhouses in Houston’s Piney Point Village. Elements of the couple’s favorite boutique hotels were incorporated to allow them to wake up every morning feeling as though they are on vacation. Take me away!!

Master baths are for retreating, but powders are for drama. Learn sources for the latest trends in tiles, lighting, and finishes which will enable you to create a little jewel box of your own. The powder to the left with our polished plaster walls is Designed by Maison Maison and built by Butler Brothers. The one to the right where we finished the cabinet and door is designed by Ken Kehoe & Company and built by Cupic Custom Homes.

This section, dear to my heart, shares the creative journey of how we take an idea and bring it to life, like this prototype we created for Marie Flanigan for the walls of her client’s master suite.

With pages on plasters, wood finishes, murals, and decorative elements you will know the many possibilities that finishes can bring to your home and see examples of how these finishes look applied. The plastered hallway has a dream team of its own. Cindy Witmer Designs, Robert Dame Designs, and Stonehenge Classic Homes.

What is a Segreto book without a detailed sourcing section?! Look at how many sources there is per spread! The opening picture is a beautiful dining room in which we collaborated with Designer Shannon Crain and Riverway Development creating a hand-painted mural over a velvety plaster. This time the sources are all in the back, immersed with pictures of some of our favorite rooms. This way the main book is cleaner in feel and the pictures were able to be larger since there was less text.

AND GUESS WHAT?! SEGRETO IMPRESSIONS IS PRINTED IN THE USA!

And where did we land on the cover?

This was our initial concept. Linen imported from Europe in a soft tone, with a half jacket (belly band) wrapping around showing some lovely finishes. We sent promos out to stores and put the image on our website. The insides of the books were already printed ready for the cover. Unfortunately, the linen shipped was defective and it would take a month to receive new materials. I had to make a quick change in order to get the books to you for holiday gift-giving. I had 24 hours to create and deliver a new cover to the printer. So……

….the new concept began. This image of a ceiling we did for designer Schann Kastendieck for Valobra Master Jewelers came to mind.

With Kara leading my graphics team at Limb Design, we came up with a new jacket, the chandelier wrapping around the book. The gray flaps fold inside and match the end sheets of the book.

The final reveal! What do you think? The inside hard jacket is white with Segreto impressions debossed into the cover, enabling you to take the jacket off and have an alternative simple elegant look. I am so excited to share this book which shows such a world of possibilities and so many beautiful design styles. I am honored to work with so many talented people and blessed to have the trust of my homeowners. I always feel the Segreto books are labors of love from me to you and tributes to all the designers, builders, architects, craftsmen and tradespeople who all come together to create that place we call home.

Ready for pre-order now for a November 1st ship date, these beautiful books are available to purchase on our website. If you don’t have Segreto Vignettes, there is a limited time offer to package and save! Or if you do, keep Impressions and gift Vignettes! Although Segreto Impressions is filled with 100 more pages, the price is just 10$ more! Two books in one.

If you would like me to sign it to you or a loved one, please leave a detailed message of who it is for and why they are special to you. Also, if you would like to pick it up at our office rather than have them shipped, please note. Thanks for taking this journey with me! I feel like you have been with me every step of the way!

COME SEE ME OPENING DAY- OCTOBER 1st at MARBURGER FARMS ANTIQUE SHOW, I’ll be there early at 8:00.

I hope to see you all at The Marburger Farm Antique Show where you will be able to view see first hand all the breathtaking design inspirations in the pages of Segreto Impressions before its official release date!!

has been a favorite source for antiques for over 20 years. This twice a year tradition located in Round Top, Texas, features more than 350 dealers from across the United States and the world.

I will be there at 8:00 sharp and will have time to chat before the mad rush to shop!

Tuesday, October 1, (Gates open at 8am). Shopping starts at 10:00 am and goes till 6:00 pm. Early Buying Special, 10am – 2pm, $25.00 per person
General Admission, 2pm – 6pm, $10 per person

Look for me right across from the main office nestled in between food booths and right in front of the picnic seating where you sit down to eat!! Hope to see you all there. Till next week! xo, Leslie

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What’s New With Segreto?

Hi Friends! Thanks so much to all of you that voted for Segreto Secrets. We will find out in a couple of weeks if we made the shortlist! My New Book, Segreto Impressions -the 4th in the Segreto Design book series- will be premiered(even before the launch party) at Roundtop for Marburger Farms Antique Show’s opening day. Come say hi and be the first to see! It is my very favorite to date! Next week on the blog I will give you, my friends, a sneak peek!!

We are doing some cool new things at Segreto and thought you would like to take a sneak peek!

This is a super cool addition going underway for clients of mine working with Jon Morgan of Mission Constructors and building designer Robert Dame. This is the start of an old carriage house turned into an office, man cave and guest suite.

The client’s inspiration is John Mellencamp’s South Carolina retreat which was featured in Architectural Digest!! If you haven’t seen the spread–do take a look!

When meeting at the job site, Jon had all sorts of fine woods to choose from. I suggested since the tone was dark that it might not be necessary to use expensive woods and that we should though in some inexpensive pine as well. We did glazes on woods from Home Depot grade pine to oak to antique pecky cypress and reclaimed pines. All in similar tones the finished samples were nailed on the framing for the client’s review.

Which would you choose? Can you tell me which wood is more expensive? One is 6 times more. Without knowing the price tag, the clients choose the less expensive route as their favorite look! I know you might think of finishing as an extra expense, but in many cases, like this one, well-done finishing can save on the total budget! Stay tuned, this project will be book 5 worthy!!

Have you ever had something beautiful that you just wanted to change up to fit with a new look you want for your home?! Well, Bailey Vermillion Interiors wanted just that for a client project they were working on so we were called in to create her vision.

We used our trademarked SegretoStone product to plaster over the mirror, creating texture while not losing the carved details.

I can’t wait to see it installed. It will find its resting place in a dining room which we plastered in a beautiful dark, blue–green-gray plaster.

I love our powder bath at the warehouse-pretty in pink. But there is still an eyesore here I want to work out. Guess what it is. That floor-eek!!

Looking for a durable plaster for floors, we are testing a product never been used before in the USA. We plastered the super ugly concrete floors with blush pink in the same tone as the SegretoStone waterfall basin and sink. It looks great with the walls and the door made from SegretoStone!

Will it hold up?! Time will tell! Because we are working to dress up the men’s room, it is out of commission so this pretty powder in pink will get lots of use from both sexes!

Segretto Finishes

Since we are at the warehouse, I wanted to share a new venture that is up and running. In serving our clients better we have found that by making multiple sinks at a time, we not only are more cost-effective but they are ready to install. No more wait!!

For now, we are building our inventory! Eventually, we will have an e-commerce site and ship all over the country. Sink anyone?

I am loving all the transformations we are doing with brick both inside and out!! Here is the before brick for a home we are collaborating with Goodchild Builders and JJ Designs. They want to soften the look but not go white. We were brought in to create samples so they could make their clad window selection. We are often brought in at the beginning of projects as a home’s color palette is often the beginning of the design process.

Above is the existing roof tile and the selection for the new clad windows. We did many samples showing bricks peaking though, some heavier and some more transparent in feel. I love putting samples up and listening to reactions and thoughts. This process enables us to get the finish exactly right before we start.

Even Juan with Goodchild was super happy with the choices for his clients! Which one would you pick?

Thank you for letting me share what we have been up to this week! Do something that will make you smile! I bought these flowers for myself. They make me happy every time I pass by! Reminds me to stop and smell the roses, something I often forget to do!

SEGRETO IMPRESSIONS is going to Marburger Farms Antique Show!

If you haven’t been to The Roundtop Antiques you should definitely go. And the opening day at Marburger is what people from all over line up for. I am so excited and honored they asked me to be there for their opening day with my newest book Segreto Impressions!! With over 400 pages it is by far my favorite to date!

The Marburger Farm Antique Show has been a favorite source for antiques for over 20 years. This twice a year tradition located in Round Top, Texas, features more than 350 dealers from across the United States and the world.

Gates open at 8:00 am-Come see me before you shop!

Tuesday, October 1, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Early Buying Special, 10am – 2pm, $25.00 per person (Gates open at 8am)
General Admission, 2pm – 6pm, $10 per person. 2248 Texas 237, Round Top, TX 78954

You can see a bit about the areas and how to maneuver the fair in my past posts here, and here.

Next Monday morning I will show ya’ll a sneak peek inside Segreto Impressions!! I can’t wait to share!! Till next week and the big reveal! XO Leslie

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Create Your Own Wrapping Paper- Segreto Style!

Hi Friends!! So many of you reached out to me personally on how to create your own wrapping paper. Sorry, this has taken me so long to get together!! I hope you have as much fun creating that one of a kind wrapping as I have in putting this post together!

There are so many premade stencils out there to choose from. Small versions can be found at Michael’s but searching all-over stencils will give you large scale ones which will create your masterpieces quickly. Click here, here, and here.

Cover your area with a throw-a-way vinal tablecloth, or some paper. You will need a roller with a foam cover, a tray, tape, stencil of choice, and paint.

You do not have to thin your paint, but I like to because it gives an inconsistent coverage, and seems to absorb into the paper more like an old fresco would on a plastered wall. I use what we have, so for latex paints I mix it with some Floetrol. This can be purchased at any paint store or Home Depot along with the other materials you need. I love using metallic paints. What a beautiful iridescent quality they lend. I use Modern Masters, which can be found at Hobby Lobby, some paint stores, Walmart and even on Amazon. Mix a bit of Floetrol to your desired transparency.

I like medium to lightweight kraft paper, which we also buy at a paint store. I found this online at Paper Mart. Office Depot has it in white. Just google–I found it at Walmart, Home Depot and more. 24 inches is plenty wide.

If your stencil is 24 inches wide then you would center over the paper and tape it down. If your stencil is less than that, center it to your paper. You will have to line up the registration marks (small holes on the top and bottom of the stencil) to do either side. Roll your roller into the tray and use the ridges to remove some of the paint. I typically start from the center and work my way out. Be careful not to roll past the edges as you don’t want the paint to get on the sides of your wrapping paper.

I used Modern Masters Pale Gold on this one. Look how beautiful it looks!

Now you are ready to wrap. I always have lots of materials on hand as I buy ribbons every year from Michael’s after each holiday when they are 80% off–I do love a bargain! Using natural materials like these boxwoods from my yard adds so much in creating something special.

I also like mixing the casual with the ornate. This raffia ribbon is just the touch I wanted.

Here’s another fun pattern we had at the warehouse. We did make this on a floor covering kraft paper and learned it was much too heavy and made things difficult to wrap. Stay with a medium paper.

I found a spool of green ribbon-just enough for this package. I do love to use ribbons with the wire in them as the bows turn out so much more interesting.

This creates a gift within a gift. This is an ornament just ready for someone to paint and hang on their tree. Be sure and save things from gifts you receive or look for those fun items when shopping after the holidays for the next year’s wrappings.

Once we got going we just couldn’t stop!! So many options and combinations to choose from.

What will you wrap up this year for your holiday gifts? I wish I had a new cover to show you! Segreto Impressions will be out and ready to preorder very soon!

I hope you have fun creating your own special wrapping. Your friends and family will love the gift before they even open it. Please email me your pictures of what you have created. Leslie@segretofinishes.com. I know we would all love to see!!

A few more days to go before voting closes. Help us gain the title of best Interior Designer Blog-International. I always appreciate your support. If you could take a moment to vote for us HERE you might just be the deciding vote!  Thanks so much! Voting ends September 11th!

Happy wrapping. Till next week! xo Leslie

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