Leslie Sinclair's Blog, page 21

Happy Mother’s Day-Gifts from the Heart!

Hi Friends!  One of my favorite holidays- Mother’s Day is almost here!

Because everyone has a “Mom” it is celebrated throughout the world! In America, the day became an official holiday in 1914, but interestingly enough its creator Anna Jarvis worked the rest of her life to denounce the holiday due to its commercialization. My favorite part of Mother’s Day is getting to be with my kids, my husband and my Mom!  So I wanted to focus on gifts from the heart that show that special “Mom” you care.   So whether you have lunch, brunch or dinner together enjoy the day! 

Breakfast in bed or a lovely brunch. 

If you want to cook a special breakfast for mom here is a crowd favorite with my group! Sweet Maureen, Mom to four, made it for our office staff and it was DELISH!  Have your kids make it for you!! Easy to make, and combined with fruit, what a perfect way for you to say I love you at the beginning of the day!

A Special Day Together!

It’s always a dilemma what to get Mom since she always says “I don’t need a thing”.   Time together with my kids is always at the top of my list. Whether it is a cooking class, painting class or a walk at a nature reserve, maybe just arrange an outing doing one of her favorite things.

One idea is maybe a mani/pedi at her favorite salon.  Gift cards work, but even more fun would be to go together! Many salons have separate rooms, so girls or boys or young or old, it’s a wonderful way to spend an hour and a half together with no cell phones!  Wouldn’t  that be something, more special than the beautiful nails! 

Family Game Day!

Show Mom the love with this Big Love Ball.  We had so much fun playing ball!   At 5 feet in diameter it sends a message so big it’s impossible to ignore.

We combined the day with playing Jumbo Jenga! Hours of family fun, it’s a day I will not forget.

Flowers!

One can never go wrong with flowers.   Arranging them yourself in a pretty vase makes the gift all the more special!  Here are a few of my creations. Trader Joe’s is my go-to place for fresh flowers at a great price. Remember to get there at 8 for the best selection!   If you have kids and are looking for a gift for grandma, let everyone arrange together and hand-make a special card. 

Make an album!

I never get tired of looking at family photos.  Make notecards, an album, a collage-so many different ideas. Walgreens has 24-hour turnaround! All Moms love photos!!

Handmade Cards! 

Kirby made me a candy princess poster one year combining the candies’ names with things we did together and phrases of appreciation.  One of my favorite gifts, I still think about it every Mother’s Day!

Here are a few cards from the children of our office staff  to their moms-both so special and have been cherished keepsakes- One is digital and one is hand painted.  Can you tell which is which? Amy and Maureen both saved these special cards and revisit them often. 

Record a Song!

One of my favorite gifts from my youngest Sammy is when she recorded a song for me through an app at Smule.com! If you go to the link and click the album cover  (the cover is a man not Sammy)  you can hear her beautiful voice and see how a recording would sound. You could get all of your kids or family to record together.  If Sammy could have put herself on the album cover–I like this picture!! Here is a quick version on how it’s done.

Download the smule app, select your favorite music genres,  click “Sing” for the song you want to sing and then “Start” to start recording.  The lyrics will appear on the screen and you just simply sing along!  When you are happy with your recording, follow the instructions to “Upload” and share with others.

Top Picks to Purchase!

Of course because I love home interiors, a design book would be my first choice. To celebrate “Moms” I am offering a 20% Mother’s appreciation discount through May 13th for Segreto Vignettes. Shipping within the continental United States is on me!!  Rush shipping will be for a fee. I am happy to sign them for Mother’s Day to make it extra special! Please email me at leslie@segretofinishes.com, or call the office at 713-461-5210, as the website doesn’t offer the discount. 

One of my favorite places to shop is  Back Row Home, which if you haven’t been there you are missing out.  Besides all of their fabulous antiques, they have a great selection of tabletop, bedding, pillows, men’s gifts and household decor.  Tell our friends Kelly and Tracey hi! The french wine glasses are my favorite.  They come in 3 sizes and start at $40 for a set of four.  The Faceplant slippers at $25 are a good price!  The Chilewich placemats are awesome and can be wiped clean.  They have a great selection of them and start at about $14 per place mat.  If your mom loves soft jammies you should check out the Royal Highnies-they are super soft.  Men’s and Women’s. They start at about $80 a piece.

These fun finds are from Renovate, another store right down the street from Segreto.  Cathy Robinson Hutton and her darling daughter Courtney are super fun and creative. Renovate is a great gift store and they offer design services as well.  The beautiful blessing beads are hand crafted in Atlanta by a mother of 3.  Available in multiple sizes and colors. $32-$80.  These silk peonies, that look so real, in a cube vase, $88.  No one ever believes that these are faux flowers. This is a great no maintenance gift for mom that she will keep for years.  The tilted sphere vase, hand-blown from recycled glass available in smoke, clear & blush, $24. The Barrington tote bag is a great everyday purse/carryall and has a variety of styles and patterns and can be ordered monogrammed for a personalized gift.  $160-$180

Here are a few ideas I found online.  For the mom on the go I love this convertible backpack from Mark & Graham. $249 and you can have her initials put on it.  These Kate Spade gold earrings are simple but classic for any age from Nordstrom for $78.   I love these wooden spoons with 6 different sayings.  Found these on Etsy for $25 for a set of 6, they would be so cute wrapped in a dish towel with flowers! And finally, who doesn’t love this cute coffee mug from their “favorite child”.  It’s only $12 personalized from Etsy!

 

And most of all don’t forget the hug!  You are never too old to hug your mom!! Here is my husband and his sweet Mom Angie. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the new moms, old moms and grandmoms!! xo Leslie

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A Week with Segreto-It’s All About The Pattern!!

Hi Friends!!   I had a great week last week- hope you did too!  I went to Virginia to look at a job and got to see some beautiful country side and meet some incredible homeowners! Deciding what to wear is always challenging for me.  Looking at all the new patterns coming out in fabrics and in clothes, I thought is would be fun  for you to see some new  designs we are doing on walls and floors!!

 This overscaled painted floor design was painted both in the kitchen and den areas.   I love the inconsistency of the paint applied.  One thing we didn’t think of up front–the island being in the middle of the pattern.  Well it turned out great and maybe this is one to replicate in my own home!

Classic checkerboard never seems to go out of style. To incorporate a bit of whimsy in this mudroom we did a white distressed wash over the existing brown stain for Designer Lisa Neblett!

This hand applied stencil really complements the counter tone and modern elements of the room in this powder for designer Sarah Eilers.

Modern seems to be all the rage even when mixing with a country French interior.  By taking our inspiration from the natural fabrics and surfaces by Memorial Custom Homes the contemporary mix to the room works!

Designer Ellie Bale chooses a classic stencil  to complement the French commode, mirror and sconces. Insetting a design in panels is a perfect way to apply a pattern in a room which has angled or unusual ceiling lines as many do like this powder located under the stairs.  Notice on the Fleur-de-lis’s we have hand embellished them in a gold paint to ad more interest to the design.

Designer Kristen Johnson did such a great job creating a game room bath which is a continuation of the tones of the room it boarders. Choosing a contemporary two-color stencil applied over plaster, the design works well with the lamps and the curves of the horn sconces.  And yes, the SegretoStone table is a perfect furniture piece that sits right out the baths door!

Designer Leslie Strauss always instills a bit of Hollywood glam to her interiors.  I love how the metallic silver of the stencil over plaster pulls the metal tone of that gorgeous sink!

Taking modern to the extreme, Segreto’s artists Michele and Daniel are creating a black and white graphic on the walls. Notice how the bordering  kitchen is also black and white.

I love how bold this room turned out.  If you look closely you can see that a few of the lines are metallic gold. This will be one I go back and photograph with all the furnishings!!   LOVE!

Pulling this concept in a softer direction, the design in this powder was created on top of a blush plaster! Segreto’s artist Alex is applying a sample to insure the homeowner is happy with the thickness of the lines!!

I love the flexibility of painted finishes in that no two rooms we complete are ever the same!

Adding interest to an entry space certainly makes an impression when being welcomed into a home! By plastering the walls in the same tones and applying a pearl stencil on top, we created a dramatic element which still fits with the minimalistic clean interiors which the homeowner loves!! Don’t forget about the wonderful New Spring Art Auctions on May 4th!  Segreto Finishes are proud sponsors of this event! Purchase some great art at very reasonable prices and help some talented kids at the same time!!  Till next week!  xo Leslie

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A Home from the Past–Still Current Today!!

Hi Friends!!  I hope your summer is going well.  With the new website we found articles that I had written that never been posted. Although this was supposed to go out in 2011, I still feel the home is beautiful, current and you would love to see. Since this was written, Designer Ellie Bale-the star of the post-  has moved and redone a new home in a totally different way. In fact, it was published in Southern Home magazine!  You can view it here!

Who said doing your own home is easy!!

When you spend most of your time designing the homes of others, it’s a big challenge to place that focus on your own space.  But looking at designer Ellie Bale’s house, you wouldn’t think she stressed a bit! Incorporating French, Italian and Swedish antiques amidst contemporary art, she is a master at creating a comfortable, welcoming environment with an old world feel.  Although the colors and wall treatments change from space to space, the rooms flow together while still maintaining a their own uniqueness.

    

The entrance, leading to the study, dining room and living area, sets the tone of the entire house. The plaster treatment chosen completely changed the feel of the entrance, adding depth and intrigue of what’s to come – the light just seems to reflect off the walls! By doing both the ceiling and the walls, the subtle shape and curve of the architecture is showcased. Ellie knew she wanted the piece in the entrance to be painted but not too overdone.  It’s a Louis XV style 1900’s commode from Paris. The 19th Century French mirror is from Joyce Horn Antiques.  The pairing of the two becomes a perfect place to freshen up on your way out.

 

Just off the entrance way, this study has the perfect mix of symmetrical and asymmetrical design. The mirrors and ceiling beams provide balanced lines, while the furniture and French iron desk grouping mix it up a little bit. The neutral palette makes this combination of different elements really work! The plaster brings in elegance and depth without being too formal. I love the ornate, leafy light fixture and cathedral wood beam ceiling – they open up the space while the neutral browns keep the room extra cozy.

 

I just adore this “d”–an old iron letter from Found.  It was a gift to Ellie’s husband, David,  for his birthday.  It’s interesting and unexpected–just like the house!

The dining room, featuring a wonderful collection of French and Italian antiques, is elegant without seeming too formal.   The soft and varying intensities of coral in the fabrics, rugs and art provide a great, subtle burst of color against the neutral, stenciled walls. The striped curtains also offer a beautiful counterpoint to the intricate Fortuny fabric on the chairs. Mixing these different patterns together creates interest without one overpowering the other.

The tone-on-tone damask painted wall treatment creates a subtle design that complements the pattern on the dining chairs. Using various tones of neutral creams and beiges on the walls from room to room maintains the home’s flow and offers an interesting backdrop to the pops of color brought in through furniture, fabric and art.

 

One thing I really adore about Ellie’s design style is her ability to mix contemporary, colorful art and ground it with cozy and comfortable furnishings. This painting entitled “Reconnaissance” is by local Houston artist Jane Eifler. Ellie and her husband started collecting art about 8 years ago.  “It’s something we enjoy doing together–going to galleries, looking at all the different styles of art. It adds something fresh and unexpected to a space.”  This particular painting was a gift from Ellie’s husband.

 

The kitchen is open to the breakfast area, sitting area and living room so it had to flow and blend together. Inspired by the fabrics, the walls were painted a very soft blue.  By adding a finish on the cabinets, they turned into furniture pieces, dressing them up and making them a part of the design.  The island was glazed in a different color to ground the space while adding something unexpected to the room.   An area where guests seem to congregate, this is a perfect spot to read or have a morning cup of coffee.   Ellie’s 5 year-old daughter has been known to take naps on the couch here every once in a while – it’s comfortable and close to the kitchen.

 

This room was designed around a pair of 18th century doors that Ellie found on a buying trip to Dallas.  What a brilliant way to hide all the audio equipment, videos and games–turning utilitarian into interesting!!!  The Italian candelabras on the mantle from Joyce Horn Antiques and the Italian candlesticks and pastry table behind the sofa from Area add a sense of establishment and charm to the space.

 

The mood in the bedroom is soft and romantic!!! The walls are covered in a lovely neutral wallpaper, and I just love the contrast between the mahogany armoire and the muted hues of the bed and walls! Ellie created a relaxing retreat with a plush feel to it. Needing the perfect blue green hue to match the floral fabric, Ellie had the cornice custom built had us  re-finished it.  The cornice now looks like an antique rather than a brand new piece!

 

Ellie did a great job designing her home! The soft color palette throughout, along with the interlacing of antiques with modern art, gave this home a definite style of its own with an incredibly cozy feel. We’re already discussing the next project…

The master bathroom! She’s looking to add an aged look to those plain white cabinets. Stay tuned to see the finished product…

I hope you enjoyed seeing both of Ellie’s homes!  Be sure an look at her new one amongst these other beautiful  homes with Segreto‘s finishes  here! Ellie is someone I truly enjoy working with–she is as talented as she is super fun and sweet!!

Remember my new years resolutions a couple of years ago–to give back!  Well New Spring, a non-profit in our area, who amongst many things has an after school art and scholarship  program, is an amazing organization that I am proud to be involved in!  Not only is my daughter a mentor to one of these bright young kids but Segreto is a proud scholarship  sponsor of a an A&M architecture student!! New Spring hosts an art auction with the students work once a year. It is a great place to see amazing young talent and pick up some wonderful art at super prices–all proceeds go directly to these young artists. I purchased an amazing wolf painting for my Colorado house–how perfect is that?  It has been a joy and a privilege to be involved.  Come and enjoy the art! Much love to you all! xo Leslie

 

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In the Limelight! Southern Home Color Issue

Hi Friends! I hope that Spring is putting everyone in a happy mood!! With the flowers blooming and the birds singing it’s hard not to see new possibilities! Color is definitely making its way back into today’s interiors giving a fresh new cheerful feel to our homes! Although certain rooms may have that POP to the walls, the infusion of color seems to be more prevalent in drapery, art and accent pillows.

Look how beautiful the springtime green drapery looks on a neutral base. Southern Homes’s new issue features a home tour in which Segreto collaborated with Houston designer Sarah Eilers.

This home, transitional in design, is an eclectic mix of collected pieces, bold art and rich pops of color! When mixing colors, rooms can still maintain flow if you weave some of the same hues throughout.  Notice the rug in this room.  It has some of the coral tones in the drapes as well as the vibrant blues which …….

…are also incorporated in the dining room across.  The corals repeat themselves in the art and the quietness of the dining rug, both quiet this room and balance the neutral walls and fabrics of the formal living. The snippets of the den and study show the blue is a connecting element throughout. Note the green velvet roll pillows on the couch.

You will see this “pop” reappear in the art and the breakfast room to the right of the kitchen! The walls of these areas are also quite, allowing your eyes to see the room as a whole and not get overwhelmed by the statement colors.

The bedroom bath area are both bold and calming at the same time. It combines both the blues and greens from downstairs. This area before we started had white walls and a clean slate.  Pulling softer tones of the chosen wallcovering, the walls were plastered in a soothing blue, and a stencil applied on the groin to accentuate its beautiful shape. Gal pal Julie Soefer, a Houston photographer did such a wonderful job capturing this home!!

So how can you infuse a bit of color in your home? The first step is to decide how much color you feel comfortable with. Remember your home should make you feel at peace.  For some, that means strong colors throughout and for others that means neutral in pallet or subtle variations of the same color.In our clients home above, the walls are plastered a warm gray.  By adding the contrast of the white chairs (notice the navy banding at the bottom-love!) and the pop of the navy and white art she feels she has he “pop” while keeping -her style-a quieter pallet.

Art also makes a big POP impact. In the ladies lounge across from he dining room of the same home, we carried the gray tones from the dining walls onto the paneling. Using Fine Paints of Europe-a super high sheen paint- the traditional paneling becomes more contemporary! !  Her navy is carried though with her chairs and banding (this time on the drapes) and a supper chic piece of art!

If you want to start slow, pillows, and throws are easy ways to infuse color affordably to see how little or much you feel comfortable with. Even a vase of colorful flowers can give you just the infusion of color a room needs!! I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Till next Monday!  xo Leslie

 

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What’s Segreto Up To This Spring?

Hi Friends!!  With Springtime in the air, it’s  time for birds chirping, flowers blooming and new beginnings!!  Before I  share a bit of Segreto’s springtime finishes with you, I wanted to let you know that the post I shared where my daughter Kirby was given a budget to decorate my son Matthew’s new place in Dallas was picked up by Amara as one of the top blog articles in March!!! Congratulations to Kirby, She did such a great job!!  To see all the chosen design posts from around the globe go here! There are 25 truly inspirational articles (we are #15), so give yourself some time!!

I love all the wall coverings with birds, flowers and butterflies!!  But when these are created with Segreto, you are able to affordably customize your colors and elements to truly have something just your own.  The above is a canvas art piece we created with our sweet clients wish list.

Wanting to infuse the royal blues from our clients Murano chandelier purchased when visiting the factory in Italy, with the softer blues from her chair fabric, her dream piece began.

The background was inspired by the chair fabric while the pops of cobalt were reserved for the birds. I loved the piece so much it is on my list to create one for me!! What a soft statement for her lovely dining room!

Speaking of spring floral, we have been challenged once again by Marie Flannigan Interiors.  Her concept is that we would plaster the walls and ceiling of the space and then hand craft a vine and flowered raised element to the vanity wall. Organic in nature, it would have to be pieced and placed-so…… stock elements you could purchase just wouldn’t work. 

Segreto’s artist Michele was up to the challenge.  A highly skilled sculpture, he began crafting floral from clay.

The flowers were looking beautiful out of clay, I couldn’t wait to see them formed from plaster!  After he finished sculpting,  plastic resin was poured on top of the carved clay to form a mold.  From the mold we made plaster florals.

Well here is a small plaster rendering of  types of flowers as a sample!  We will see what the gals at Marie Flannigan Interiors will say! Wouldn’t this be beautiful on an inset wall behind a tub or in an art niche? On a larger scale I can even see it framed as art.  With a clean, narrow, brass frame; it would be spectacular!!

I love our I spy series and after Segreto’s artist Alex painted this large return air vent to blend with the wallcovering on the ceiling you would be hard pressed to notice it! Look around your home.  Plugs in tile and marble can magically disappear with a little paint and Alex of course!

Grass cloth definitely is making its way back into today’s design trends!! First thinking to paint a mural over plaster, Gensler asked us if the same concept would work over grass cloth? Here is our rendering for the Houstonian restaurant.  It worked—- and I must say I do love the texture it creates!!

Well I want to leave you today with an introduction to my new assistant!! This little furry friend wanted to be apart of all the decisions we made! She was partial to the blue distressed board–what are ya’lls thoughts?

Also, my friend is coming to town!  If you live in Houston, Rebecca Vizard who makes these AMAZING art piece pillows (above) and has written the book Once Upon A Pillow, will be at Joyce Horn Antiques  tomorrow– Tuesday, April 10th from 2-6, .    Hearing how she restores this one of a kind embroidery and creates such heirloom pieces is sooooo interesting! Plus she is just a sweet southern gal!!

PS  Thank you for all who sent pictures of their Easter or Passover tablescapes.  These is still time  Leslie@segretofinishes.com.

I hope you all get something special from your week!! A little springtime puts a bit of joy in the air so lets all spread feeling around!!  Till next Monday!  xo Leslie

 

 

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Carved from Stone-SegretoStone!

Hi Friends!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Passover or Easter Weekend. We have been working on a really cool project with Marie Flannigan Interiors  for Lam Bespoke’s new store front which will be off of Memorial between Gessner and Westbelt in that new cool community Memorial Green. I know other parts of the country have many neighborhoods where you live, shop and dine, but in Houston being able to do all of this without getting in your car is a new thing!!   It is located literally next to the street where I grew up, so being a part of it’s evolution has been fun!

The most exciting part of the job for us was to create their logo behind the cash register to look as if had been carved into a seamless stone wall.  With our new product SegretoStone we felt we were up to the challenge–but…… honestly not sure of how it would be accomplished!

We decided to create the carved logo and inset it into the wall. The logo alone would weigh over 300 pounds. We re-created a stencil of their logo, sprayed it for placement and then used a laser cuter to cut the same logo out of Styrofoam to use for our mold. 

And here we go!!

With a few more steps in between, we were thrilled on how razor sharp it turned out.  Marie wanted a two inch depth to the carving, a difficult feat with the thinness of much of the logo’s lines!

One of the first projects worked on at our new warehouse, it was thrilling to see it loaded in the truck.  The warehouse use to be a machine shop so it has crane systems built in–perfect for our heavy sinks and countertops.

The logo inset was installed in a steel frame to hold its weight.  Sheetrock was then butted right up to the logo. When we plastered over then entire surface with SegretoStone, the wall became seamless in appearance.

We were all thrilled!!  Working on this project for a year now, our entire team was so excited how well it turned out!!  Here is a shot before the polish-Pretty Cool-right?

The wall is still drying, so you can still see a bit of the square of where the logo ends.  This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for us!  Designs and monograms cut right into the stone! The middle section being more dense takes longer to dry.  The next step it the Cash wrap! Notice the raw wood!

We layered and scraped it to give it a white reclaimed feel!  Look at the SegretoStone countertops!! They are such a wonderful sleek balance to the distressed look below.

Love the hardware Marie chose! It pulls the brass pendent lights from above.  They thought of everything!!

With the back wall completely polished and dry and the cash wrapped finished, the store is really taking shape!

In both the ladies bath and the men’s we installed floating sinks formed from SegretoStone!  I can’t wait to see the room finished with the cool tile slated for the walls!

Here is a mirror of the ladies sink for the men’s but in Jet black!!  I can’t wait for the store’s grand opening!! I will update you with the final reveals!!  We had so much fun working with Marie Flannigan and her dream team! We appreciate their and the Lam Bespoke team’s trust in making their vision come to life!!  Look for the Grand opening coming up! They are as nice as the store is beautiful!! I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  Till next Monday! xo Leslie

 

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Hippity Hop-Tablescapes for Easter!

Hi Friends! I hope springtime is bringing you warmer weather and birds singing! I got some wonderful tablescapes from last years posts full of inspiration for your Easter tablescape this year!

My table!

Last year I wrote about my top 2017 Easter pics and many of you used some of the ideas to create your own beautiful table. I was headed to Galveston for a dinner at the bay! Above are things I had and others I purchased for my springtime seaside tablescape.

Tulips, seashells and flowers was the theme.  I did get to Trader Joe’s at 8:00 in the morning to score their best selection of tulips!

I always like to pick up little party favors there too–they have all sort of fun and different candies individually packaged like these gourmet jelly beans! The napkin rings were from Pier 1 Imports, napkins and runner was from Marshall’s Home Goods, and the bottom layered place mats were from Z Gallerie.  All of these items I already had.

Then I just sprinkled some Easter Eggs among some shells I found scattered around the house. I purchased these Aidan Gray vases from me at the Segreto Boutique.

I was determined to work on a craft project this year, so my Mom and I made these cute little egg vases to add to the decor!  Super easy, I drained the egg out of the shell, washed it and let it dry upside down. Then we dyed them with all sorts of fun colors. I had planned to put wheat grass in them but didn’t start early enough for them to grow, so ………

…… instead I purchased some fake potted flowers from Ikea for @$1.50 and put them in the new egg vases.  Good news they will still be alive for next year!

I mixed my Trader Joe’s flowers and new egg vases with accessories from around the house! Easy peasy!

Susie’s Table!

Susie has long been my inspiration for tablescapes.  She is the queen of layering.  This is the first time I have seen her use gold utensils!  I have often thought about adding that to my collection. Do you have gold? Do you use it often?

I love the eggs in the cloche stands. If you relook at the above two pictures, she was trying them on the plate and to the side.  Which would you pick?

Look at the outdoor kids table!  Just as pretty as the inside-super cute! I spy one of my favorite 2017 pics –burlap bunny ear napkin rings!

Melissa’s table!

I had posted this picture from Pottery Barn last year which Melissa loved. Using it as inspiration, this is what she came up with.

Wow!  It’s even prettier!!!! What went into it?

There are those bunny ears really compliment the napkins and plates from Williams-Sonoma!

Look how cute these nest place-card holders are!  Melissa made them with her little helper…………………..

…………….Scarlett!  Dressed in her Sunday best she loved decorating the desert table for sure!!

But wait, before you eat the desserts, it’s time for the first course.  I am going to try this for my next party!  What a beautiful salad presentation!!

Kay’s Table!

I have always loved this room featured in Segreto Style and was excited to see how Kay set her Easter Table! See the carrots on the plates?  They are Easter poppers and were filled with baby chicks, a joke and Easter stickers!  I love this idea and am going to find some for this year’s table!

The eggs hanging from the chandelier are certainly the finishing touch! Well done Kay!

A Fun Craft!

Look at this sweet gift Charlotte made with her Mom for my Operations Manager Isai.  We office together so I get to look at that cute face every day! Super easy, this is a fun activity to do at Easter or with your kids or grand kids!!

Thank you Susie, Melissa and Kay for sharing your creative and beautiful tablescapes with all of us. From my table to yours, I wish you and your family a wonderful Easter! Please send me pictures of your tablescape this year so I might share them next year!!  Leslie@segretofinishes.com.     Remember always–  “God loves each of us as if there is only one of us.” Saint Augustine

 

 

 

 

 

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An Exterior Facelift!!!

Hi Friends!!  People always ask me what is my favorite project I am working on and its hard for me to say because honestly I love them all.  This one, however definitely comes to mind–not only did I love working with the owners but it was an incredible before and after!!

Here is the home before!!  Beautiful? Absolutely!! I had worked with this couple when they moved in years ago on a few interior finishes, but now as their children are getting older their home isn’t as functional for them.  After looking for a new home and not finding the perfect one, they decided to stay and renovate.  So I came over to consult. There are some amazing transformations on the interior underway with Parker House Inc. and Newberry Architects, but while the renovation was taking place inside we started an exterior facelift!

Notice the balconies were taken off under the top window.  And we have begun! Not loving the bown façade it was decided to slurry the brick. Versed in many different  products, I felt the best fit for this home was  Domingue Architectural finishes’ plaster in the Calcaire colorway.  Because their brick did not have deep grout, we were able to accomplish the look she wanted with just one coat. Notice how the stone surrounds golden tones are now much more apparent.

As a solution we glazed over the stone with a transparent wash, allowing its natural variation to show while masking its yellow undertones.  An easy process, this application holds up to weather.

The roof was next!  Staying away from brown, we narrowed the choices to two.  Both work but the darker one was chosen.

Many people assume that all your trim needs to be painted the same color.  Before you make that decision, walk the exterior and decide which parts should stand out as architectural assets and what items would look better if attention were not drawn to them. Many of the windows on the side and back of the home did not have the stone surround like the front or had angles which were not symmetrical. This became even more evident when the house was lighter and the original dark trim had yet to be repainted.

 

So the majority of the trim and window casings were matched to the plaster color. When picking exterior paints, put up samples on surfaces on each side of the home.  The lighting is drastically different and you need to make sure you like it in all lights and at different times during the day. After you select a color, make sure a sample is then put up in a gallon of the exact product you will use on your home.  I have found that colors vary slightly from product to product even within the same company.

Here you can see her new balcony!  Much simpler!  Also the new roof is on!!  She did want the front windows and doors to stand out a bit. Here are some paint colors we were looking at the bottom left is another option in which all the windows would blend with the plaster.  Which do you like best?

 

 

The original window was replaced with an iron one updating the look. It was discussed to replace the entire door with the metal look so many are going to but having a glass inset in the door when they purchased the home they wanted more privacy.

 

I loved the shape of the front door and flet is fit the style of the home, I just didn’t like the chocolate  brown color it was painted.

Many front doors are made of stained grade wood as they hold up better to the Houston weather so I felt it was worth the risk and suggested the door be stripped and bleached.

 

 

 

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Segreto Goes to Upstate New York and The Secrets to Southern Charm Reveal!

Hi Friends!!   I have had a busy week with lots of travel and wanted to give you a snippet my recent trip to upper New York.  For someone who is a TENSE flyer it’s amazing to me that this “turbulent” trip for work turned into crossing an item off my bucket list!

The romantic comedies which I grew up with are few and far between in this generation’s action futuristic movie options. In lieu of not having the constant flow of titles like Pretty Woman, The Notebook and Maid in Manhattan, I have turned to the Hallmark Chanel to get my fix.  Beautiful little towns, innocent romance and always uplifting, I look forward to them releasing a new movie where the miracle of the human spirit and happy endings are available all year long.  Corny-right?  I have often dreamed about going to one of these enchanting towns especially over Christmas time as they look so beautiful blanketed in snow!  

 While traveling to Skaneateles, New York to look at a project, I got to witness  this type of charming town first hand. To get to this place is not simple. I flew to Dulles and then took a flight to Syracuse, New York.  From there, the town of 2400 is about a 40-minute jaunt.  Located around Finger Lakes it is a tourist attraction in the summer time but a sleepy little town in the winter. 

When I arrived, the homeowner and their designer John Kidd were shopping for stone, giving me a few hours to explore!  I stayed at Mirabeau Spa and Hotel at the top of the hill.  Well with no Uber or cab service, I decided to walk down to the town.  It was cold but no snow on the ground.  It was fun looking at the charming homes from the 1800’s.This one above is actually on the market.  !!  The grounds are amazing!!  Any takers?

The delightful downtown is part of a historic district and is noted for its mix of mid-19th and early 20th century retail buildings.   Having a wedding to go to the following week, I was thrilled to carve out time to shop for the event. 

 

At dinner, all the talk was about a massive snow storm coming in! Well low and behold— overnight the town had been transformed into a dreamlike winter wonderland.  Here is a view out my window!! If you are ever in this part of the woods the food in the restaurant at Mirabeau is great, the breakfast especially gets an A+. Waiting till the snow plows could pave the way a bit we didn’t leave for the job site until about 9:30.

 On the way to the property I saw so many beautiful homes like the one above. Big or small  these homes were freshly painted and had perfectly manicured yards.   Blanketed with snow, the trees became ice sculptures with branches resembling glistening crystals, an effect I had never seen.

There were so many beautiful barns!  Ones in whites, in yellows and this beautiful red one- a picture perfect Christmas card!

Driving very slowly we arrived on the client’s side of the lake. This side developed much later, so many of the houses were constructed in the last 20 years.  The above is still under construction.  Bet the snow slows down their move in timeline!

I was excited to pull up to the home, partially because it marked our survival down the long winding driveway, but mostly to see the project and brainstorm on the renovation.

The back of the property was beautiful and sits right on the lake.

Here is what it looks like in the summer.  So pretty!!

I’ll get to see this first hand when we install our finishes. Look at those blooming trees!!

We left the following morning  and sweet designer John had to maneuver through the snow and drive us to the airport in his rental car.  Thank goodness for the nice townspeople. Without their help de-iceing the car, we would not been able to leave.  Rarely being faced with snow, neither he or I were prepared.  The fear of turbulent flights and drives in the snow, was well worth seeing this majical winter wonderland! A picture perfect Hallmark backdrop!

To make the trip even more perfect, I was able to finish The Secrets to Southern Charm on the plane.  Kristy Harvey, one of my favorite bloggers is also a talented author. She not only writes the awarded blog Design Chic with her cute Mom Beth—she also is an acclaimed southern fiction author.   She published her first book at about the same time as I did mine, and now she is releasing her 4th !  I happily read the first one as a favor and now I eagerly await each new story.  Capturing the essence of family, relationships and the meaning and challenges of unconditional love, her books make me laugh, think, relate and tear up.

“This is the second novel in the Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family. After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve. Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light. But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.”

I have loved  each of her books.  Truly!!!!!  You should read them all!! If you haven’t read Dear Carolina-her first, its a must read and one of the best gifts I could think of for Mother’s Day for any Mother!  If you are ordering  The Secret to Southern Charm (release date April 3rd, but you can pre-order) remember that it is the second of a series so order Slightly South of Simple as well!  Thanks for coming with me on my bucket list trip!  I hope you all have wonderful week!

 

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A Week With Segreto!

Hi Friends!!  I hope you all have had a wonderful week!  I feel like we are Santa’s elves around here even though the holidays are so far away!!  I wanted to share some job starts, some furniture redo’s, some pretty samples and some SegretoStone counters and sinks we are working on!!

Metallic is Trending!!

The right is a sample we put up for designer Leslie Strauss. Sometimes just a little is enough! The aged gold leaf detail on the top edge makes a strong impact on this built in cabinetry under her bar. Using the the cool hardware as color inspiration, this cabinet style was easy to embellish!!

From gold to silver, the powder in the same home, also got a bit of bling!! Starting with silver paint (right) Jerry is adding silver leafing in a worn fashion (left).  Then he will add some brushed black to match the sample on the floor below!! Mixing the worn silver with a high gloss cabinet really ties the tile in and softens the basin’s sleek design.  If you see Jerry out and about tell him congratulations!!  He has been promoted to head finisher and will run the furniture refinishing side at our new warehouse!!

Furniture Transformations:

These chairs (left) were handed down from mother to daughter and freshly painted (right). Matching the lacquered green to a tone in the newly slated fabric, we reapplied the aged gold in a less orange tone.  These will look amazing in her new dining space!

This armoire transformation truly shows the powder of paint!! From worn mahogany to aged blue, this will now blend perfectly in our clients master suite!

It’s Sample Time!

 

Loving to try new things we created this sample for a dining room using Dominque Architectural finishes new mineral paint. Double coating it and applying it with a heavy hand we were able to create a slight grass cloth texture! Super matt in sheen, it would lend drama to any space.

Many times we are given wall covering as inspiration either because of the cost of the paper or the difficulty in installing it due to a rooms angles. We are slated to start our rendition of  this paper soon in a powder bath.

We love working with different kinds of woods and often we are asked to make the new feel reclaimed or to alter the tone of  a clients the current wood to read more weathered or gray.  Here are a few of our samples–you can see the original tone of the wood on top of the beam or created on the boards where we used tape to separate the samples!!

This is a fun project for Designer Richard Coleman! He applied the grass cloth wall covering to an inset niche in an entryway.  Starting with the fabrics he wanted to emulate the design of the velvet onto the grass cloth wallcovering using the blues of the patterned fabric.  Starting with the lighter tones on the right is was decide to use our painted blue sample on the left.

There are two of these!!   Alex loves implementing detailed renderings!  What a creative impact this adds to the space!!

SegretoStone!

How can we post what we do each week without sharing some SegretoStone!  This home is absolutely stunning!  Working with Ashley Radack, owner of the chic antique importer Renouveau , designer James Mol and  Kristal Construction, how could it turn our anything but beautiful!  I was super excited that they chose Segretostone for this modern French style kitchen!! 

They also selected SegretoStone in the master bath!  It will be even prettier with the gold hardware installed!!

Integrating the sink gives a seamless look! This is a house that I want to show you in its entirety!  It is beyond beautiful!!  Roundtop is coming up so look for Ashley in her booth there at Marburger, or visit her in Houston–she really has the most amazing things!

There are so many uses for our new product!! This column when from blaaa to super cool!!

I hope to show you this home in its entirety!  Working with Goodchild Builders we did SegretoStone waterfall counters throughout the house!!  In this shot we also finished the cabinetry and the ceiling! I honestly would like to just move in! Enjoy your week my friends.

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