Leslie Sinclair's Blog, page 8

Illuminating and Ultimate Gray: Pantone Colors Of The Year 2021

Hi Friends! It’s time for the Pantone color of the reveal! Each year Pantone predicts the color(s) that will best reflect the year ahead setting trends for fashion, tabletop and home decor. The 2021 Pantone Color of the Year or should I say colors of the year are….drumroll: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. They symbolize strength and positivity and reassure us that sunny days are ahead! I am all for that!

“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.” – Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute

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This is the second time they have chosen two colors in the two decade history of doing this! The last time they selected was in 2016 when Rose Quartz and Serenity were chosen, I wrote about it here. Another one of my favorite colors chosen in years past was Living Coral, I wrote about it here. Let’s see how we can incorporate these colors into our everyday lives.

How can Illuminating and Ultimate Gray work in the world of interior design?

I went to Pinterest as well as our Segreto photo library to get inspired!

Designer Amy Murchison used the vibrant yellow drapery to add sunshine to this room paired next to the sleek black/gray mantel. Segreto plastered the walls in bright white infused with a hint of yellow throughout to provide a beautiful backdrop for the art and furnishings. A great example of Illuminating and Ultimate Gray here!

A wide shot of the room. Such a fun use of color! See more of this beautiful home on pages 56-61 in Segreto Impressions.

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Found on Pinterest, this Parisian bathroom is a wonderful combination of gray and yellow tones making for a serene yet cheerful retreat.

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Also found on Pinterest, the art is the perfect mix of Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. Bringing color into a neutral room.

This bathroom is a sophisticated way to incorporate Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. Found on page 223 in Segreto Vignettes, the mural was created using various shades of gray and offset by the brass sink basin and fixtures.

If you aren’t ready to transform a whole room with these colors, incorporate small accents through florals or glassware. We loved collaborating with Marie Flanigan on this powder bath that she so beautifully styled and incorporated a pop of yellow through florals. The textured SegretoStone sink, a first for us, is set off well with our smoother counters. See more of this spread here and also check out Marie’s book The Beauty of Home which features so much more of her beautiful work!

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This glassware and table setting is a fun way to incorporate a pop of yellow without investing too much in the trend. It brings a fresh look to the table and is sure to make for a cheerful gathering! You know me an dishware! I am all in!

“Even in the gray sameness of our current days, the future does look a whole lot brighter.” Here is to warm, bright sunny days ahead of us!

What do you think of Pantone’s color of the year? Let me know your thoughts and how you would incorporate these colors in your home in the comments below. Till next time! XO Leslie

The post Illuminating and Ultimate Gray: Pantone Colors Of The Year 2021 appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

A Magical Christmas Wedding

Hi Friends! I was struggling whether to post about my daughter’s wedding during a time where we are asked not to have dinner with family, Both my husband and I have been very careful in protecting ourselves and others during the entire pandemic and we were really stressed about how to move forward with Sammy’s wedding. We have not socialized with our friends and although have supported restaurants with take out, had not dined out. Two people promising to love, honor and cherish each other is a momentous milestone and the committed couple did not want to continue to push back their marriage. The day was such a joyous occasion that I wanted to share, after all, who doesn’t love weddings and especially during the magical season of Christmas.

Sammy, my youngest daughter, got engaged to Dylan in Paris the summer of 2019. Always wanting a Christmas wedding, she felt the timeline was too fast and they set the date for June 2020 with no idea of what that year had in store. She is a kindergarten teacher so all of her events centered around her time off. Her bachelorette party was planned in March during spring break and her showers in May when school was out.

Photographer John Segovia

We have three children and we decided that our son and daughters would get a monetary gift from us to start their life together with their chosen partner. John and I came up with an amount we felt comfortable with. A dear friend gave me some advice in how to present “the budget” which was so valuable. Rather than say this is your wedding budget. We sat down with them and said this is your gift from us to start your new lives together to use in anyway you decide as a couple. You can use it for the wedding, you can save for a down payment for a house, you can use to buy furniture or travel. Its your decision. Before you make that decision though, please think how long it would take you to save this money after taxes, and let us know how we can assist you in planning your wedding. This really changed the conversation and they came back to us with their own budget for the wedding, wanting to save the rest to contribute to a down payment for a house some day. It elevated most stressful conversations, and they gave a different consideration how the money was spent-as it was theirs, not ours. The wedding was absolutely perfect and beautiful, and they stayed within their set budget which was not over the top!

She settled on a dusty blue theme similar to Christy’s Wedding which I shared in Happiness after Harvey!. Both had to deal with unforeseen circumstances, and both didn’t let anything put a damper on their wedding day! Christy is also a friend and she so graciously helped with the coordination, our second time around for Sammy’s big day!

Chris Bailey Photography

Sammy is no bridezilla, but practical and super organized. I knew she would enjoy the process and not stress as long as everything was done way in advance. So we found the dress, picked the venue, chose the caterer, florist, band, invitations etc. before Christmas 2019. We decided to divide and conquer just like I did with my Mom at my own wedding.

Chris Bailey Photography

Well when the country went on lockdown, she cancelled her bachelorette party the week before they left and we decided to push the wedding to December- sure that everything would be back to normal by then. Who knew?! Most vendors were understanding and moved our date and deposits to December 5th. It was heartbreaking hearing of all their events and income stream being put on hold! The only vendor we had to change was the photographer due to scheduling conflicts.

I remembered Chris Bailey had done such a beautiful job with our Segreto designer Leslie’s wedding, so I reached out to him and booked his firm. David and Sarah were our photographers and they truly seemed as engaged and happy to be a part of the event as we did. It was meant to be! .

Chris Bailey Photography

We struggled with the decision on how to have a safe wedding and mid-October decided to reduce the numbers, make special safety accommodations, and move forward. Reducing the guest list was definitely stressful. We went from 165 to 50 people, having to tell both close friends and family, we are so sad not to have them with us, but everyone’s safety was our main concern. Who was there? The wedding party and their significant others, parents of the bride and groom and my mother and Dylan’s grandfather if they decided to attend- which they both did. Thankfully, with all of our precautions, the wedding did not turn into a super spreader event and people did not get sick. The company which the dusty blue dresses were ordered from originally, agreed to exchange them out for this beautiful crimson red. Sammy makes such a beautiful December Bride and those girls in that red-stunning!

Chris Bailey Photography

We made a few changes on Sammy’s dress as well. Seeing that the event would be in a much cooler time of the year opera gloves were added for the first look and the reception. We found a beautiful lace overlay for the ceremony. The pearl bracelet was her something borrowed. It was the first nice piece of jewelry which John bought for me decades before.

Chris Bailey Photography

We included in the invitations that everyone needed to be tested before the event and had customized masks from Etsy-so cute they said Sammy & Dylan quarantined for life with the wedding date- and personalize bottles of hand sanitizer were gifted to all and spread throughout the venue.

Hair and makeup was so beautifully done by Blush and Co. They arrived at our house at 9:30am sharp, along with all the bridesmaids, and quickly got to work. I was thinking how can hair and make up hold from morning through night, but it did!. They did a wonderful job making sure Sammy, all the girls, and even the mother of the bride felt pretty!

Chris Bailey Photography

I got so much joy seeing my two girls share this special day together and…

Chris Bailey Photography

…my son and husband see Sammy in her dress for the first time!

First looks were not something we did back in the day so this was fun for me to see. We all watched from inside windows and it was such a special moment for them both! Sammy’s dog, Stella, was the only one who got a front row seat.

The wedding was moved outside to the courtyard and was so beautiful with red rose petals leading to the Christmas garland and floral arbor. Greg, their minister’s words were so heartfelt which brought me to tears. He spoke about how Sammy & Dylan approached love differently, why they loved each other and how that worked so well in their special relationship! I do wish I had those words recorded!

We hired Fine Arts Strings who’s string quartet really set the mood of the event. John, the groups leader also was so sweet and supportive during the wedding being postponed. Larger tables and cloths were rented last minute from Let it Fly Events spacing people further apart while enjoying dinner inside, and the windows and doors were left open for air circulation during dinner and the reception.

Chris Bailey Photography

Sammy and Dylan enjoyed all the traditional parts of the ceremony. Our cake was by Cakes by Gina and was so delish. Karla Lazo Floral Design Houston did such a beautiful job with the florals and in creating an intimate setting for a smaller event. We added 21 Christmas trees with white lights to fill the space.

Chris Bailey Photography

Sweet John who is not a fan of public speaking wrote 20 pages for the big night. After my son said-Dad-5 minutes tops- he twiddled down his fond memories of his baby girl to 7 minutes! I love this husband of mine of 33 years and hope that Sammy and Dylan have as wonderful a journey as we have had. We are blessed to also gain friends in Dylan’s family as we all have the common bond of family first!

Chris Bailey Photography

Looks like Sammy was happy with her Dad’s toast to her! This expression of pure joy was on her face the entire night! It is a look I will never forget!

Chris Bailey Photography

Dylan and Sammy love music and the band was the most important thing to them. They had been to a wedding where Password played and securing them for the wedding was their number one request. Password is a High Energy act that covers smooth jazz, disco show from Motown, R&B and top 40! They were so engaging with the guests. I got to know Jude during this process and what a nice kind soul! He was so supportive of Sammy, who typically doesn’t like to sing in front of friends, wanting to sing a special song to Dylan.

She chose “Your Song” by Elton John. Everyone was in tears and clapping and screaming and couldn’t believe what a performer she was-she did a beautiful job!

Chris Bailey Photography

Dylan was so touched!! I wished I had a videographer at this point. We wanted to keep the numbers down at the venue so i cancelled and this special song will only be recorded in our hearts!

The venue-Station 3 was a beautiful backdrop to our perfect night! Built in 1903, it is one of Houston’s historical landmarks and original fire stations. Its everlasting motto, “Trust in Us” can still be seen etched into the buildings stone today. The original brick, wood floors, concrete beams, and intricate hand carved exterior stone work all add to its timeless beauty and charm and we felt it prettier with less décor.

Chris Bailey Photography

After a night full of dancing…

Chris Bailey Photography

…we sent them off with white rose petals (Texas snow) to their new adventure as husband and wife!

Chris Bailey Photography

I wish all the love and happiness to them them both that life has to bring! I am so grateful for all the wonderful vendors and all our friends and family who were with us whether in person or spirit during this truly special magical Christmas time wedding. Be careful and smart and safe, but, be sure to find ways to enjoy all the special moments life has to offer. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a very Happy New Year! Till 2021! XO Leslie

The post A Magical Christmas Wedding appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

Christmas Entertaining Made Easy!

Hi Friends! The holiday season is in full force and with so much to get done with little time left, I put together a few simple tablescapes and family craft ideas to make your family gathering jolly for grown-ups and children alike. Make your Christmas entertaining easy!

If you are unable to have everyone around the table this year, reach out to all that are special, hold them tight in your hearts and let them know how much you care!!

AROUND THE TABLE!

Just like with recipes, I tend to scour the internet for ideas on setting the table for inspiration, then pull everything out, and experiment with options. If you like getting ideas in person, Bering’s  with their beautifully displayed dishware will inspire your imagination and solidify your holiday table!

Last year I pulled out our Madam Alexander Christmas Angels and used them around a festive decorated mini tree I found at Trader Joe’s. Although the dishware was the same, girls had snowflake mats and napkins while the boys had beaded mats with red napkins. Using the angels dress as inspiration I created a dress look with the napkins, creating an empire waist with pine cone garland napkin rings!

Each person had an ornament which served as a place card. From my world travelers, to my tennis pro, to my coffee drinker, they had fun guessing their seats and everyone left with a trinket to remember our special day.

Grouping things is such a beautiful way to decorate. Inspired by my friends collection of Santa’s I decided on a more rustic country themed table this year.

I love to mix and match and always pull out all sorts of dishware and play with combinations to see which one speaks to me. Any color can be holiday friendly from pink to lime green to this blue and red combo!

I spied cute Santa’s at Renovate a favorite store of mine in Houston, but decided not to splurge on me. Low and behold I received them for gifts from two of my friends! I was so excited to use them with my hand-painted Russian Santa’s as the centerpiece of the table!

The workmanship on these are so beautiful and my new ones looked perfect with them!

Most places with Christmas trees have broken branches they will give or sell you. Placing them around the Santa’s, I mixed in some ornaments. pine cones and my Lalique birds, for a simple festive centerpiece.

Under the Tree!

If you are a family that wraps together, make it a very special craft activity and wrap Segreto style! There are so many premade stencils 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. To see step by step how to make your own paper click here!

Sweets & Treats Activities!

I have so many fun clients who have interesting hobbies!! Monica, whom I have done various projects for throughout the years, has always impressed me with her crafty ideas!

An accomplished graphic designer and cook, each holiday season she spends weeks baking magical gingerbread houses. Even in person it was hard to believe this was made from a cookie! Having entered and won many contests, Monica enlightened me that the art of gingerbread making is actually pretty competitive. To see more about how to make a Gingerbread Mansion click here!

Source

These are absolute showstoppers! The cups are filled with a chocolate orange mousse and topped with trees created from ice cream cones dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed chocolate candies. Delish!! Grab the full tutorial and the recipe here. Although we didn’t make these they inspired me to have a desert craft for our family activity!

Cupcake Christmas Trees!!

This was an easy activity to pull together. I poured chocolate cake batter into these sugar ice-cream cones using a Bundt cake pan with foil so the cones would remain upright for the trees and made vanilla cupcakes for their bases.

The table was filled with all sorts of cake decorating goodies to inspire our desert decorating craft.

From making paper and wrapping gifts to baking and eating our treats, everyone had so much fun being together!

The Holiday Cocktail

Holiday cocktails are always a fun way to get things going at your get together. Kirby, our family mixologist made these delicious espresso martinis. In a cocktail shaker, mix two parts vodka, one part kahlua and one part espresso with ice, shake then pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon and enjoy!

THE PERFECT GIFT!

The Segreto Book Series will make you design lovers wishes come true! I am happy to personalize and there is still time to ship! Order on line here ,email laurena@segretofinishes.com or call the office at 713-461-5210.

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? – Bob Hope

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! Till next time. XO Leslie

The post Christmas Entertaining Made Easy! appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

Christmas Entertaining made easy!

Hi Friends! The holiday season is in full force and with so much to get done with little time left, I put together a few simple tablescapes and family craft ideas to make your family gathering jolly for grown-ups and children alike. Make your Christmas entertaining easy!

If you are unable to have everyone around the table this year, reach out to all that are special, hold them tight in your hearts and let them know how much you care!!

AROUND THE TABLE!

Just like with recipes, I tend to scour the internet for ideas on setting the table for inspiration, then pull everything out, and experiment with options. If you like getting ideas in person, Bering’s  with their beautifully displayed dishware will inspire your imagination and solidify your holiday table!

Last year I pulled out our Madam Alexander Christmas Angels and used them around a festive decorated mini tree I found at Trader Joe’s. Although the dishware was the same, girls had snowflake mats and napkins while the boys had beaded mats with red napkins. Using the angels dress as inspiration I created a dress look with the napkins, creating an empire waist with pine cone garland napkin rings!

Each person had an ornament which served as a place card. From my world travelers, to my tennis pro, to my coffee drinker, they had fun guessing their seats and everyone left with a trinket to remember our special day.

Grouping things is such a beautiful way to decorate. Inspired by my friends collection of Santa’s I decided on a more rustic country themed table this year.

I love to mix and match and always pull out all sorts of dishware and play with combinations to see which one speaks to me. Any color can be holiday friendly from pink to lime green to this blue and red combo!

I spied cute Santa’s at Renovate a favorite store of mine in Houston, but decided not to splurge on me. Low and behold I received them for gifts from two of my friends! I was so excited to use them with my hand-painted Russian Santa’s as the centerpiece of the table!

The workmanship on these are so beautiful and my new ones looked perfect with them!

Most places with Christmas trees have broken branches they will give or sell you. Placing them around the Santa’s, I mixed in some ornaments. pine cones and my Lalique birds, for a simple festive centerpiece.

Under the Tree!

If you are a family that wraps together, make it a very special craft activity and wrap Segreto style! There are so many premade stencils 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. To see step by step how to make your own paper click here!

Sweets & Treats Activities!

I have so many fun clients who have interesting hobbies!! Monica, whom I have done various projects for throughout the years, has always impressed me with her crafty ideas!

An accomplished graphic designer and cook, each holiday season she spends weeks baking magical gingerbread houses. Even in person it was hard to believe this was made from a cookie! Having entered and won many contests, Monica enlightened me that the art of gingerbread making is actually pretty competitive. To see more about how to make a Gingerbread Mansion click here!

Source

These are absolute showstoppers! The cups are filled with a chocolate orange mousse and topped with trees created from ice cream cones dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in crushed chocolate candies. Delish!! Grab the full tutorial and the recipe here. Although we didn’t make these they inspired me to have a desert craft for our family activity!

Cupcake Christmas Trees!!

This was an easy activity to pull together. I poured chocolate cake batter into these sugar ice-cream cones using a Bundt cake pan with foil so the cones would remain upright for the trees and made vanilla cupcakes for their bases.

The table was filled with all sorts of cake decorating goodies to inspire our desert decorating craft.

From making paper and wrapping gifts to baking and eating our treats, everyone had so much fun being together!

The Holiday Cocktail

Holiday cocktails are always a fun way to get things going at your get together. Kirby, our family mixologist made these delicious espresso martinis. In a cocktail shaker, mix two parts vodka, one part kahlua and one part espresso with ice, shake then pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon and enjoy!

THE PERFECT GIFT!

The Segreto Book Series will make you design lovers wishes come true! I am happy to personalize and there is still time to ship! Order on line here ,email laurena@segretofinishes.com or call the office at 713-461-5210.

My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? – Bob Hope

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! Till next time. XO Leslie

The post Christmas Entertaining made easy! appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

What’s Segreto Up To?- The art of the grisaille mural!

Hi Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Well it is certainly the Holiday Season now!! This year has been so slow and then just has flown by all at the same time. We have been working on two beautiful mural projects that I can’t wait to share!! Murals are such beautiful forms of art and date back to 30,000 BC. Today they transform rooms into a work of art and are as prevalent in design today as they were centuries before. Follow along to see What’s Segreto Up To?

The first project is one Leslie -or little cute Leslie as I call her -worked on with some really lovely homeowners. She was so excited about it, meeting daily and sending me snap shots along the way. The lady of the house is an artist in her own right and Leslie admired her work which adorned many of their walls. Seeing this beautiful rendition in Veranda, these homeowner’s were inspired to transform their dining room. They spent weeks looking for wall-coverings, but not finding anything that really spoke to them, so we were called in to discuss. Super excited at the prospect of having something custom which only they would have!

Originally thinking that they wanted a room full of color, Leslie looked at inspirations pictures of landscapes with the homeowners discussing what they were drawn to in each. Color, style and subject matter were discussed with each. This process is fun as sometimes you don’t know why you like a certain piece and is interesting to see what you are really drawn to.

Here are a few they had pulled that we reviewed. One spouse wanted bold and the other wanted a tonal piece. They decided to go bold and work back from there.

Printing out a picture of the space we did a colored pencil sketch to give them a basic concept. After living with it taped to their walls for a few days they decided they would rather have a grisaille, which is a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish color.

I am love grisaille murals as I have a beautiful scene painted in the inset paneling of my living room. Did you know tone on tone paintings in brown tones are called brunaille, and paintings executed in green are called verdaille.

With the new direction, our work began. Watching a mural come to life is really a magical experience. When Segreto was smaller I use to sit with our muralist and watch him paint. Occasionally, he would let me paint right beside him, probably painting out what I had just done as soon as I left. Of course sweet Allan never told me that.

One thing that is truly special about a mural is that the work is unique to your space and something so custom that no one else would ever have the same thing! The homeowners with an artistic young daughter also felt if she took her paints to the wall, a mural would be easier to repair than a wall covering! Good point!

This landscape really evolved each day as another layer of deeper or lighter grays were added to give the painting such dimension, depth and life.

The water and grass so realistic that I can feel the wind blowing it causing ripples in the water. Can’t you?

Just how everything evolves, this room is continuing taking on a life of its own. Finishing up the mural we are going to paint the wood trim and wainscotting in the room a Segreto Paint color which pulls a gray from the mural, then plaster the ceiling in a softer, dreamy shade of gray. When the room is totally complete, you will be the first to see its final reveal. I hope I get invited to dinner here- what about you?

Karin Broker

Working with designer Lynda Eyles is always a treat! I am helping her with finishes for an amazing house. We are plastering most of the home, but their daughter’s bedroom is to have a personality all its own. Her vision was to paint large scale peonies over the headboard using artist Karin Broker’s paintings as inspiration.

Segreto Finishes

Lynda wanted them oversized to feel contemporary and also in the grisaille fashion.

I was super excited to work with her on this because I have admired German artist Wouter Dolk for many years who had some some beautiful peonies murals and had always slated to paint them somewhere in my house. wonder if this one would be considered a brunaille.

Getting started I was in love with how it was turning out! Lynda wanted little bits of blush added and if you look at the bottom left floral can can see it gently shaded on the petals.

In this progress picture you can see some painted and then sketch marks- we always draw on the wall first in charcoal so the client can see the composition before se start.

Truly a painting on the wall! . From transitional to contemporary, murals are beautiful conversation pieces that really set the mood and tone of a room. These both are timeless pieces of art! I can’t wait to show you both theses projects completely finished!

GIFT GIVING MADE EASY! Who doesn’t love design inspiration, especially with so many focusing on their homes?!

The Segreto Design Book Series is perfect for any design lover or color enthusiast on your list. Give the gift of inspiration this holiday season! If you would like personalized copies before the holidays, please email laurena@segretofinishes.com to organize. Till Next Time! I hope you all have a wonderful week!! XO Leslie

The post What’s Segreto Up To?- The art of the grisaille mural! appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

So Much To Be Grateful For- Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Friends! Although Thanksgiving might be a smaller gathering for many of us this year, it will be a special time to hold dear what we are thankful for and to share our gratitude with those who have made our lives special! I am so very thankful for you and the unwavering support you have so generously given to me personally and to my entire Segreto Team. You have given us the opportunity to do what we love and challenged us to come up beautiful new ideas. Please enjoy these art pieces created by the Segreto Team as a thank you for all you have given us! There is so much to be grateful for!

“Gratitude does not minimize or ignore the hardships and complications in life; it simply calls us to recognize the goodness that exists.” – Robert Emmons

“Gratitude is the best medicine. It heals your mind, your body and your spirit. And attracts more things to be grateful for.”

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Be grateful for every second of every day that you get to spend with the people you love. Life is so very precious.”

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward

“Learn to be thankful for what you already have while you pursue all that you want.” – Jim Rohn

The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.” -Robert Holden

Whether your celebration is smaller than years past, virtual or outdoors, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Please reach out to those you can’t spend the day with and let them know how grateful and thankful you are for them! Till next time! XO Leslie

The Segreto Design Book Series is perfect for any design lover or color enthusiast on your list. Give the gift of inspiration this holiday season! If you would like personalized copies before the holidays, please email laurena@segretofinishes.com to organize.

The post So Much To Be Grateful For- Happy Thanksgiving! appeared first on Segreto Finishes.

Design Spotlight- Three Women Doing What They Love!

Hi Friends! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. This week we are spotlighting three women doing what they love as well as announcing our final Segreto Palette cover! I am so blessed to love what I do, so I am always excited to spotlight others who turned their passions into their own entrepreneurial stories! These three ladies had their part in one amazing house. I first met Sheri Bailey, when she brought in plans for her own house and through this project I was introduced to her design partner Maggie Vermillion who together form Bailey Vermillion Interiors. Energetic, fun and highly creative, it has been my pleasure to watch their business grow and be a part of their beautiful projects.

Bailey Vermillion Interiors- Farmhouse Stone-Segreto Plaster- Photography by Kerry Kirk

This is a breathtaking peek of their collaborative work using flooring from Jennifer Jones who owns Farmhouse Stone. Welcome to their stories!

Like how so many of us meet, Sheri and Maggie were introduced though their daughters who became best friends after the Vermillion’s moved back to Houston from New York! They would chat together on carpool drop offs and then began spending hours talking design while the kids were running around- completely happy they were now getting an impromptu play date! Friends kept asking them both for help with design so Maggie thought it would be great to turn something they love so much into a business and Bailey Vermillion Interiors was born.

Bailey Vermillion Interiors- Farmhouse Stone- Photography by Kerry Kirk

Drawing inspiration from her extensive travels and youth spent in Singapore, Malta and England, Sheri brings a unique vision. Maggie loving the architectural framework of a home, attended the New York School of Interior Design and draws inspiration from her clients. Typical feedback about forming partnerships are that they are tricky and can be complicated but Sheri and Maggie were confident that they would be better together.

Bailey Vermillion Interiors Photography by Kerry Kirk

Like myself, both these gals have three kids so I was curious they mixed busy Mom with successful entrepreneur- something that is always a balancing act. Through their partnership, they have stepped up for each other and made sure that they could tag team in order to be at their kids events and support each other’s families. Both with super encouraging husbands, Sheri’s is entrepreneurial by nature- winning Entrepreneur of the year while they were in college. A lawyer as his day job, he has also started Kryptek a now worldwide provider of hunting Camo apparel, military and Special Ops uniforms, with ex-military great guys as his partners. This really inspired and motivated Sheri to pursue her love of design.

Bailey Vermillion Interiors- Segreto Plaster-Photography by Kerry Kirk

Sherri and Maggie have such a timeless and collected look. In asking what they would say to others trying to make decisions in their own home, they recommend spending time and thought on the bones of the home which may be more expensive or difficult to change like finishes, flooring, paint colors, slabs, tile and fixtures. Furniture can be moved around and accessories changed when the homes backdrop can withstand design trends. Above all, be true to yourself and edit, edit, edit! I was fortunate to work on finishes and color pallet with them for Sheri’s new house. Plastering throughout in the same tone, we added special pops to certain rooms, insuring the homes flow, but providing visual interest. They’re masters of each little detail. 

 

Desperate to find the perfect flooring which had a grey tone but not too cold, weathered or blue Sherri found Farmhouse Stone, and met Jennifer who was just starting out. Jennifer says to this day the Sheri Bailey Project is her all-time favorite. “She believed in me from the beginning and it brought me a feeling of pride when someone of that caliber has so much faith in someone first starting out. It was a project I will never forget! “

Bailey Vermillion Interiors- Farmhouse Stone-Segreto Plaster- Photography by Kerry Kirk

I now constantly hear Jennifer’s name buzzing around the design community. Look at the beautiful stone flooring Sheri used in her kitchen. The reclaimed beams, plaster, steel framed windows and sleet marble all come together to provide a comfortable, warm, collected and chic modern European feel. Farmhouse Stone specializes in providing natural stone flooring and decorative tile products throughout Texas. Her background didn’t originate in stone or design. She put herself through college first landing a job selling wine and spirits and then working for FedEx Kinkos for 8 years where she really learned the customer service and logistics side of business.

Jennifer put things on hold when her two year old son was diagnosed with autism. When mainstreaming at school was best for him she was ready to go back to work and took a position with stone company where her passion for the industry began. With an entrepreneurial spirit and her families support, she left and went to France to fully immerse herself in the products and culture at French quarry’s. This not only ignited a love for travel, but also was the beginning of Farmhouse Stone.

 

Farmhouse Stone

Jennifer loves stone the way I love finishes. From the way it is made, installed, applied and the way it transforms a space. Farmhouse Stone is a boutique stone store and is a concierge concept. She works with clients to figure out color, style and texture that meets their needs, timeline and budget. She loves getting into homes early with designers and architects to see how the stone will best fit and transform the space.

 

Farmhouse Stone – Bailey Vermillion Interiors

Maybe the reason I get along so well with these three gals is family is so important to us all. Jennifer also has a supportive husband and three amazing children. With large busy families, durability of products is something all four of us can relate to and are asked often by our clients. It really comes down to knowing what the best product is for where it is being used. For exterior stone flooring, texture is important to protect against slipping. Just like with our plaster, stone in wet areas require special consideration.

For Jennifer choosing a favorite product is like choosing a favorite child- she can’t! Pressured for an answer she does love their Avalon Gray Stone, Moroccan handcrafted tiles (shown above) and some new stones that are coming in soon! She is always searching for the next great product- that’s half the fun and she feels keeps Farmhouse Stone on the cutting edge.

 

Bailey Vermillion Interiors- Farmhouse Stone-Segreto Plaster- Photography by Kerry Kirk

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know these three amazing women as much as I have!! I love the industry I am in but most of all I adore forming relationships with those who inspire me both creatively and to be a better person, friend, wife and mother. These three gals have such a wonderful spirit and are true talents in the design community. Thanks to the three of you for sharing a bit of yourselves and work with all of us! Sheri’s beautiful kitchen with a bit of holiday décor is the perfect was to wish you a great start to our upcoming Holiday Season!

Thank you all for playing “Pick That Cover”! We have tallied all votes and are excited to announce that the cover above is our winner!  It was in one vote of the similar one with marble under the name and strips of finishes to the right. Matching the our colors on the cover has been a challenge. If the tones don’t translate it will be #2.  We have randomly selected five winners that will be receiving a Segreto gift. Congratulations to Mary Anne Doms, Patricia Miller, Allyson Zoellner, Lisa Dremann and Becky Stephens! We will be reaching out to you gals via email to get a mailing address. The palettes will be ready beginning of 2021 and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the new year!

 

I wish everyone a save and wonderful Thanksgiving!  Thank you again for all your votes and input, we appreciate you all so much!! Till next time! XO Leslie

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What’s Up with Segreto?! Come See us at Roundtop!

Hi Friends! Thank you so much for all your input on the Palette decks! Below are our top three not in voting order. Please weigh in if you haven’t! Remember this deck not only represents our paint line but is also meant to be a color guide for our plaster, cabinet, and SegretoStone finishes! What feels timeless, fits many styles and would make you pick up the deck? On the next blog we will post the winners of the ” Pick that Palette” play to win game. You still have a vote! Select again and increase your odds! As October is almost over, we are busy trying to get our clients ready for the holidays!! I wanted to share a few of these special projects with you! Follow along to see what’s up with Segreto!

Here is a before shot of this slated kitchen update where Segreto designer Leslie Simmons handled the finishes for Emily and Stacie of Revival Living Interiors. Leaving the footprint the same, cosmetic changes were made to give this hub of the home a totally different perspective. Ready for the after?

WOW, what a great transformation! Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray was used to freshen up the cabinetry and the walls, ceiling and existing tile hood were coated with plaster. Yes, we can bond plaster to stone saving the cost of constructing a new hood! We added a layer of the wax to the hood to give this focal element more depth. The stone counters and backsplash were replaced with a new quartz and the center island grounded with a SegretoStone top in our signature color, “Insightful.” New lighting, and hardware were the finishing touches in reinventing this kitchen in a beautiful, cost effective way.

Congrats to my sweet friend, Marie Flannigan, on being featured in Elle Decor! Please check out the article! We were honored to work with her on this home!

One of my favorite installations to date, Segreto hand-molded plaster dogwood branches on the wall above the tub. Such a serene retreat!

The kitchen is just as beautiful! I love the plaster over the beams, continuing on the ceiling walls and hood. This took a special process from us as plaster does not naturally bond to wood. The mix of stain, paint and plaster gives a warm feel to this clean bright inviting space. Julie Soefer, famed Houston photographer did a brilliant job in capturing this beautiful home! the article not only speaks to Marie’s new book  The Beauty of Home: Redefining Traditional Interiors but also has a big announcement! Go Marie!

ED: What’s next for you?

MF: I am so excited to debut my lighting collection with Circa Lighting and Visual Comfort, available to order in January! The collection celebrates timeworn and organic materials juxtaposed with contemporary, refined details. The fixtures have traditional silhouettes that are reinvented in a refreshing new context.

We were excited to be contacted by Laura U Design, to put the finishing touches in their almost finished room. The dramatic Vanguard paper Arte No. 93600 from , in their Expressionist pattern looses it custom aura by being interrupted with the white cans and green speakers.

What a difference it makes to mask these utilitarian necessities.

Let’s play our favorite game of “I Spy”! Notice the far window was painted the same as the walls, drawing focus to the beautiful iron doors and drapery on the patio side. Well done!

Creating a “wow” factor in an entry can come from many sources. Lighting, ceilings, walls or in this case…

…painted floors! It is so fun to see the many steps it takes to create one our our one of a kind hand-painted design! The above is step is #5!

Working on step 7 here!

Step 8 is complete!

Here we are with the final step 10! The designer is Jennifer Martinez and we loved creating a welcoming impact for her as guests enter this home. Check out her new website– such beautiful work!

Exciting news! Not only will we be at Marburger Farms for opening day but our SegretoStone pieces will be at Market Hill at Ashley Radack’s booth. Look for Renouveau Antiques towards the left back. Here are our fluted bases which can be used for planters or toped and used with for a dining or side table!

She also is carrying our “Eleanor” cube tables, sinks and consoles! I love her antiques cabinet with our plaster furniture! If you don’t live in Houston this is a great way to see Segreto’s trademarked plaster used to create unique pieces.

Last Thursday, we were so excited to be apart of the AMARA Virtual Interior Blog Awards. The event takes place in London and this year we attended virtually! We, because of your help, were honored to make the top 5 with We Love Home, The Hill House Diaries, Breegan Jane and Atelier 55. A big congratulations to Atelier 55 for winning the Best Interior Lifestyle Blog! Tapiwa is the incredibly talented creative behind Atelier 55, she shines a spotlight on contemporary design, creativity and lifestyle from and inspired by Africa. Check her out here!!

WE KNOW IT’S FALL WHEN MARBURGER FARM, OUR FAVORITE SHOW IS OPENING! COME EARLY AND JOIN US!

Join us tomorrow, October 27th, at the Marburger Farm Antique Show Tuesday Tailgate! Follow along on Instagram (@segretofinishes) to see where our booth is located so you can come by to say Hi. I look forward to seeing you there! Let’s do our part to keep this country connected. Tell someone this week they are special to you! You, my friends, are special to me! Till next time! XO Leslie

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Halloween 2020

HI Friends! Thank you so much for all of your amazing input for the Segreto new Pallet deck! We will let you know the decision next post and the winners!! I can’t believe it is already fall and Halloween 2020 is right around the corner. Although it will be different this year we can still celebrate just on a smaller scale. Setting the table and hosting my kids has always been one of the many highlights of my year. I hope this post will bring a little inspiration and Halloween fun to you all! Each year I add a bit to my table and little by little make it more festive. Full of a craft activity, special décor and delish food, my kids have begun to look forward to these family nights as much as their Mom and Dad!

We started hosting this event in 2017 and it has become a “Halloween Tradition” that all look forward to! Click here to go down memory lane with me!

In 2018, pumpkins and spiders took over the theme. Come dine with us here and get some crafty ideas for your spooky night!

I share our Halloween dinner party the year after the event so lets unveil 2019. Wanting an upscale black white and green themed table, a lace spiderweb overlay table cloth from Amazon was my table inspiration. For my 60 inch table I purchased a 70 inch round ($13.99) topper and layered on a white to the floor 120 inch cloth ($16.99).

Working out dishware was fun and easy. I had the place settings, napkins and boxwood napkin rings. The white pumpkins from my thanksgiving stash tied in the pumpkin Tureen purchased from Martha Stewart’s collection at Macy’s years ago. I set it on top of an acrylic riser for height and placed a silver candelabra my aunt had given me inside. When Segreto had a retail store in our space these risers were used for display. They have been such an amazing, inexpensive dinner party staple! There are lots of venders you can find by searching the web.

I filled the pumpkin centerpiece with florals from Trader Joes then clipped spiders from Michaels to the boxwood napkin rings originally purchased from Pier 1.

Tip: Michaels typically has an 80% off sale the week of Halloween. It is perfect for adding those last minute touches. I bought these cute love potion bottles for the girls and …

…light up coffins filled with candy for the boys!

I used skeleton LED lights, black masks, succulents and embellished skulls sprinkled around the centerpiece to add the finishing touch to my dinner table. Then I was ready to prepare the crafts table!

I loved these Day Of The Dead and pumpkin ceramics I found at Michaels- painting these would be an easy activity for all. I first covered the table with a plastic black cloth then used my acrylic risers to alter heights and fun plastic chargers to hold each persons craft.

Tip: Group like materials in containers to keep your crafting organized and cute. For an event like this do not buy expensive brushes, large packs which you don’t feel bad about throwing away if your guest don’t clean them well are best.

And the Painting Began!

Everyone did such a great job!! They wanted to display their great works of art before they would go to dinner.

Now for Dinner! This year daughter Kirby did most of the cooking. I just added the bread, black squid ink pasta and green beans. It was fall in color and delish!

I used to think Day of the Dead was a creepy holiday and honestly I felt the skeletons were scary. After watching Disney’s Coco, I found it was a warming wonderful tradition.

By keeping our loved ones who have passed in our hearts and memory, we keep them alive in our families by sharing their lives with the next generation. On that one special day, they come down to celebrate with their families. I know on my office computer I have pictures of my parents, grandparents and in-laws who have passed and say good morning to each of them every day.

I was curious on the origin and meaning of Halloween. How Stuff Works states ” The name is actually a shortened version of “All Hallows’ Even,” the eve of All Hallows’ Day. “Hallow” is an Old English word for “holy person,” and All Hallows’ Day is simply another name for All Saints’ Day, the day Catholics commemorate all the saints. At some point, people began referring to All Hallows’ Even as “Hallowe’en” and then simply “Halloween.””

Thank you for joining us on our festive tradition! I am looking forward to Halloween 2020! If you want to weigh in on choosing our new pallet deck cover go here and enter to win! Take pause this week and reach out to someone who is special to you or someone who has made a difference in your life. A short text, a quick note, or simply a warm thank you will do so much to make us all feel valued and connected. Till next week! XO Leslie

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We need your Help! Let’s Play “pick that cover” and Win a gift!

Hi Friends! I hope you are having a great week! Remember when you helped me for the paint line? Well now its time to pick the cover of our Segreto Palette Deck and I would like you all to be involved! I will share the journey and concepts behind the deck to give you the background so you can play “Pick that Cover” and enter to win to a gift from Segreto!

Wanting to be able to create that perfect tone to marry well with our plaster colors which are full of depth and warmth, I began a paint line. For years, I custom mixed colors for my clients, taking them to paint stores so they could match my colors to their paints for the clients to purchase. This process took lots of back and forth to get the color right so I wanted to bring that process in house. Being colorists, creating the colors was fun for me and my staff. Like mad chemists in a lab, we mixed different pigments in solo cups little by little altering each one into the perfect tone. Above became our Segreto Palette.

We looked into different ways to share and display our paint chips. Being shocked at how expensive it was to print a deck, more expensive than printing our design books, we decided to hand paint luggage tags, label them and hang them on hooks on our wall.

This was a slow process, so the only way our clients could select from our colors was to come into the showroom and select individual chips. Color to me is so important. It triggers emotions which can alter your mood, calm your nerves, and create a peaceful atmosphere at home. And I know we all want that!

Providing that “this is home” feeling for you in your own home has been a mission of Segreto from the start. I thought we should not only have a paint deck, as its only shows part of how we transform spaces, but it should embody our entire product lines through a Segreto Pallet.

Whether plaster, Segretostone, lime washes, wood finishes, slurries and now paint, this deck can be used to create that ambiance in many products. The palette decks are made up of easy-to-view color strips that showcase many colors and corresponding SegretoStone options. It takes you through a spectrum of colors; we cover the whites, warm neutrals, grays, soft hued blues, greens and pinks as well as the newest addition of richer colors. The paints are offered in latex flat, latex washable matte and semi-gloss oil and the price point is just slightly above standard paint lines making it a great value and affordable for all.

Segreto plaster in a project by Lucus/Eliers feature in their new book Expressive Interiors: Designing An Inviting Home.

So let’s play “pick that cover”!

Scroll through the cover options below. Think…what would draw me to the deck? Which design will stay current for years? What appeals to traditional, contemporary, transitional styles, multiple age groups and budget ranges? What embodies the Segreto brand? Please comment your top three covers below to submit your selections. We will randomly select ten entries and mail out a palette deck and gift when they arrive.

Thank you all for playing “pick that cover”! I can’t wait to see what your selections are. As always, I am grateful for you! I so appreciate your insight and value your suggestions! The palette decks are almost finished and will be available for purchase soon. Stay tuned to see the final cover and to see who our lucky 10 friends are. Till next time! XO Leslie

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