Amy's Awesome Anthropologie Abode

Sorry I've been away awhile but I can't wait to show you what I've been working on.
It shall be called "Amy's Awesome Anthropologie Abode...." but Amy has requested I not photograph it until it's all put back together. Humph, Amy. Ye know not how impatient I am. Well here's the inspiration anyway:

Laila bedding from Anthropologie. It's way cooler in person. There's a limey green diamond print in the back ground and the whole thing looks very Ethnic/Art Deco.

Tomorrow I start the stenciling behind the bed. I will be using the harlequin trellis stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils, in black on a gray wall.
I have already painted the walls Sherwin Williams Mega Greige and the tray ceiling SW Freshwater and the crown mould is SW Tricorn Black. ( I really can't wait to show ya'll!)

Here's the stencil pattern that will look so amazing in black!


My second oldest daughter is graduating from 8th grade on Friday ( in a dress my parents would have NEVER allowed) and we are having 30 (plus or minus) 8th graders over to the house, which for some reason has had me working on two paintings for the dining room for the last few nights. I inspired myself with THESE paintings for the aforementioned Amy. These are in her library and remain unnamed. One of my friends suggested "Cluster Pucks" which cracks me right up. Anyway, I am making a version for myself in hot pink, aqua, red, yellow, white, lime and black.
Just a reminder, I am now teaching my Abstract art techniques, click here for info.



Last week, I treated Amy's library to the Sherwin Williams Quartzstone finish in the Cardboard colorway, with a glitter glaze applied over the whole thing. ( Glitter is not showing in the photo, but I use Lowe's Granite Glitter additive in gold and silver, 1 packet each, mixed in with a gallon of glaze. Apply by rubbing on vertically with a big car washing sponge.) One thing about the Quartzstone finish....I have yet to have one match the color swatch, just so you know, don't leave the store without having them tweak it! We had to add a ton of Maroon tint to get ours to be the right color.



The week before that, I created this wall finish in her dining room. I will be sharing this recipe with my followers when I get a moment- Become a follower and get free recipes too!

I'm having fun in Amy's house, Amy is awesome!

Fun at the Renaissance in Schaumburg

Hey hey! I'm back from my fun little getaway to Chicago. The real reason for this trip was to buy a chandalier at IKEA, but I also got to spend a little time with my BFF since first grade, have an awesome dinner with my honey as well as a Sunday morning workout and brunch for Mother's Day. We stayed at the Renaissance in Schaumburg and it is just gorgeous. Here are some of my favorite lobby shots.

Above, you can see these crazy mesh canopies that are hanging from the ceiling over several seating areas. I want to know who sells these ideas, because my clients are frequently scared of funkylicisiousness. I need some pointers in selling funk.



I'll take one to go, please!


That is one funky chimney!

Ceiling in the Sam and Harry's restaurant. I think this is really cool, but it kind of reminds me of arteries.


I love the idea of this. Some other people loved it to, cause some of these were missing off the wall. People suck.
I love these little metal blooms that were planted between two back to back sofas. If only I had a soldering iron, I'd make one of these!

Me and my honey snuggling on a big yellow chaise. There was someone sleeping on another couch, so why not, right?

Mike snapped this shot of me in a purple egg chair....no that photo is not edited, it's just that I'm having so much fun, I'm actually glowing!! (okay I'm totally joking, it's edited all to heck!)

Color to re-consider : toothpaste green

There's a color that keeps jumping out at me....it reminds me of old fashioned Aim toothpaste. It's fresher than turquoise,greener than 'tiffany box', and way cooler than sage. It's got a definite vintage vibe. I'm diggin' it.

When looking at my Ben Moore fandeck, it's somewhere in the 589-599 series, like "Spring Fresh-591" or "Brookdale Gardens-599"

What do y'all think? "Good"? or "Uh-no".





This is a little greener than Aim toothpaste, but I still like it. Maybe this would be considered 'pistachio'.

the chair is spot on. Not sure I love the wall color with the chair though.


A couple of lighter versions follow, one with a tinge of gray. If you are thinking of painting a whole room in this color, you might want to consider graying it up a smidge. When I was in college, the former occupant of my bedroom had painted it a color most accurately described as 'the bottom of a swimming pool. In Miami. In 1945." It hurt my eyes to be in there. A touch of gray would have upped my GPA, that's for sure.