July 17th, 2008

Cool Canvases Series 3

Here is the last in the series of new panels I’ve been showing you in the two previous posts. This first one is my favorite of the bunch, I think. I don’t want to make the other patterns jealous, but I just am REALLY in love with this one.

ABC Carpet and Home table

It started with this inspiration-a tabletop photographed at ABC Carpet&Home in NYC, a veritable treasure trove of inspiring things to photograph (and maybe to even buy!)

Provence-Ironwork.jpg

I did an “embroidery” version of one of our new Architectural Panel patterns to get the look of the lines that seem to be carved into the surface (one of my new little tricks). I am going to add this finish to my Boho Modern Workshop and will be doing some new Modello Master Method instructions for many of these.

Modello for SALI

I can tell you that it is done with Fresco Paint from Safra. This is a paintable and trowelable product that doesn’t have any binders in it, allowing you to easy rub back through top layers to reveal other color layers below. Once it is sealed with wax or water-based varnish, though, it becomes totally durable. I think our Break Room kitchen cabinets are going to be getting treated to this!

Modello Pattern Samples 3

This Fabric Damask pattern is blown way up. Each repeat is about 4′ high. I think everyone is loving the larger-scaled designs right now!

Modello Pattern Samples 3

We used some new metallic plasters on the market and layered HiLite (interference) colors over it. Then, a good healthy layer of stain to patinate it. I’ll be sharing more of this later….

Modello Pattern Samples 3

This one uses one of our new Silhouette patterns along with metallic foils, paints and embedded lace. I’ve never been brave enough to tackle an embedded lace treatment on a whole wall, but limiting it to a smaller design area makes it pretty darn easy.

Modello Pattern Samples 3

I love the little birdhouse detail. Wouldn’t this be sweet in a nursery??

July 16th, 2008

Cool Canvases Series 2

OK, it’s time to introduce round 2 of the new canvases of finishes I created in the last couple of weeks for the SALI show. Barring any Fedex disasters, these will return to hang in the long corridor that separates the two sides of our building. I have always envisioned it as a “gallery” space, so am looking forward to that….

Modello Pattern Samples 2

I call this one “Rusted Renaissance”. I was trying NOT to do old world in favor of more contemporary looks, but I love this pattern and thought it would be good for something “simple”. Simple being relative.

Modello Pattern Samples 2

It IS pretty simple, really. Metallic foils with skip-troweled Ebony Lusterstone in the pattern and a couple of layers of stain on top after the Modello was removed.

Modello Pattern Samples 2

This one IS a bit more modern. I love the effect of putting pattern into shapes and REALLY like the way this turned out.

Modello Pattern Samples 2

It doesn’t photograph too well, due to the subtle color sheme, but it’s very pleasing in real life and I think the idea can translate to many other options.

Modello Pattern Samples 2

Aaah, finally! I have been planning to do a treatment like this in my home office for a LOOOONG time. I am actually writing this from the dining room as the home office has been dismantled for over a year now, just waiting…..

Modello Pattern Samples 2

Now that I know how easy this Kimono Collage look really is (once it’s all worked out on the computer) I think I might actually try to tackle this one here at home. Not that the dining room isn’t lovely…..More to come!

You can find all of our latest designs here on the web and in the new Design Library Binder.

July 15th, 2008

Cool Canvases Series 1

When I started in this “pattern” business years ago (as in 25 years ago) I spent almost all of my time drawing and designing original stencils for Royal Design Studio. As that business evolved into two businesses I now find myself too busy “managing” things to actually have time to sit down and draw so have become more of what I consider to be someone who “designs with patterns” more than someone who “designs patterns”. There are so many gorgeous designs to pull from history and different cultures! Plus, I find so much creativity in combining them with different colors, paints, plasters and metallic mediums! Such was the case the last few weeks in creating these large canvases for a trade show to show off some new ideas and designs we’ve been developing. Most of these will get incorporated into upcoming classes and other educational materials. I LOVE having the ability to spark new ideas for other people.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

This canvas incorporates one of my favorite mediums, Jasmine Portofino with metallic foil and antiqueing stain.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

I was going to to this up very “Hollywood Regency” in a more simple graphic way (black and white, perhaps) but the color bug was just biting too hard.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

Instead, I chose the black and white theme (plus a little silver) for this Art Deco panel.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

The background is actually a really soft, organic plaster, which helps to soften the highly waxed Venetian plaster.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

Inspired by my recent trip to Morocco, I had to indulge myself with a glorious blue and orange color combination.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

I love the symmetry and geometry of Zellij tiles. In Morocco you will see numerous different patterns and colorways all used within the same space-but I chose to keep it simple here for American tastes.

Modello Pattern Samples 1

I really didn’t know where I was going with this arabesque pattern, but like where it landed. I used polishing plasters and wax for this finish and it ended up looking quite Fortuny-ish, so I am looking forward to reworking this technique with a Renaissance damask pattern. More soon….

July 14th, 2008

Some Very Revealing Photos

For the last two weeks I’ve been madly working on creating cool and unique decorative treatments with some of our new designs. You see, the SALI show begins next week. This will be my 15th year in a row exhibiting at the Expo there. Each year lately, I tell myself I’m NOT going to kill myself coming up with newer, grander things for the booth and each year that idea flies right out the window as I scramble, sweat and stress to try and top what I did the year before in a mad, last minute rush of creativity. This year was NO exception, and you know what? I’m really pleased! I ended up created 10 new, 4′ x 7′ canvases to hang in the booth (and afterwards in a long hallway in our new building). Don’t you just love when your efforts can perform double duty?

One of my favorite things about using Modello Masking Patterns, on top of all the cool decorative treatments that can be done with them, is pulling the vinyl off to reveal the design. This is generally produces a lot of ooh and aah moments. Quite frankly, it can get a bit tedious, but each pull reveals a little more, a little more, a little more, and suddenly-there it is! I’d like to relive some of the those moments here.

Modello Designs
Modello Designs
Modello Designs

Wait till you see the full reveal! I had them photographed before I bundled them up to ship off to Charleston, SC. Coming soon…..

July 12th, 2008

Hot off the press!

 

Modello by Design book

The new book Modello by Design-Inspiring Interiors from Artist’s Portfolios is HERE! I’ve told you about it before-remember this?  And this? It is SOOOO beautiful and I am so proud of the work that our fabulous customers do and also need to give a special thanks to Lauren for helping me lay out this book in record time-under two weeks! I just finished writing a press release for an industry message board for the book, so I’ll be lazy and just repost it here-

Modello Designs was launched in the fall of 2003, introducing the concept of Decorative Masking Patterns to the decorative finishing industry.  Since that time, thousands of decorative finishers worldwide have discovered the benefits of using custom-sized, cut to order vinyl masking patterns for their decorative painting projects.

The exciting and inspirational new book features the creative Modello work of 80 different artists in beautifully photographed interior settings.  Various chapters highlight the use of Modello patterns on floors, walls, ceilings and furniture. Special chapters highlight the body of work of three featured artists: Terri Reisenman of Palm Desert, CA., Robbie Calvo of Nashville, TN.,  and Gina Wolfrum of Hicksville, OH.  Their varied styles of decoration really help to highlight the many styles of surface ornamentation that can be more easily achieved with this versatile medium!

This book, the first in a series, will provide an invaluable resource of design ideas for decorative finishers, designers, and their potential customers alike. For an industry that revolves around a highly visual and tactile experience, it helps to fill the current void of inspiring images of painted decoration that used to be so common in books and magazines.

Modello by Design book

We mailed out complimentary, signed copies to all the 80 contributing artists this week. Yeah, that was tiring! Thank you, thank  you everyone! If you didn’t get a chance to submit a project for the book, you can buy it here, and…..there’s always next year!

July 4th, 2008

Aint Life Grand?

A year ago at this time, and throughout last summer, our Modello team had their hands full fulfilling multiple orders for a large hospitality project. The architectural firm that was handling the design and decoration of the new Grand Del Mar resort in North San Diego chose a wide variety of Modello patterns to highlight and accentuate the Moorish theme. Besides a ceiling border that went in each of over 300 guest suites, there were many public areas, particularly ceilings, that were treated with custom-fit frames and medallions. Oh, to have a total decorative budget in the millions! I just recently had professional photographs done, and here are a select few-

The Grand Del Mar

This retail promenade is one of my favorite spaces. All the natural light really reflects on the gold leafed medallions.

The Grand Del Mar

I LOVE the colors used in this downstairs hallway. You can see how the patterns were designed to perfectly fit and confirm to the curved ceiling spaces.

The Grand Del Mar

This long hallway by the meeting rooms features multiple recessed ceiling spaces that are framed by a highly ornamental border. The gorgeous uplighting really serves to highlight it!

Modello-Coffers-in-Progress.jpg

There are also some villas (for sale) on the property that got some fabulouse coffered ceiling treatments. Here, a cast of thousands (almost) from a local decorative painting contractor, Shauna Decker, works to complete the ceiling in a very tight deadline before the grand opening.

The Grand Del Mar

And they made it! You can see more photos here.

Final photography by Gary Conaughton.