In this installment of our Stencil Star™ series, we feature the incredible artist Gracie Reed of Grace Designs Dallas.  Based in Texas, she frequently designs spaces from ceiling to floor and incorporates her love of pattern and color with our wall stencils and stencil masking patterns in many of her design and decorative painting projects.

ABOUT GRACIE REED

Grace Designs in Dallas, Texas, offers a wide variety of of exquisite wall, ceiling, cabinetry, and mirror finishes. Gracie has been in business for over 10 years and always stays on the cutting edge of the most original and premier finishes. Gracie researches the latest products on the market and pattern application, antiquing mirrors, cabinetry, and putting a modern twist on antiques are part of her specialties.

Our Hearst Castle Stencil Collection for Modello™ Designs is in VERY good hands! A black and gold treatment goes über-glam with both a Hearst Panel Stencil (HearstPan108) and Hearst Allover Stencil (HearstAll100) designs. Gorgeous!

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

Usually, I can determine the pattern design for a project after understanding the client’s taste and viewing the selected areas of the job.  After paying attention to the existing furniture, bed linens, art, flooring, etc., I study Melanie’s stencil patterns and compose the perfect fit.

Sensational furniture piece showcasing Gracie’s flair for balance, color and pattern! On this Japanese cabinet, she used one of our Modello® Designs Exotic East Stencil Panels with a beautiful color scheme.

What are your favorite surfaces to work on and design for?

Applying Italian plasters with Modello® Designs Stencils on ceilings is the ultimate for me! There is no end to the creative possibilities of types of surfaces, product mediums and Melanie’s designs!!!

Shimmery, elegant groin ceilings featuring a wonderful plaster treatment along with Modello® Designs Ornamental Center stencils (OrnCen193).

 Jaw-dropping ceiling — but isn’t the whole room just lovely?  Green and golds make for a perfect compliment to the room and she used a Modello® Designs Exotic East Corner vinyl stencil (EasCor102) to complete the treatment.

How does stenciling enhance your creative business?

Since starting my business in 2001, I have been constantly exploring every medium in the creative field to extend my sample portfolio for my clients. Every client has a unique design style, so the finishes have to be customized for that project. By using both Royal Design Studio mylar stencils and Modello® Design masking stencils, I can easily produce a “one-of-a-kind” appearance. At least 50% of my projects include stencil applications. They can transform an attractive finish into an exquisite form of art! Many of my retail antiques are adorned with stencil patterns to achieve a distinctive impression. All of my floors and mirrors can only be accomplished by using Modello® Designs Stencils.

Gracie creates stenciled canvas & mirror artworks as well. She frequently uses custom Modello™ Designs Stencils to fit the surface and style of each of her art and mirror pieces.

We are thrilled to share Gracie’s work with you!  We’re so appreciative of having someone so talented using our stencil patterns so creatively. Be sure to visit Gracie’s website, Grace Designs Dallas, to see more of her incredible work and you can also find her on both Pinterest and Houzz.  Don’t forget that you can pin these pictures for inspiration and follow us on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter, too!

Our customers are ALWAYS finding new and creative ways to combine decorative paint techniques with ornamental patterns and stencil designs on unique surfaces. We like to applaud these innovative artists in our Stencil Star™ series, which seeks to showcase creative artists worldwide and their inspired work. Today we feature the fun and lively Kathy Wear of Artistic Finishes in Tennessee!

ABOUT KATHY WEAR

Kathy Wear is the owner of Artistic Finishes in Tennessee.  Artistic Finishes specializes in custom wall finishes and hand troweled plasters as well as murals and decorative concrete.  Kathy has won numerous awards over the last 10 years including six awards for Best Faux Finish from the Middle Tennessee Builders Association for her work in the Parade of Homes. She was recently named one of the top three decorative concrete artists in Nashville. Her work has also been published in many local and national  publications and also been featured on Southern Homes and Lifestyles TV.

Fabulous ceiling she stenciled with a custom Modello™ Designs stencil pattern and a great color scheme!

What draws you to Stenciling?

I am drawn to stenciling because I can really customize the work I do for my clients as I try to never do the same finish twice.  My clients love the fact that they have something unique to their home.  Over the past few years I have done many stenciled ceilings and more recently I have done quite a few floors.  Doing a stenciled ceiling or floor can add a very dramatic focal point to a room and turn a plain space into something fabulous.

Kathy creates Custom Commodes™ for her clients which use metallic foils and leaf combined with our Modello™ Designs vinyl stencils!

How does Stenciling enhance your creative business?

What I love about stenciling and using Modello® Designs masking stencils is that I can talk with my clients and designers and get a sense of what they are looking for in the space and then create a drawing and send it to the Modello team. They customize it into a beautiful work of art and I use this to create exactly what my client wants.  The last floor project I completed was a joy to work on!  I worked with Melissa at Modello Designs to do a large custom border stencil on a very irregular shaped alter floor and it fit like a dream.

This stunning faux marble floor was created with a concrete overlay, one of our Modello™ Designs Ornamental Tile vinyl stencil designs (OrnTil180) for the large center element and additional custom designs.

Please share your top Stenciling Tips with us.

My top tips for stenciling are, number one DON’T be intimidated!!  It is not hard to do.  Once you get in the swing of things it progresses very quickly.  If you are using a Modello® Designs masking stencil, be sure to have you measurements correct. If you get these right, your stencil should lay down quite easily.  Any small gaps or errors that may occur can quickly be corrected by a bit of blue tape.  If I don’t personally prepare my substrate, I always roll on a quick coat of Guardz as this way I can be assured that the stencil will pull off quickly and cleanly.  A second pair of hands and eyes  is always helpful when laying the stencil.  So, try it!  My favorite part of all is when I pull the stencil and reveal the beautiful design!

Kathy is no stranger to glam, custom works! You can see her unique treatment above with an Ornamental Stencil border (OrnBor125) around a niche and below with a canvas created with a Modello™ Designs vinyl motif stencil from our Art Deco Collection (DecMot120).

We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing Kathy’s beautiful work and inspiring creativity with both our Royal Design Studio stencils and Modello® Designs masking patterns!  You can find more of her work in her Artistic Finishes website!  If you’d like continued inspiration, don’t forget to visit our Pinterest boards filled with design, pattern and finish ideas and our Facebook fan page for stencil projects and more!

 Another fantastic  Stencil Stars™ showcase! Our latest Stencil Star is Texas-based Heather Sanders of 5th Wall Surface Design, an incredibly talented artist who applies stenciled design patterns in creative ways on various surfaces.  We’re proud to feature her stenciled decorative painting projects! We love to share our customer’s use of our Royal Design Studio mylar wall stencils and Modello™ masking stencils on walls, ceilings, floors and more and are always looking for new artist’s to feature. Don’t be shy…..shoot us an email with YOUR projects and you could see yourself featured here too!

This outstanding feature arch and wall had a little help from a Modello® Designs Eastern Border vinyl stencil (EasBor344) along with handpainted elements and Swarovski crystals! We love the dreamy colors and find this a great way to accent a nice niche!

ABOUT HEATHER SANDERS

Heather has been working in the decorative arts industry for over 10 years now.  She and her partner Sam manage their decorative finish studio, 5th Wall Surface Design.  They enjoy the interaction with their clients almost as much as they love the work they do! Based in Rollingswood, Texas, their company offers a full-range of decorative and stencil finishes.

Stunning Modello™ Designs Marquetry finish using our MarqAll105 pattern — you can see how amazing the results are! You can learn this faux marquetry technique for wood, cork and more with our fab tutorial manual.

What draws you to Stenciling?

I will admit that when I first started in the decorative painting world, I refused to use stencils.  I felt that it was “cheating” in a way.  And I spent hours laboriously hand painting the same scrolls and flowers that I now employ in my stencil work.  At some point, it occurred to me that despite the cost of the stencils, I could save a LOT of money on labor, and also achieve a very clean, exact design.

After our first custom order,  I was hooked!  I also realized that I could add hand painted detail to the stencil work, but not spend hours measuring and making templates.  I love the ease of use and the fact that I can achieve a beautiful “custom” work of art in a matter of hours now with Modello® Designs.

(above) An incredible ceiling that add depth and size with pattern!  A Modello™ Designs Ornamental Center vinyl stencil was used with a wonderful neutral color scheme! (below) A different Modello® ornamental center stencil pattern graces a ceiling with a striking color scheme.  You can see how Heather uses color and pattern expertly to add great interest and dimension to spaces and places that are calling out for attention!

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

There are many factors that influence our pattern choice.  Of course, the customer’s style is first and foremost.  We take into account the scale of the room and area to be embellished.  We also look at repetitive patterns occurring in the drapery, floors, furniture, etc…  I also have certain stencils that have become my “go to” designs when all else fails.

The Large Feathered Damask stencil from the Allover Ethnic Stencils Collection adds fantastic color and pattern to this space. Heather used a “drop shadow” stencil technique to add extra dimension to this look. Find out how to create a drop shadow stencil technique on our website here!

Please share your top Stenciling tip with us.

My favorite method (right now) is to do a base of plaster, because it seals up the stencil and doesn’t bleed like paints and glazes do.  It  adds a beautiful dimension to the design.  It also gives me a raised surface to add hand painted work to, which cuts down on the touch ups.

(above) One of our Modello™ Designs Ornamental Center stencils (OrnCen170) pulls double duty! On the left is a beautiful plastered hood and the right has the design stenciled onto glass. (below) An incredible rusted dome ceiling created with Modern Masters Metal Effects products and our Floral Medallion Stencil Set B.

Heather and Sam of 5th Wall Surface Design are truly creative with patterns on any surface and we always love to see their gorgeous work with our stencil designs!  Do be sure to keep up with them on their Facebook page, 5th Wall Surface Design.  Many thanks to them both for sharing their finishes and projects with both our Royal Design Studio stencils and our Modello vinyl stencil patterns!

Don’t forget to pin these images to your boards for inspiration — and check out our Pinterest collection of design, pattern and finish ideas! You can always catch great new projects in our Facebook page, too!

Our Stencil Stars™ series  featuring artists around the world who use our stenciled designs and decorative paint techniques in unique, wonderful ways — and North Carolina artist Lauren Gaines is no exception. Her love of ornamental patterns shines through as she frequently uses our Royal Design Studio stencil patterns and Modello® masking stencils in her many fabulous design projects. 

INTRODUCING LAUREN GAINES….

Lauren has been interested in color, design and texture throughout her life.  She was first introduced to faux painting approximately 20 years ago in the age of the dreaded “sponge painting”.  She initially learned many of her skills “on the job”, as this was pre-internet age when not every bit of info could be found at the tips of googling fingers.  She began her professional studio, Designs in Paint, 17 years ago and worked with a local artisan who opened her eyes to the many possibilities of decorative painting and helped further her love of painting.  Since that time, Lauren takes an average of two decorative finishing studio workshops per year to bring cutting edge products and technologies to her market-in addition to creating and developing her own signature finishes.  Every wall and ceiling is her canvas and she showcases her passion to each of her clients.

Above: Lauren used multi-colored plasters and stenciled in the Modello™ Designs Ornamental Center stencil (OrnCen120) with stained gold leaf to beautifully finish the barrel ceiling. Below: A stylish and elegantly worn plaster finish incorporating our Fabric Damask stencil in a beautiful “faded” colorway! The Fabric Damask is one of the patterns from our popular Allover Damask Stencil Collection. Aren’t these colors divine?!?

What draws you to Stenciling?

I love the effect that both pattern and texture can have on a room.  On most of my more elaborate finishes,  I use a combination of the two.   I create a separate complementary backdrop finish before the application of traditional stencils or Modello™ Designs vinyl stencils.  I also love the ability to create custom looks and alter the patterns easily. More times than not, I will alter the original design repetition to suit the scale of the room, building a finish from the ground up. On a personal note, I actually find the process of stenciling relaxing; the repetition and rhythm focuses the mind away from the daily grind.

A striking allover wallpaper design is achieved by an incredible application of our Modello™ Designs Eastern Allover vinyl stencils (EasAll158) in a bath. Chic and unforgettable!

Please share your top Stenciling tip with us.

My top stenciling tip would be to recommend using a variety of mediums on the same stencil application.  The mix of these products creates a more complex finish overall.  I often have combinations that include metallic plasters with gilt creams, tints or full bodies plasters to my finishes.  Sometimes I will even over-glaze them, adding yet another layer of depth. I love the way the glaze captures the mediums differently.

The Florentine Damask stencil helps complete a creamy, dreamy plaster wall finish above. In the room below, the ceiling has a Modello™ Designs Ornamental Ceiling stencil pattern (OrnCen162a) and the lovely plaster walls are once again stenciled with our Florentine Damask design. Beautiful!

(Lauren cont.) I’d also be happy to share my newest “favorite find.”  After years of wishing and wanting, I located a fantastic 5-point self leveling laser from Bosch (Model # GPL5C) for use on ceiling and walls.  The $300 price tag paid for itself on my first Modello™  stencil ceiling after the purchase by shortening the installation from a few hours to mere minutes. It not only saved me time and money, but more importantly, gave me peace of mind that all my design elements were installed perfectly.

Installing a Modello stencil with the Bosch Laser

 How does Stenciling enhance your creative business?

The use of both mylar and Modello® vinyl stencils has literally revolutionized my business.  Prior to their inception,  I was fond of saying “I can’t even paint a stick figure.”  I would often refer potential clients to other decorative painters or muralists whenever someone wanted any type of ornamentation.  The now endless choices in design and scale ensures me the ability to customize every project for my clients.  The use of Modello’s transformed the industry allowing the application of otherwise “off limits” products such as glass beads and gold leaf to be used effectively in design. Furthermore the availability of the pro-series stencils, brushes and custom-made stencils has allowed me to maximize my time and profits.

With Modello™ Designs vinyl stencils, the patterns can be custom-sized to fit both the shape and size of your surface. Lauren took advantage of this option while tackling both a barrel ceiling (above) and a coffered ceiling (below). They were both stenciled with gold leaf for a luxe effect.

We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing yet another amazing Stencil Star and delving into Lauren’s beautiful work !  Please do visit her website, Designs in Paint, to find more information and projects. You can also find her on Pinterest and of course, we invite you to pin her wonderful, inspiring work.

Find more inspiring stencil and paint ideas and projects by keeping up with us on our Pinterest and Facebook page!

In sunny Tampa, Florida, we come upon a studio giving a new, inspired second life to furniture pieces.  Stiltskin Studios combine creative decorative paint techniques with lively ornamental patterns and stencil designs.  We’re so happy to feature their work for our Stencil Star™ series, which seeks to showcase creative artists and their inspired work.

ABOUT STILTSKIN STUDIOS

Michele and Kenny Hiley of Stiltskin Studios are a husband and wife design team who have both made creativity a priority in their lives. They re-imagined many items for their homes and once their friends laid eyes on the possibilities, a business (along with an Etsy shop) was born! Although they offer a full-service design studio, their passion is to take vintage and antique furniture and transform them to fit into a more modern home. Their name was inspired by the fairy tale Rumplestiltskin because he turned a seemingly worthless object, straw, into Gold.  They like to do the same with cast-aside furniture and uninspired interiors!

Gorgeous dresser transformed with Chalk Paint™ decorative paint in Florence, our Cherry Blossoms stencil and Royal stencil cremes!

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

So many things influence our decision on which stencil to use…sometimes, it’s as simple as using a stencil as a fun accent, such as the Cherry Blossoms we used on a dresser face…other times, it’s to add interest to something that is mundane, like the leaves on a dining table. Often times, we will have a theme in mind…a general direction, such as a Parisian Apartment or a French Chateau feel, that helps guide our decision; other times, we utilize stencils to do something completely unexpected, like a Moroccan inspired tabletop on a French Provincial table.

Frequently, we’ll be painting a piece when out of nowhere, inspiration strikes and suddenly, we decide to incorporate a stencil that was not in the initial design plan. Painting, for us, is a very organic experience. We enjoy the process and stencils are another bespoke element to make each piece truly special.

This lovely and artistic dining room set was painted with Chalk Paint™ and our Small Ribbon Damask stencil on the leaves. We love this inspired idea and so we featured it here on our Stencil Ideas blog.

Please share your top Stenciling tip with us.

A very wise and charming faux painting artist taught me to make sure all the excess paint was removed from my brush before I applied it to the stencil. That seemingly small tip brought us both over from not being huge stencil fans to wanting to stencil everything!

Additionally, there is no substitute for proper tools. They make the job go so much smoother and help ensure perfect results. Cheap tools typically beget cheap looking results!

What would be your “dream” stencil project?

Right now, I’m dreaming about stenciling my kitchen cabinets! We completed the upper cabinets last year (removing the doors to create open shelving) but the lowers are still hideous 1970’s brown laminate. I’m quite excited to have the option to stencil them…we feel the project will be very much representative of us and our style.

Stiltskin upcycled this vintage find with both our Paris Postage Stamp Wall Stencil and Postmark Wall Stencil! Unexpected and beautiful.

How does stenciling enhance your creative business?

My husband and partner, Kenny, has an art degree and is a skilled fine artist; I, on the other hand, can barely paint a straight line. I have much more imagination than skill when it comes to the details of hand painting. Stencils really allow me to create what I’ve imagined. I’m also slightly lazy, so I’ll not make the effort to put a design on the projector, sketch it on the piece, and then hand-paint the intricate design. Stencils alleviate all that work for me. Royal Design Studio stencils really are simple to use, the results are consistent, and I look like a creative genius when it’s all done! Because they are so durable, we can mix it up with different colors and looks using the same stencil. They’ve enabled me to bring my creative vision to life!

So stylish! This hutch was updated with our popular Springtime in Paris lettering stencil, metallic stencil cremes and Chalk Paint™!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the beautiful fairy-tale stylings of Stiltskin Studios.  Do be sure to check their Facebook page and their wonderful blog, too! Please feel free to pin these pics to keep sharing the creative love of pattern and paint!  You can always follow our Pinterest account as well for design and pattern inspiration and keep up with us on Facebook and Instagram, too!

 

We travel to Houston, Texas to meet with Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes.  She heads a large studio team that tackles beautiful decorative paint finishes combined with lovely ornamental patterns and stencil designs.  We’re proud to feature her for our Stencil Star™ series, which seeks to showcase creative artists and feature their inspired work using our Royal Design Studio mylar stencils and Modello Decorative Masking Stencils. 

Leslie Sinclair

ABOUT SEGRETO FINISHES

The world of decorative painting is limitless, ever-changing and richly complex. Finishes for walls, ceilings, floors and cabinetry are crucial to the embodiment of a home’s character. Leslie lives by the philosophy that upon entering a room, your eyes should not draw a distinction to one element or finish but should see the surroundings as a whole. By developing a palette that complements a home’s architecture and design, surroundings are given a new perspective.

Graduating from the University of Texas with a business degree, Leslie left her corporate job in 1995 to start Segreto Finishes, naming the company after her husband’s family. Segreto, which means secret in Italian, rolls up all of Leslie’s passions — architecture, interior design, art, people and business– into her idea of the perfect job. Leslie’s talent for color, bringing innovative products to Houston, hiring and training a quality staff and working with people on their individual needs, built Segreto’ s reputation.

With a staff of 25 artisans, the company has become a premier finish design firm with work featured in numerous publications including Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Country French, Elegant Homes, Beautiful Homes and Beautiful Baths, to name a few. Leslie also regularly contributes to Antique Shops and Designers magazine.

Inspired by all aspects of artistic painting, she owns an art gallery, Segreto Studios, and writes a blog, Secrets of Segreto, about interiors, art and finishes. She also wrote her first book Segreto: The Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors, a wonderful reference book for anyone interested in home design.

Our Florentine Damask stencil from our Allover Damask Collection shimmers in this elegant powder bath! The palette, stencil pattern scale and design are perfect.

What draws you to Stenciling?

Stenciling is a great way to give a uniform pattern for a wallpaper look while being able to customize colors to the clients decor.

Here is our Fortuny stencil graces the walls in an allover pattern to create a custom wallppaper effect. Such a lovely fabric finish!

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

The scale of the room, the fabrics, rug, and the clients personal style dictate which patterns I feel will work best in the room.

Our Moorish Trellis stencil adds just the right amount of pattern and interest to an elegant, neutral design.

Please share your top Stenciling tip with us. 

I typically mix Floetrol in the paint when the client wants a more inconsistent look to the pattern.

Our ever-popular Large Entwined Trellis stencil was the choice by Lucas Eilers Design Associates for this lovely powder bath.

How does stenciling enhance your creative business?

It allows me to cost effectively give a multitude of different all over wallpaper looks or ceiling treatments to clients that are custom in color and embellishment to their room. Wallpaper has exact color ways and each run is exactly the same.  With stenciling, no two rooms will ever be just alike giving each client a one of a kind look.

An inspired take on our Kyoto Allover stencil from our Allover Japanese Stencils Collection finds hand-painted elements over the design pattern. The result is a whimsical, artistic finish for a lovely space.

Leslie and her team do extraordinary work but as you can see, they also do neutral very well!  Please do check out the Segreto website to see more of of their projects as well as their Facebook page.  They frequently share their fantastic projects via their Secrets of Segreto blog, too.

Don’t forget to pin these pics and keep sharing the creative love!  Do see more visual inspiration and other creative projects, you can always follow our Pinterest account as well as keep up with us on Facebook and NOW you can also follow Royal Design Studio stencils on Instagram!

The love of patterns and stencil designs coupled with beautiful decorative paint treatments have led us to discover  many creative artists worldwide. Our Stencil Star™ series seeks to showcase these artists and feature their beautiful work. This week we travel to Pennsylvania to see and learn about a few lovely spaces created by  Bernadette Forese of The Faux Pro.

Bernadette Forese

ABOUT THE FAUX PRO

Bernadette Forese is the owner and founder of The Faux Pro, LLC and Philadelphia Gilding, both based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She has a BS degree in Business Management and received professional faux and decorative arts training from international master artists in studios around the world. Her work has been showcased in design homes and in national design magazines.  Bernadette opened her business in 2002 and she recognized early on the importance of incorporating pattern and style in to the design.  She relies heavily on her ability to understand the spatial relationship between form, function and purpose of each space.  Bernadette primarily works on entire homes, large-scale commercial and church projects and brings in her talented crew to assist with them.  Although her business is based in Pennsylvania, she travels the country to her client’s homes and businesses.

Bernadette was at an Art of Living event where Barb Skivington and I taught a reverse gilded glass finish. Here, she uses the technique on a gorgeous tabletop with a Modello™ Designs Ornamental Border vinyl stencil (OrnBor147). The how-to for this verre eglomise techniqueis available in the Art of Living book.

How do you determine what patterns will work for a project?

Sometimes there are so many pattern options that the choices can be overwhelming.  When determining what pattern will look great in a space, I take many things in to consideration.  What is the function of the space?  Formal entertainment, casual elegance, etc.  What is the natural light in the space and when does it hit?  How tall are the ceilings?  Is this a commercial space or residential space?  And, most importantly, what is the design dilemma that we’re trying to solve?  For example, if there are two chandeliers over one large kitchen island, then unifying them with a pattern on the ceiling brings the whole space together.  I look through many magazines to get inspiration for pattern but, to be honest, I rely on following Melanie Royals’ blog and her other social media sites for inspiration.  I look at the scale of my project and project what different patterns would look like.

A spectacular kitchen with the design dilemma of unifying double chandeliers in one space. Bernadette used two Modello™ Design Ornamental Center vinyl stencil patterns (OrnCen187) to connect and bring the space together!  Composite gold and aluminum leaf were used to stencil in the patterns.

Please share your top Stenciling tip with us. 

Spray Adhesive or water in a spray bottle! If I’m stenciling with paints, many times I won’t use any spray adhesive; just tape to keep the stencil in place and an off-loaded foam roller.  However, sometimes if I’m getting bleed through I’ll grab my water bottle and spray the back of the stencil (just a mist) and the stencil will stay put on the wall!  If I’m doing a texture through the stencil, however, I’ll use spray adhesive (3M Super 77) every time.  And then Simple Green is one of my best friends; it removes everything that gets stuck to the stencil!

(above) The Pear and Plum Botanical Fruit stencil used in elegant, traditional setting. You can see the close-up of the stencil on the right hand side. This was another project that Bernie worked on with us at the Art of Living event. (below) The interior designer on the project, June Shea of Shea Studio Interiors, chose the  Elegancia Allover wall stencil in a 2-story residential entryway gracing all the walls perfectly.  Composition gold Schabin leaf was used to stencil the design and then waxed to seal it with the blue wall color coming through the broken leaf.

What are your favorite surfaces to work on and design for?

I actually love working on floors and ceilings.  Of course walls are fantastic, too!  However, applying stenciled pattern to the floor is creative and fun and, when done properly in conjunction with a flooring company, has the longevity and durability of any hardwood floor because the pattern and paints are nestled under the layers of protective topcoat from the flooring company.  Ceilings, too, are great spaces!  They’re perfect, in my opinion, because they don’t have the traditional interruptions (door frames, window frames, etc) that normal walls have so the pattern can flow uninterrupted.

Custom Modello™ Designs vinyl stencils were used to create the illusion of a rug on the flooring in a residence (above) and incorporate a client’s logo in a commercial lobby (below).

We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the lovely stencil work of Bernadette Forese and I want to second those tips on using spray adhesive and Simple Green to clean your stencils!  Be sure to visit both her websites, The Faux Pro, LLC and Philadelphia Gilding, to see many more of her projects.  She also has a Facebook page where she shares the work of both her studios.

Do be sure to follow us on Facebook to see our fresh and daily stencil and creative inspirations as well as follow us on Pinterest to preview all our fave images incorporating pattern, design and color.  We would LOVE for you keep the inspiration flowing and to pin or share these pics with your friends and followers!

  Hey Y’all! Are you ready for another Stencil Star showcase? We visit Nashville this week to meet with Dana & Brooks Tucker of Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes.  Dana & Brooks are a husband and wife team that are perfectly matched — he oversees the projects and she runs the marketing and management of the business.  It’s this teamwork that translates beautifully to the creation of outstanding decorative painting projects and inspired applications of stencil design and patterns.  

Dana & Brooks Tucker

ABOUT BELLA TUCKER

Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes is based just outside of Nashville in Franklin, TN. It is a collaborative partnership of husband and wife team, Brooks (artist) and Dana Tucker. Brooks is a 6th generation Texan who was born into a Navy family. He has lived all over the world including two moves to Italy. It was in Europe that he developed a love of texture, color and decorative paint treatments.  In 1997, he moved to Nashville with Dana, and after seeing the incredible finishes they were creating for their own home, family and friends starting requesting Brooks to paint for them as well.  They launched their business in 2006 and since then, have received many accolades as well as being chosen for a feature in the Nashville Southern Living Showcase Home.

The Chez Sheik stencil from the Allover Moroccan Collection makes a gorgeous impression when walking into the powder bath (above).  Our easy to use  Smoked Oyster Stencil Creme was chosen to stencil the pattern with a lustrous sheen.

What draws you to Stenciling?

We were initially drawn to stenciling as a way to modernize our portfolio and stay on-point with design trends. We were getting a lot of feedback from designers that no one was asking for faux finishes any more. Once we could show them modern applications of faux finishes using graphic stencil patterns, the tide turned. Now, we keep a pretty full pipeline of projects with a lot of designers and clients requesting stencils.

Our Contempo Wall Trellis stencil is a relatively new pattern in our Allover Modern Collection and used within a wonderful neutral scheme above.  The interior design is by Julie Couch Interiors and the photo is courtesy of photographer Caroline Allison.

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

Pattern is so personal. It really takes walking through a client’s space and getting a feel for their style. What helps us narrow down pattern more than anything is Pinterest. I always keep active boards and I ask my clients to either send me photos of patterns they like, or comment on the Bella Tucker Pinterest account. Royal Design Studio has an amazing website, too. My clients love to get on there and spend hours looking at the stencil design options.

Bella Tucker uses great stencil patterns for ceilings to flooring and every surface in between!  Our Skylar’s Lace Floral stencil was chosen by designer Julie Couch and is perfectly paired with the beautiful light fixture above. Photo by Caroline Allison.  A custom Ikat Chevron Modello™ Designs vinyl stencil pattern is used with the Skimstone concrete floor below.  The beautiful exterior patio was part of the Nashville Southern Living Showcase Home.

How does Stenciling enhance your creative business?

We were originally drawn to stenciling because we are always try to stay on top of current design trends. We were seeing a lot of graphic patterns in the shelter magazines and we knew that we could work with that concept but extend it to be more artistic and one of a kind while completely customizing the color, texture and pattern for each specific project.

Dana & Brooks had a fun personal project with a  re-purposed vintage headboard, above.  They made a “welcome” sign for their front porch using our Chevron Furniture stencil and Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™.  Below, a photo by Caroline Allison shows our Uzbek Suzani stencil gracefully enhancing a guest bedroom.  Designer Julie Couch worked with Bella Tucker to create a beautiful and serene guest bedroom.

Dana and Brooks are an engaging couple and a GREAT team! We love how each design here is done in an neutral palette, but with a fresh, fun twist that makes their finishes anything but boring.  We appreciate their sharing their stencil thoughts with us! Keep up with Bella Tucker by visiting their their website, Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes, and watch their Facebook page for frequent project updates.

Don’t miss a pretty pattern opportunity!! Be sure to follow us on Facebook AND follow us on Pinterest to receive the fresh and creative inspirations and projects we share daily!  Don’t forget to pin these wonderful images too-BIG hint!

Our weekly series on Stencil Stars™ showcases our customer’s use of our Royal Design Studio mylar wall stencils and Modello™ masking stencils on walls, ceilings, floors, and more.

This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Travel with us today to California to visit with decorative artist, Jeff Raum, who seamlessly incorporates stencil patterns, hand painted artistry and decorative paint finishes.  Jeff  joins our Stencil Stars™ series, where we showcase the inspired use of our Royal Design Studio mylar wall stencils and Modello™ masking stencils on walls, ceilings, floors, and more.  

Jeff Raum

ABOUT JEFF RAUM STUDIOS

When Jeff Raum’s kindergarten teacher wrote a note to his mom saying he had talent and should be encouraged, Jeff had already known his calling.

Achieving a BFA in Commercial Design, he has had several careers in different cities. A medical illustrator in Dayton, Ohio, working in an art studio in Washington DC, an art director of 3-D animated TV commercials and as a Broadway make-up artist in New York City. It wasn’t until he moved to Los Angeles that he began his decorative painting company, Jeff Raum Art, in 1990. He began in murals and 11 years later branched out to include faux finishes.

Some of his commercial clients include Gucci, the Las Vegas Hilton, the Luxor and Macy’s. He has appeared on The Christopher Lowell Show and his work has been published in Better Homes and Gardens and Traditional Home magazines as well as numerous books.

While Jeff actually designs and sells his own line of stencils, he’s been a friend and regular customer of Royal Design Studio and Modello Designs for many years. A man of exceptional and wide ranging talents, we now give you some of his inspiring work….

What a gorgeous Moorish Powder Bath! Our Allover Moorish Trellis wall stencil was glazed on the walls and a Modello Designs Exotic East Center vinyl stencil (EasCen111) was used on the ceiling with custom elements along the wall corners. (below)  This incredible “leather” ceiling was done for a home theater. The Modello Designs stencil pattern used was Carpets & Panels Aladdin A vinyl stencil in a negative weed.

What draws you to Stenciling?

What first drew me to stenciling was the fact I could produce repetitious elements, like moldings and leaves, so much faster than freehand painting. Once I remember painting grape leaves all around a dining room. I noticed as I went, my leaves gradually got larger – trying to cover more ground. With stencils, it helps me not only paint faster, but keeps the scale consistent. With decorative painting and pattern, there are so many different designs – allover, borders and medallions readily available, I’m likely to find something that will fit the project’s needs. So I don’t have to start from scratch or reinvent the wheel.

Another thing I love about stencils is the crisp edge it gives you. I love using stencils in my murals for foreground elements because that crisp edge makes thing pop and appear in sharp focus. Also, I enjoy playing with sloppy textures, sponging, etc. Things can look like a complete mess and then you remove the stencil and viola! I love the juxtaposition of all that texture contained within a crisp outline.

Above is an example of the crisp edges that can be achieved by stenciling. This wall is in a wine tasting room in Mission Viejo, CA. The majority of this is painted freehand, but the grapes and vine are stenciled with the Grape Clusters Fruit stencil. A custom stencil was designed by Royal Design Studio to recreate the iron railing that was on the stairs in the house. (below) Stenciling can also add visual weight to a light fixture while incorporating color and pattern.  The ceiling medallion was first painted on canvas and then installed. It used a modified Modello Designs Ornamental Center stencil (OrnCen 128).

How do you determine which pattern will work for your project?

When looking for a pattern that will work for a project, I always look at the type of line that appears in the house and try to find a pattern that harmonizes with that. Scrolls are enormously popular in L.A., so I’m often looking for scrolly patterns. Occasionally, I’ll be asked to do a Moorish-style interior and those designs incorporate the angular with the curve. When showing clients my proposals, I will sometimes show the patterns in black and white if the reference is in the wrong color way or tweak the color in Photo Shop. I find more often than not, clients are drawn to color first and then pattern. They will usually choose a design that is not right for their space, but is in the right palette.

An inspired use of our Modello Designs vinyl stencils! Both an Ornamental Panel pattern (OrnPan173) and an Ornamental Center design (OrnCen195) help create a wonderful finish to the panels of a window treatment.

Ceiling stenciling looks even more magnificent surrounded by wood!  (above) This ceiling is in a Calabasas, CA dining room of a movie producer. The stencil designs were done with craft paint and glaze and then an antique glaze was put over the whole surface. The Villa Classic Panel stencil was used for the center while the Villa Border stencil completed the framed design. (below) The powder room cabinet was stenciled using the Micah Classic Panel & Furniture stencil to create the look of inlaid ivory.

How does stenciling enhance your creative business?

Time is money. By using stencils, I’m able to create art much faster than doing everything freehand like I used to when I started out. Stenciling is such a time-saver that I can lower my prices and get to work on bigger projects that the clients might otherwise not be able to afford.

It has really impacted the decorative side of my business. Practically all my faux jobs incorporate some form of template. Sometimes I’m called in to do a simple wash or rag, but when they see the possibilities with stencils – the projects multiply.

Powder Baths are a perfect space to incorporate stencils!  The gorgeous red powder room featured above was created with the Shabby Chateau decorative wall finish and the Floral Fantasy stencils from the Pronto! Collection with Modern Masters Warm Silver metallic paint.  (below)  Framing each of the walls in this powder bath was an inspired choice!  “I used the border off of the Modello Carpets & Panels Chambord B stencil to create the frames on the wall and used Modern Masters Ivy as well as the Antique Bronze metallic paint to tie in with the silk shades.

 

Want to see more?? Take a stroll through his wonderful website and keep up with Jeff’s adventures in artistry on his Facebook page.

Do be sure to follow us on Facebook to always catch fresh and daily stencil and pattern inspiration as well as follow us on Pinterest to preview all our fave images incorporating design, color and anything else that strikes our fancy.  (Oh — and don’t forget to pin THESE awesome pics!)