A Swoon Worthy Master Suite-Creating Custom Walls for the BSO Decorator Show house at the Ritz Carlton

Ahhh….

Imagine the serenity that floods your soul as you enter your completely made-over bedroom. Soothing colors, uncluttered surfaces, rich textiles....Only to see a bright white wall staring back at you.  What's more, they've stayed white because you've searched far and wide for a wallpaper to perfectly accent the space and and it has become abundantly clear that one simply does not exist.

A relaxing area to read a book and unwind with some bubbly after a long day.

Interior design by Simply Put Interiors, art and walls by Lenehan Studios.

Before

The White Box Challenge

I actually love a good blank canvas so I was excited when Paula Henry of Simply Put Interiors came to me to help her design the master suite for the BSO Decorator Showhouse at the Ritz Carlton. This room was pretty much a "White-Box-Challenge" from Paula, who was having difficult finding a wallpaper to match her beautiful design. 

My mom working on leveling the stencils. She was always excited to help.

Her challenge for me was this...create a backdrop worthy of the beautiful furnishings and fabrics that she had selected. Paula presented me with the quatrefoil fabric that was her inspiration. Wanting continuity in her design, she asked me to create an ombre effect incorporating the same pattern.

Custom & Cost-Effective...You Can Have it All

I designed a custom stencil since we couldn’t find a design that was quite right. I also added glass beads here and there to the motif to give interested and texture. Imagine trying to find a wallpaper to those exact specifications? And one that fits in your budget. This solution was much more budget friendly.

I also created bespoke artwork that was tailored specifically to the space. The female figure invokes sensuality and the abstract creates a wonderfully peaceful focal point.

The light is captured by the glass bead detail in the stenciled walls and the custom art piece lends elegance and intimacy.

Before

A Room fit for the Ritz

The finished room was a showstopper and several visitors thought that the walls clad were wallpaper. Because the finish was custom tailored to the design, it elevated the space, creating a one of a kind design that no other client would have. Wallpaper may be a relatively easy and safe choice, but a decorative finish takes your design to the next level.

In the finished space, Paula executed a tranquil retreat. The subdued colors and rich fabrics beckon you to linger and relax.

Functional bedside tables, custom bedding, and soft lighting set the mood.

If you’d like to elevate your design with a custom decorative finish or a bespoke work of art for your client, we would love to talk. Contact us about a project you have in mind.

Grateful

(Originally published December 2017)

Grateful

That’s the one word that sums up my 2017. It was a year of new starts.  I had spontaneously written this in my journal back in 2015 when I was going through my personal stuff...

"The forest always returns after a wildfire. Slowly. Reliably. Think of it as a cleansing, a purging of the dead and no longer useful. It is all consuming, devastating, but within the ash is the impetus of renewal. The same is true within your soul.

Sometimes the only way to clear the path for true understanding is to endure the act of burning the old, dead weight. It's not pretty nor enjoyable, and you avoid it for as long as you can. You find yourself dropping the lit match onto the dry, parched ground. You have a second of panic, thinking “what have I done?” It catches, and before you know it you are consumed. The only thing to do now is to let it burn and take with it all of the false truths to which you have been holding onto so tightly.

In the place of what used to be is the possibility of a fresh start. A clear view over the hills and valleys emerge, waiting to be fertilized and give birth to new growth. You have the opportunity to fill them with the purest, heartiest, and most beautiful trees, flowers, and grasses. You now have the chance to cultivate a deeper, truer you."

I am by no means a writer but I think this metaphor sums up what the last couple of years have been for me. I can now see the young sprouts of new wildflowers popping their heads out of the ground and a few trees have begun to provide fruit, (metaphorically, of course.)  I've put a lot of work into my business this year hoping to re-establish what I once had. I am really trying to exercise patience and allow the universe to give me what It knows I can take.

I have had great blessings this year, especially with my new studio. I have my dad to thank for that. I am sad to leave the West End of Ellicott City, though. When I first moved in, back in 2012, I had left my old studio in my small dank basement . My studio on Main Street changed my life because I finally felt like I had arrived as a professional artist. It brought me into the Old Ellicott City fold, enabled me to host classes, and create bigger projects. I remember when I was getting the space ready for my open house that December, everyone pitched in. My mom was really excited for me and so eager to help so I had her wrap rope around the railing. She complained, (a little,) but was just so happy to be part of it, she was incredibly proud of me. I am happy to see my friend Gretchen move in and take over the space for her roasting operations for Bean Hollow. I will miss the community I was part of that once thrived there, but I am over the moon excited to have a home studio again, where my commute is literally 50 feet from my back door.

2017 has also been a year of re-focusing on myself in a personal way. I’ve been going to Crossfit since February and have changed my diet and feel so much healthier. I took myself on a solo trip this past spring to New Mexico for some exploring (both inside and out,) and this past fall attended a retreat in Scottsdale focusing on shifting mindsets. I started selling my jewelry, had my first solo art show and was accepted into my first juried show. I also learned how to sing and play my bass at the same time (still practicing that one.) I have a wonderful man in my life, and a few good friends so my 40th trip around the sun was pretty good.

With my 41st birthday creeping up on me tomorrow, I find myself thinking a lot about what next year will bring. So far, 2018 looks to be promising, I have a trip booked with a group of artists to Marrakesh in March, and a couple good projects in the works and I've signed up to compete in a Savage race for "fun." I just have to keep a positive mindset and know that the universe will provide what I need when I need it. It always does.

I hope your 2017 was a good year, thanks for letting me share mine with you. I wish for you a beautiful holiday and an abundant and healthy New Year.