I just completed a very enJOYable painting job for someone – upgrading their interior look, turning white railings and cabinets into rich, dark, custom accent focal points (to match their flooring and furniture).
If you are in the Orange County area, let me know if you’re ready for such upgrades in your home!
949-521-2206
Christie
“With three boys, a loving husband, a male dog and cat, I AM the queen of the household.
Along with my crown, I also wear my most prized possession – my tool belt.”
In this suffering economy, we can still find happiness and contentment within our own castle – whether we own it or rent it – and especially if we have little or no budget. A simple project that can really enhance the look of your back/front yard, patio, or even your street, is to paint a boring looking retaining wall, to make it look rich in stack stone or brick. Here’s all you need:
Supplies:
v Take photos or find samples of what you’re trying to emulate (optional). Otherwise, choose 3-5 paint colors that will compliment your home and it’s surroundings.
v 3-5 exterior/acrylic paint colors (low sheen).
v A clear glaze, found in the paint section, in Lowes
v 4 sturdy paper plates
v A 2” paint brush and 1 smaller paint brush
v Paper Towels
Instructions:
v Add some glaze to a paper plate and begin with a base coat on your wall, thinning some “bricks” with glaze added to your wall. (Note: If you notice, “bricks,” in general, are not all alike. There is a variance in the same color.)
v In another paper plate, mix (1 part) paint color to (3 parts) glaze (you do not need to necessarily mix it together). Again, painting this wall is all about the variances of paint color. Add another squirt of another color to your plate and to each “brick”. Note: if paint is too thick, wipe it off with a paper towel. The fun part is that the color will sink into “the valleys” of the brick, therefore giving it depth! That’s cool!
v Once you get your “bricks” looking like your sample, check out the grout (area in between the bricks) and choose a color that resembles it and paint it. This is the exciting part! Your bricks will begin to pop and look more like bricks.
v Above and beyond: If you’re not tired yet, and really want your bricks to pop and look more 3-dimentional, in a paper plate, add (1 part) black to (3 parts) glaze and with the small paint brush, paint a line underneath each brick. This will give it a shadowed effect.
EnJOY and I hope your wall looks FABULOUS!
Tijeras Creek Country Club had some beautiful faux painting done years ago on their heavily used doors. I was called in to do re-paint them to match the original artist.
Recently I was fortunated enough to visit Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara. Immediately, in the lobby, my breath was taken away with this amazing daisy flower arrangement! 
Is that fantastic, or what?! I absolutely love this simplicity, consistency and grandness of this display! Bravo flower arrangers! As we continued our stay, I was struck by an overall tropical feel on the grounds. As I walked around (in the rain – which I love to do!) I noticed many courtyards with unique succulent flower centerpieces as well as tropical themes.
What I love about these gorgeous succulents is that they are drought tolerant, which is ideal for Southern California terrain.
Succulents are a great investment and are hard to kill and when layed out well, can be quite impactful. Personally I’m so tired of planting $150 worth of flowers and they’re all dead 3 months later. Roger’s Garden in Newport Beach and Laguna Hills Nursery sell a variety of succulents and where I get my inspiration.
If you have any arrangements you’d like to share, email them to: c7sdesignteam@gmail.com I plan on adding more as I stumble upon them.
EnJOY your day and stop and smell the flowers!
Slow down!
EnJOY and tell me about yours!
xo
Oversized Ivy Wreath – so stunning, and can be updated with ribbon accents for holidays.
Random acts kindness was our theme this year, and rum cakes proved to make recipients very happy 🙂
Always “Believe” in He, who is the reason for the season.
Red and White Hydrangea, also a theme this year. Such an elegant was to dress up a stair case…
Loved the Hydrangea with velvety red ribbon around the tree…so simple, yet so elegant and striking.
For a more dramatic look, try black velvety ribbon along with red ribbon, accented with red and white hydrangea.
Investing (try to get them 1/2 off at the end of the season!) in a couple oversized, dramatic ornaments can really brighten up a chandelier.
Door decorations are always a must! Great rich-red ribbon always looks festive! And if you find any red flowers (pointsettia, hydrangea, roses, etc.) feel free to add them into the mix. It will be gorgeous!
Check out these fabulous GINGERBREAD CREATIONS submitted to the Discovery Science Center this past year!
Can’t wait until December!
dinendesign
dinendesign 