Spring has officially sprung in Texas and we have been keeping busy! With so many fun projects wrapping up, I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you!

In this hollywood bathroom, designer Talbot Cooley asked us to bring some interest to the stained concrete floors. Adding tile would make the floor higher than the bedrooms it connects to so we applied a stencil using Sherwin Williams Gray Matters in a fun geometric instead! When painting on concrete you can use a floor or porch paint, just be sure the floors are cleaned well in advance. For greater durability wax or seal when complete!

Designer Sarah Eilers had a challenge for us in her very own home.  Wanting the mantle to stand out from the cabinets flanking her fireplace , it was decided to faux bois the mantle (a French term meaning imitating wood using various mediums).  Mimicking a piece of antique furniture which she loved the graining and tone of, I picked a very orange paint for the base coat.  The first step is to apply graining to the flat, painted surface.

When done it is warm interesting and full of character!! Hard to believe this was pumpkin orange at the start!!

I have had the pleasure to work for the talented designer from California Shan Hinton and I wanted to share some of the project with you.  I found Shan, complete with a wonderful British accent, to be fun, creative, super down to earth and incredibly creative. Builder Barry Brown, whom I have known for years, did such an amazing job carrying out Shan’s wonderful, but not so easy to implement, ideas! Above is an antique tapestry which Shan made into a hidden door. What appears to be a piece of art when closed actually leads to the home’s formal powder.  We are working to refinish the molding to impart a worn frame.

As you open the door to the powder bath you are met with an amazing antique floor to ceiling mirror which serves as the back drop framing a hand carved, one of a kind sink basin!

We plastered the walls Venetian style to match Benjamin Moore Artichoke giving the room depth, while balancing the tones from the mosaic floor and mirror. Just stunning!

Even amidst the mess of the move, it is hard not to notice all of the thoughtful and amazing features present in this formal dining space.  From the reclaimed, antique mirror pocket doors that lead to the dining room to the solid marble fireplace, mirrored back wall and polished plaster walls and ceiling, this is bound to be quite an amazing room for night time entertaining!

The library, paneled in stained walnut, is both rich and inviting. So fun -The sconces on either side of the mantle are made from tortoise shells!

These reclaimed floors from Exquisite Surfaces are almost too pretty to cover up.

At the end of one gallery is a built-in space made to display art. Shelves were inserted in this niche, covered with paneled walnut and lit to showcase the pieces put on display.

In the living room, decorative molding was applied to the ceiling which we plastered to match the walls in a soft Sherwin Williams Egret White. How amazing does it look with that antique marble fireplace surround? I can’t wait to see it completely furnished – it’s a show stopper!

Although this home has many formal areas it also has a playful side like these fun painted stairs painted in orange and white!!!

When taking me on a tour of the guest rooms, I just loved the way the white furniture and linens played off of the dark Benjamin Moore Galveston Gray walls and moldings!! The bed from Eloquence is the same one that I purchased for my own master bedroom!! It turns out Shan is friends with the super-sweet owners of this beautiful California furniture line!

In the hallway, Shan creatively re-purposed the homeowner’s antique drawer base into a linen cabinet positioned between the guest rooms.  A top portion was built to marry the feel and finish of the antique bottom. I love the way it looks!!!

Here is fun, though very tired, Shan placing the homeowner’s collection of mirrors as a gallery wall in a guest bath. Charming! I will share more pics of this lovely home once move in is a bit more complete!

Healthy Recipe!!!

This is my middle daughter Kirby who is quite the chef, creation!  It is not only yummy but super healthy!!

Serves 6

Baja Sauce:

(1) Cup Nayonaise (vegan Mayo)

(½) red bell pepper

(2) green jalapenos, chopped & seeded

(½) Tbsp garlic, minced

(3) Tbsp. onion, diced

(1) Tbsp vinegar

(¼) tsp black pepper

(1) dash cumin

(1) dash chili powder

In pan, soften peppers, onion and garlic. Add vinegar, Nayonaise, and spices and bring to a boil. Using an immersion blender or food processor, liquify sauce until smooth. Set aside.

Fish:

(2) Sea bass filets

(1/2) 1lb shrimp, peeled & de-veined

Sprinkle sea bass filets with salt and pepper. Sear over medium heat until cooked through (about 7 minutes). Remove from pan and give a course chop. At the same time, simmer shrimp in pan over medium heat with  1/2 cup baja sauce until entirely cooked through (about 5 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste.

Filling:

(1)  Cup fresh corn cut off the cob & browned in pan

(1) Bunch cilantro, chopped

(1) Lime

(1) Head of cabbage, chopped

(1) Cup shredded cotija cheese

(1) Avocado, sliced

(1) Package flour or corn tortillas

Placing other ingredients into dishes, allow guests to build their own baja tacos! Enjoy!