Hi Friends!!  With Springtime in the air, it’s  time for birds chirping, flowers blooming and new beginnings!!  Before I  share a bit of Segreto’s springtime finishes with you, I wanted to let you know that the post I shared where my daughter Kirby was given a budget to decorate my son Matthew’s new place in Dallas was picked up by Amara as one of the top blog articles in March!!! Congratulations to Kirby, She did such a great job!!  To see all the chosen design posts from around the globe go here! There are 25 truly inspirational articles (we are #15), so give yourself some time!!

I love all the wall coverings with birds, flowers and butterflies!!  But when these are created with Segreto, you are able to affordably customize your colors and elements to truly have something just your own.  The above is a canvas art piece we created with our sweet clients wish list.

Wanting to infuse the royal blues from our clients Murano chandelier purchased when visiting the factory in Italy, with the softer blues from her chair fabric, her dream piece began.

The background was inspired by the chair fabric while the pops of cobalt were reserved for the birds. I loved the piece so much it is on my list to create one for me!! What a soft statement for her lovely dining room!

Speaking of spring floral, we have been challenged once again by Marie Flannigan Interiors.  Her concept is that we would plaster the walls and ceiling of the space and then hand craft a vine and flowered raised element to the vanity wall. Organic in nature, it would have to be pieced and placed-so…… stock elements you could purchase just wouldn’t work. 

Segreto’s artist Michele was up to the challenge.  A highly skilled sculpture, he began crafting floral from clay.

The flowers were looking beautiful out of clay, I couldn’t wait to see them formed from plaster!  After he finished sculpting,  plastic resin was poured on top of the carved clay to form a mold.  From the mold we made plaster florals.

Well here is a small plaster rendering of  types of flowers as a sample!  We will see what the gals at Marie Flannigan Interiors will say! Wouldn’t this be beautiful on an inset wall behind a tub or in an art niche? On a larger scale I can even see it framed as art.  With a clean, narrow, brass frame; it would be spectacular!!

I love our I spy series and after Segreto’s artist Alex painted this large return air vent to blend with the wallcovering on the ceiling you would be hard pressed to notice it! Look around your home.  Plugs in tile and marble can magically disappear with a little paint and Alex of course!

Grass cloth definitely is making its way back into today’s design trends!! First thinking to paint a mural over plaster, Gensler asked us if the same concept would work over grass cloth? Here is our rendering for the Houstonian restaurant.  It worked—- and I must say I do love the texture it creates!!

Well I want to leave you today with an introduction to my new assistant!! This little furry friend wanted to be apart of all the decisions we made! She was partial to the blue distressed board–what are ya’lls thoughts?

Also, my friend is coming to town!  If you live in Houston, Rebecca Vizard who makes these AMAZING art piece pillows (above) and has written the book Once Upon A Pillow, will be at Joyce Horn Antiques  tomorrow– Tuesday, April 10th from 2-6, 7065 Old Katy Rd, Houston, TX 77024.    Hearing how she restores this one of a kind embroidery and creates such heirloom pieces is sooooo interesting! Plus she is just a sweet southern gal!!

PS  Thank you for all who sent pictures of their Easter or Passover tablescapes.  These is still time  Leslie@segretofinishes.com.

I hope you all get something special from your week!! A little springtime puts a bit of joy in the air so lets all spread feeling around!!  Till next Monday!  xo Leslie