tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66257377676731835542012-01-27T10:54:58.519-08:00Decorative faux finish professional - decorative painting, faux finishes, specialty plasters, murals serving SW Washington and Oregon. Including cabinetry finishes, hand-painted furniture, italian plasters, venetian plasters, faux wood, faux stone and marble techniques, wall murals, children's rooms, trompe l'oeilshakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-53843531287419763742010-07-02T10:34:00.000-07:002010-07-02T10:44:58.732-07:00

I'm late in shouting out on my blog my news! You may have heard already, you may have seen my Facebook post, or heard me shout out to the universe - I'm engaged! Yes... five days after we celebrated our six year mark he completely surprised me.He walked through the door late on a Tuesday evening around 7PM. I was still working and getting ready to get up the next morning at 4AM to catch a 6AM

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-63894896271384059642010-05-21T17:19:00.001-07:002010-05-21T17:23:48.833-07:00

Just dropping in to say hello. Yesterday my guy and I celebrated six years together. We celebrated by feasting at our favorite sushi restaurant, and attending Cirque du Soleil's Kooza show. I was so excited for him, it was his first time seeing a Cirque show and he really enjoyed all of it. It truly is, as they say, an adrenaline rush of acrobatics in a zany kingdom.I'm Unravelling once again and

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-53769846230998229122010-04-26T20:27:00.001-07:002010-04-26T20:31:15.116-07:00

24 hours in central oregonOriginally uploaded by shakti space designsAs I ponder and wonder how this blog will evolve, or how I will evolve creatively... I've had some moments alone to let my mind sit with a few ideas.We went to Central Oregon this past weekend. Just a quick trip to say hello to family, see their new home, then turn around and come back to Portland. Central Oregon is in the

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-60944803029760559452010-04-16T21:18:00.001-07:002010-04-16T21:18:09.909-07:00

back roads of oregonOriginally uploaded by shakti space designsi wanted to pop in and say hello. i miss blogging. i'm thinking about how to evolve this blog or starting a new one. instead of blogging i've been adjusting to a very busy, corporate job and participating in a 365 project. i'm in love with photography. this filly greeted me today after i spent the morning in tulip fields. it was

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-88110734471828308002009-10-16T08:43:00.000-07:002009-10-16T09:30:19.108-07:00

You may or may not have read that recently I made some decisions about my life and my business. The economy crisis in Portland has hit hard. In April, 2009 unemployment in the Portland-metro area was at 12.1%, and the state of Oregon at 12%. Unfortunately, luxury-based business, such as high-end decorative painting and murals have suffered.Luckily I have many more talents to fall back on, and

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-39086815050636334922009-09-30T14:23:00.001-07:002009-10-01T07:05:27.279-07:00

Click picture to enlargeGreetings all... I'm still here, and I'm here to show you a master bedroom wall that was completed in June. I've been waiting for the entire room to come together before I went for a photo shoot.This project is a good example that demonstrates highlighting one wall can make all the difference in a beautiful design. The room would be lovely with painted walls, but in my

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-26424439242279906792009-09-03T07:15:00.000-07:002009-09-05T09:10:08.485-07:00

Hey everyone! The cabinet is finished! To refresh your memory. I asked you to participate in the redo of this small cabinet. I gave you choices and you took a survey. 31% of you voted for the wood grain vinyl flower finish. Here are the inspirational designs...And here is the final piece! Ta-da!It's cute right? I know, I know... it took long enough. But hey, it turned into a much busier

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-87215277593936143552009-09-01T11:06:00.000-07:002009-09-02T17:20:59.815-07:00

The caterpillar dies so the butterfly could be born. And, yet, the caterpillar lives in the butterfly and they are but one. So, when I die, it will be that I have been transformed from the caterpillar of earth to the butterfly of the universe. -- John HarricharanMy 98 year old grandmother, Nellie passed away the morning of August 29. She was the

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-39619520188743429492009-08-24T09:58:00.001-07:002009-08-24T10:35:10.454-07:00

Thanks for your patience and continued support everyone! I'm getting back on track. My thumb has healed. The weather has cooled. Portlanders don't do well during major heatwaves. Many of us don't have homes with a/c so we suffer through with swamp coolers, spritzer bottles and cold washcloths. Now that it's cooler I can turn the studio lights on and work comfortably. I've also been paying

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-11747194892663157002009-08-02T14:41:00.000-07:002009-08-02T14:52:03.764-07:00

Wondering how the progress is coming along? Well, I confess, I'm a pussy when it comes to the heat and just as I was getting ready to work on the cabinet the heatwave hit Portland. Since many Portlanders don't have a/c we suffer through, complaining a lot. Three days in a row the thermostat inside our house registered over 90. So, I'm here, I just haven't been productive or moving much

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-58920813807450568252009-07-25T09:54:00.000-07:002009-07-25T09:58:48.816-07:00

This brought a smile to my face this morning. See you all soon.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-278214744554357152009-07-20T10:19:00.000-07:002009-08-24T13:47:21.135-07:00

Painting is in progress. I know, it looks the same, except you saw pictures of it with primer. This last week did not progress as I had hoped. I dream of a separate spray booth inside my large, expansive and light-filled dream studio. For now, I have to spray in the wild outdoors. Good thing this cabinet has seen better days and I'm not claiming it's a perfect piece of furniture. Each time

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-80277955014651420472009-07-08T16:48:00.000-07:002009-07-08T18:28:46.307-07:00

Looks like contemporary vinyl wood grain cut-outs are the winning selection, unless there's another surge of voters looking with interest in decoupage. So... next week I'm going to get crackin' on a finish inspired by these.Thanks everyone for visiting and helping me make the selection. It was my choice too.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-80141677616474246902009-07-06T21:31:00.000-07:002009-07-07T12:04:19.116-07:00

This small cabinet needs help. It needs your help. Please help me decide what type of finish I should create. This will be fun. You help me choose, and I will take you on a step-by-step journey through its makeover. Are you game? Browse through the inspirations below and select your choice in the survey.Keep in mind the cabinet has some challenging lines in the front - it's not completely

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-7152549415029262022009-07-03T17:41:00.000-07:002009-07-05T08:40:20.649-07:00

Hi! I'm dropping in to say hello. I'm here. I don't want you to think this is a "shop" left unkept. I've been busy; reinventing, growing, finding anew, creating and living.In May I started Unravelling with Susannah Conway which took me on a journey of self-discovery in a way that I did not anticipate. Before starting her 8-week course I was already at a crossroads. Wondering how to revive

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-19971405159157632632009-05-27T07:46:00.000-07:002009-05-27T20:56:33.545-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to share the works of the incredibly talented Ryan Dobrowski - an Oregonian native. I met Ryan's painting before I met Ryan and I was completely blown away. I was attending a crowded house party and entered the basement to use the bathroom and saw this incredibly expressive painting that took up an entire bedroom wall. That was around five years ago.Fast forward

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-53893948019692349242009-05-13T07:34:00.000-07:002009-05-14T07:09:15.825-07:00

Never hired a decorative painter (faux finisher) before? Not sure what to expect? Here are 8 steps to familiarize you with the process and what to expect when you work with us:1. THE DESIGN If you are an interior designer you should have an idea of the design you want to achieve for your client’s project. If you are a homeowner start with some reference pictures - ideas you've cut out of

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-49505259065161198982009-05-09T22:40:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:54:46.462-07:00

Here is another renovated project. This fireplace is in a home that was built in the early 80s. The original fireplace was floor to ceiling red brick. I'm sure you're familiar with this type of design. Most people consider it an eye sore.What can you do with an outdated fireplace? Rip it out, patch the walls with drywall, redesign the surround, the mantel and the hearth? Sure, but that's a

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-48888013551285098112009-04-17T07:35:00.000-07:002009-04-17T08:13:56.097-07:00

I'm continuing the search for class act interior designers that understand the value of using decorative painting and plasters incorporated into their designs.Meet Frank Roop. You may have seen his work highlighted in the May issue of Metropolitan Home. Frank is a young designer based in Boston. His style is fresh with a mix of antiques, incredible vintage pieces, various textures, and an

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-79296671082361034722009-04-13T21:09:00.000-07:002009-04-13T21:39:05.243-07:00

Back in December Pantone announced 2009's color of the year. PANTONE® 14-0848 Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow. No other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow. I'm still feeling hopeful are you? A couple of months ago I was inspired to play around with samples and incorporate mimosa into my designs. I imagine a fabulous LusterStone all-over design in an entryway or a feature

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-88360234087439354522009-04-11T12:52:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:52:39.227-07:00

My desk is a total mess... but my guy treated me to a venti latte, so now I might be motivated to clean up my act!What motivates you on a Saturday?

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-70939750338804236362009-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:53:58.693-07:00

Loft living in Portland has been on the rise since the late 90s. One of the hip areas to live is an area coined The Pearl District formerly full of old warehouses, industrial buildings and railroad yards, and now is said to be an award-winning, internationally recognized leader in urban renewal. Many that live in the area consider it a great mix of live, work, play. You'll find many new condo/

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-33282386313021655742009-03-27T20:27:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:53:24.616-07:00

This is my fabulous new desk lamp I won on Ebay this week. I received it yesterday and quickly ran out and found the lampshade and finial. It's even newly rewired by yours truly.It makes my desktop a happier place.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-27758984941313292882009-03-27T07:39:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:56:10.513-07:00

Not sure what to do with your outdated fireplace? No reason to fill up the landfill. This fireplace was originally wood with architectural elements. Our plaster treatment was applied right over the original mantel and surround.Below is the fireplace before the plaster was applied.BeforeWorried about dust? Our mess is minimal when we use the ZipWall. We just need enough room to set up the

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-67407490939067092112009-03-19T17:12:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:57:10.833-07:00

Finally I get to show you after pictures of a project I worked on last May. Seeing this finished room took my breath away. This dining room turned out so amazing!I used a contemporary Lusterstone finish on the walls. The bronze and gold are a nice compliment and change as the light moves through the room. In some areas the gold is highlighted, in others the bronze really stands out.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-88057865806512332802009-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:57:24.650-07:00

My guy did his taxes last weekend and was giggling. No better use for this collectible stamp.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-83734623273866583542009-03-15T11:02:00.000-07:002009-03-15T11:54:19.234-07:00

Looking to have some decorative painting in your home, but your recession budget can't afford an entire room of custom finishes? Why not try a few painted furniture pieces.I recently stumbled upon Jimmie Martin out of the UK. The pieces shown below are a few samples of Jimmie Martin's one-off pieces of furniture. The style combines the traditional and decadent with a quirky, tongue-in-cheek,

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-24087529879705459572009-03-11T20:39:00.000-07:002009-05-12T18:57:59.536-07:00

In today's mail I received the most gracious gift. Lisa Chase of Odder By Art sent me this watercolor of Kali. Thank you so much Lisa. I'm glad you were inspired by her. We will treasure this portrait.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-74787529537070285402009-03-08T11:54:00.001-07:002009-05-12T18:58:28.415-07:00

A week today Miss Kali passed away. I've been missing her terribly and thinking about painting her portrait.Over the last few years I have been bookmarking and adding various artists to my Etsy favorites. Right now there is no time to paint, but some time to peruse my favorite pet portraits to gather ideas. My goal is to paint two portraits of Kali. One for our home and one on a rock that will

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-27365642291959864852009-03-02T09:33:00.000-08:002009-03-08T14:38:04.370-07:00

Yesterday was a sad and difficult day. My 13 year old cat, Kali was put to rest. Her illness came on so suddenly, February 18th. It may have not been sudden, but her symptoms were sudden. She was battling lymphoma, and gave a good fight, but I could not let her suffer. I wanted her to live in the moment as pets do, and have that moment not be of sadness or suffering.I am grateful to have had

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-8714671266805758902009-02-20T07:47:00.000-08:002009-05-12T18:59:08.212-07:00

I've been struggling the last couple of weeks about my next blog entry. Circumstances in life have been overwhelming me, and last week my cat became very ill. But this morning, this morning is a new day. The sun is already shining bright in Portland. This morning Kali was eating on her own for the first time since last Saturday, and synchronicity is at work as I received a posting of TED

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-14804019593969050182009-02-07T10:46:00.000-08:002009-05-12T19:00:20.521-07:00

Since my post regarding Michael S. Smith, I'm obsessed about finding designers that incorporate decorative arts as part of their design process.I recently discovered Kendall Wilkinson, based out of San Francisco. She collaborates with elite craftspeople in the overall vision of her designs, and it shows. I just love her elegant style.photos courtesy of Kendall Wilkinson Design

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-4976558187988454692009-01-30T06:45:00.000-08:002009-05-12T19:00:58.423-07:00

Save the date folks, Tuesday, February 3 I'm going to be on TV. Better TV is airing a segment on decorating childrens rooms which features the mural above that I created just before Christmas '08. A mural custom for that happy four year old revealed to him Christmas morning.UPDATE: You can watch the segment now.Inside the rocket door is a crawl space that his father finished off by drywalling

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-52737414245891393462009-01-02T21:44:00.000-08:002009-05-12T19:02:29.577-07:00

Happy New Year!Let's hop back on this decorative painting bandwagon and share some projects with you.This is one area of the Lee/Eastman Furniture showroom before I was introduced to them.Here is the same area of their showroom after I applied a contemporary LusterStone finish.This is one of my popular finishes which I think it looks a lot like dupioni silk. It's also a great example showing

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-22130355432834994992008-12-29T18:30:00.000-08:002008-12-29T19:15:43.796-08:00

Hello friends! I've been buried in... well, I'm not sure what, but I've found many excuses to not blog. I've been up to my knees in holiday crafts, decorations, bows, ribbons, cookie dough, chutney, snow, and a big ol' pile of procrastination.I've dug myself out, I'm back and currently working on a few posts. Stay tuned. In the meantime admire the beauty of winter that covered Portland last

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-79158685141766403312008-11-16T12:46:00.000-08:002009-05-12T19:03:26.733-07:00

I've been painting more and more these days. My goal is to speed up and not be that perfectionist that I mentioned in my figure painting post. Back at CCAD I did get pretty good at painting fast because if you fell behind in your assignments, especially first year, you would most likely fail. I had a classmate - Vince Vollo who used to drive me crazy. He had an amazing talent. For every

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-82986137318969556232008-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:002008-11-14T21:34:32.755-08:00

yellow onyx marble sampleI thought I would finally share the marble boards that came out of a recent class taught by Andre Martinez, of Faux Design Center, Inc.the master takes his stance displaying his own marble studyWhen Andre rolls around get ready to be wiped out. This man has so much energy and is full of so much information - scientific facts, business advice, funny stories, and compelling

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-67934802214394014202008-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:002008-11-07T21:43:50.039-08:00

I'm loving this song. I just want to dance and paint when I hear this song. The bear in the video reminds me of the bears from Country Bear Jamboree or the bear in Bjork's Human Behavior video (one of my all-time favorite videos).MGMT - Electric Feelby wonderful-life1989

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-50741998215116114752008-10-29T20:22:00.000-07:002008-11-05T17:25:17.756-08:00

I'm getting ready to paint a large figure painting for Bianca Benson. She and her husband want a painting for their bedroom. It's exciting because it has been a long time since I've drawn or painted nude figures. The big, black leather portfolio made it's way out of storage this week and I've been going through some of my past work. These are my most recent drawings - over a decade old. Done

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-67783867835981507902008-10-27T08:33:00.000-07:002009-05-12T19:02:43.044-07:00

I'll try to make it back this week to do some new and exciting posts. Until then I hope you're having a great time watching the leaves transform and enjoying the crisp air.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-11430360628821821962008-10-22T06:51:00.000-07:002008-10-22T07:40:29.198-07:00

Hey Bridget Otto, did you know that this fireplace doesn't need to be ripped out of the house in order to be transformed? It's also a 'green' process to keep this intact and use the existing structure as my armature. It's also a cost savings to the homeowner.Pardon the dust - but I haven't completed the project yet. I'm transforming what was once a traditional fireplace to a limestone finish.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-87425624148629523652008-10-13T07:25:00.000-07:002008-10-31T15:54:34.124-07:00

I just returned from a week of off. I need to give a big thanks to Kim Johnson over at Desire To Inspire for highlighting our latest project while I was away. Thanks Kim!If you haven't visited Kim and MidCenturyJo's blog you should. There's a reason it's part of Martha's Circle.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-14304959830976570302008-10-08T18:59:00.001-07:002008-10-13T12:08:13.262-07:00

What in the world is an AT-AT? It is a large All Terrain Armored Transport from the Star Wars universe that traverses the landscape on mechanical legs. The AT-AT was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back during the Battle of Hoth.Photo courtesy of LucasfilmThis blog entry may not pertain to your design sensibilities, but it's fun nonetheless. Some of you readers may find yourselves relating to

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-75370172417569122502008-10-05T19:47:00.000-07:002008-10-05T20:39:35.977-07:00

I have the privilege of knowing this astounding human being, Kristy Edmunds.I met Kristy while working at the Portland Art Museum from 1990 - 1993. Shortly after meeting Kristy we became friends. Several times a week we would wonder over to Coffee People or up to Rich's coffe cart and enjoy a coffee break together. I would sit in the presence of this woman in awe of her talent, wit and

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-84832088225195761132008-10-01T10:13:00.001-07:002008-10-01T10:50:41.372-07:00

I think it's officially an obsession - the amount of blogging I've done lately about faux crocodile one might say I have a fetish. I can't help it, I just get so excited when the ideas I have to do projects are reinforced by the design world.Yesterday I had a little time to catch up on my pile of design magazines. How happy was I when I came across the Trend Alert in the October issue of Elle

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-58613530278698697902008-09-30T10:52:00.000-07:002008-09-30T14:12:57.181-07:00

I finished this contemporary fireplace in Lusterstone last week. I love it when the builder offers me a choice on the substrate finish. I chose level 4 to keep the cost down for the owner, and I can deal with the tape on the drywall. If you're not careful sometimes it can transfer through to the finish. I could work with Lusterstone 24/7. But not today. Today I'm in the studio playing with

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-71115536686509545992008-09-24T08:13:00.000-07:002008-09-24T08:26:11.350-07:00

I found out last night that Apartment Therapy Unplggd posted the bar and media lounge project!

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-20508516059257146952008-09-19T08:37:00.000-07:002008-09-19T08:40:14.129-07:00

I want to be here right now. Happy Friday!

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-37448532479077640572008-09-15T22:11:00.000-07:002008-09-15T22:30:47.909-07:00

the basement lounge - with the faux crocodile skin table and the lusterstone wall, complete with lusterstone stenciling.A hint of the tabletop which went onto the countertop as well.And this is the adjacent media lounge. All so beautiful.Photos are courtesy of Garrison HullingerGarrison really was inspired by David Hicks for this area. He bounced ideas around and after showing me those great

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-77114553402489235882008-09-14T18:50:00.000-07:002008-09-14T19:01:56.206-07:00

Remember the crocodile skin sample board I showed you a few weeks ago? Well, the project is done. I finished Friday. As I pulled the last piece of tape the housecleaners literally came down the steps to clean the area. I didn't have my memory card in my camera, there was a flurry to people and my client was eager for me to leave so they could get on with preparing for Saturday's Garden

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-39900957997634346772008-09-01T14:42:00.001-07:002008-09-01T19:03:57.808-07:00

Did you happen to miss the paint color information sheets throughout the 'Suede' house? I may be biased, but I thought our house was the most exciting when it came to color on the walls.I challenge many of you Portlanders to come out of your shells (and I mean that in the nicest way) and consider painting over all the builders white or tan/beige walls. You might even consider painting your

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-74169231169061054132008-08-28T15:36:00.000-07:002008-09-05T12:35:29.414-07:00

When you step into 'Suede' the first home in this year's Street of Dreams you might think the wall in front of you is made of metal. Really, really, it's not. It has been cleverly disguised. It is actually a specialty plaster - well three different colors and six layers of specialty plaster called Lusterstone. It's an architectural coating that produces reflective stone-like patterns and is

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-42979375949615385942008-08-26T19:33:00.001-07:002008-08-26T20:04:04.634-07:00

Look what's cooking in my studio.I'm working with Garrison on a project in his home. He and his partner are creating a beverage center in their foursquare Portland home. This will be the countertop and tabletop when it's all finished. Oh, it's going to be fabulous! Stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-53239901598556804772008-08-15T20:38:00.000-07:002008-08-16T11:47:19.531-07:00

I'm so excited about this project. I can't show you the dressed room just yet, but I wanted to tease you. Perhaps you'll come back and visit more often which will inspire me to post regularly.One of my fabulous clients-turned-interior-designer, Garrison Hullinger brought me in on a recent project. A gorgeous home in the West Hills of Portland with some incredible decor. This client has

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-3680729920361872712008-08-13T19:37:00.000-07:002008-08-24T20:05:13.568-07:00

Welcome friends,Are you ready for Portland's 32nd Annual Street of Dreams? It starts Saturday, August 16th and will be open for a month. Visit the website for more details and information. Hopefully you saved the discount coupon in your NW Natural Gas bill last month. Tickets are $17.50 this year!I worked on the entry wall in the Lisac Brothers Construction home. You can see a sneak preview

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-82459213474801811232008-06-05T08:31:00.000-07:002008-07-14T16:17:53.144-07:00

I'm still here... plugging away, continuing to learn my craft and rediscovering all the foundational techniques buried in my mind. Skills I learned at Columbus College of Art & Design.All the painting I've been doing lately has brought back a slew of memories. A journey so long ago that has lead me to where I am today.My parents weren't jazzed about me going to art school. An art school how

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-33636156707939711352008-05-17T09:18:00.000-07:002008-05-18T15:07:46.604-07:00

Hello everyone. I'm still here. I've been quite busy and trying to get pictures of completed projects so I can share with you the work that is keeping me occupied.This project has a nice story. In February I was contacted by a mother of a 15-year old son. She told me that her son loves airplanes and aspires to be an airline pilot. She then explained that he had borrowed an overhead projector

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-63955684976443706722008-04-06T12:54:00.001-07:002008-04-06T14:09:36.660-07:00

I'm excited to tell you all about the class I just finished with world renowned trompe l'oeil artist, William Cochran. I had the opportunity to take his five-day class in a condensed three-day version. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but it certainly forced me to get motivated, focus, and soak up as much knowledge from William as I could! Here is my unfinished study of Ceasar cast in

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-59200408708445606052008-03-25T17:35:00.000-07:002008-05-24T06:29:10.342-07:00

One of my clients phoned me in February (just before I fell ill from the flu) to inform me that she and her husband are having baby number two and they needed to have baby nursery number two ready for the baby's arrival in six weeks. How exciting! I'm pleased to say that little Audrey arrived four days before her due date and I finished her room about an hour before she and mom arrived home

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-89486079765200611272008-03-20T12:28:00.000-07:002008-03-20T12:31:26.126-07:00

Greetings readers. I just wanted to say a quick hello and let you know that I'm still here. I was quite busy at the end of January and February finishing work for three clients - driving from one location to another getting it all done. Then it hit me, like a ton of bricks! That horrible 'ick' that's making its way around.I'll be back soon with photos of the projects. I hope all of you are

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-48409833196088455872008-01-25T08:43:00.000-08:002008-01-25T09:11:26.807-08:00

This post is all about paint color selection and how to compliment a room by highlighting the beauty that already exists. When I first saw this billiard room it looked like this. The husband loves this room and each evening he enjoys shooting a game of pool after dinner. I was shown this room because the husband saw my faux leather board while I was showing the couple my portfolio. He thought

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-52645694536333580132008-01-05T15:51:00.001-08:002008-01-08T21:38:00.599-08:00

So, you lived through another holiday season and have already thought about what you might do for 2008. This past year was fabulous and all the family gatherings around your dining room table were a success. But perhaps something was missing. Perhaps you realized your dining room needs to be showcased a little more than it does now. It needs just the right ambiance to enhance all that

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-36383371152460452122007-12-30T09:57:00.001-08:002007-12-31T17:54:38.056-08:00

I didn't want to wait any longer before wishing you a Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2008!It's been crazy busy for the last month. We've done a powder room, a large kitchen/great room, and currently finishing up a small wine cellar, and getting ready to work on a new chiropractic clinic. All that and the holidays made for a very busy calendar. There was some time set aside for holiday cheer,

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-22526680798285929272007-12-07T20:05:00.001-08:002007-12-09T19:17:26.530-08:00

Are you ready for a lovely transformation? A gorgeous nursery for a baby girl due early January.The only evidence I have that this is actually a before photo is the bedding. Almost everything else in this nursery is brand new. Babies don't sleep in beds you say? Well, the room also remains a guest room for now. Since the baby hasn't arrived yet, the crib hasn't made it into the room. But

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-44796914930867909962007-12-01T07:52:00.001-08:002008-05-24T06:27:50.879-07:00

In this business we do a lot of dramatic powder room and bathroom finishes. I think its because its a space that allows clients to be over-the-top dramatic - like you would see in a restaurant. Bathrooms are a good jumping off point when adding ambiance and drama to any home. Perhaps I'm showing my idealistic side and its really because most budgets fit this size space, but I'm going to

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-25334010500607799152007-11-12T17:40:00.000-08:002007-12-07T20:25:43.222-08:00

Saving old cabinetry is a great, green idea and keeps most of the waste out of our landfills. This house is about 20 years old with the original kitchen cabintery. The existing maple cabinets were in great shape (sorry readers I don't have the before shots on this one due to my lack of discipline when it comes to charging the batteries).The clients had received a quote on refacing the cabinetry

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-20188054837393561512007-11-04T20:28:00.000-08:002007-12-07T20:26:02.451-08:00

Who wouldn't want to stay in a guest bedroom with a guest bathroom as luxurious as this? A sunken jacuzzi tub surrounded by beautiful marble, a chandelier, and lovely scents. I think I'd have a hard time leaving.We applied a specialty plaster in two tones to the ceiling dome which started out as a plain white plastic cast dome. The mirror was cast iron painted all white. The same specialty

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-29700233860616322972007-11-03T13:27:00.000-07:002007-12-07T20:26:15.252-08:00

I love fireplaces. To prove it I have several 3-ring binders full of fireplace design ideas pulled from the pages of Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Home & Garden, Traditional Home... just to name a few. I had grown quite fond of these two ideas and kept hoping that one day I would meet the perfect client open enough to allow me to replicate these ideas into a custom faux treatment.Well, I did

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-71528052681512091102007-10-27T20:38:00.000-07:002007-12-07T20:26:30.087-08:00

I recently met a wonderful couple that have been together for 50 years. They wanted me to create a Tuscan mural in their breakfast nook so they could remember their most recent trip to Italy. She had reference pictures for me to create a rendering and he requested that there be a few farm houses that he could look at while enjoying his meals.The challenging part of this mural was figuring out

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-11429681888067495132007-10-23T08:12:00.000-07:002007-12-07T20:26:49.890-08:00

One of the great things about our line of work is being able to salvage beautiful architectural features of old homes and making them feel new again. If your cabinets or built-ins have good bones you don't have to rip them out, rebuild, or reface them yet! Think Green! Why fill our landfills with cabinetry that can be given new life for a few more years and save you money.We are on our way

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-26335469867427019882007-10-17T18:23:00.001-07:002007-12-07T20:27:08.978-08:00

We are often blessed enough to work in many beautiful homes and lucky enough to be surrounded by clients with great taste in design. This room is one of my latest favorites. It was designed by a 13-year old.It was her idea to have the emblems on one wall, the other three walls are painted a hot pink. I handed her the Benjamin Moore fan deck and she selected all of the colors. She's got a

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6625737767673183554.post-22729840068456384552007-10-16T17:13:00.001-07:002007-12-07T20:27:20.527-08:00

Not sure what to do with your old ugly brick or stone fireplace? Call a decorative painter. Most likely the options for a finish will be more cost effective than ripping it out and rebuilding with the materials that everyone else has. The old fireplace in this lovely Portland bungalow home was very ugly stone most likely installed in the 60s. The contractor built up the fireplace, covered with

shakti space designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11743993297517110759noreply@blogger.com1