Getting a Head Start on the Holidays

September is like no other month of the year. It is the month of  big changes. Yellow school buses return to city streets and country roads. Cool breezes increase with each arriving storm. That crisp fragrance that fills the air announces by the end of the month that autumn will be knocking on the door.  With September changes come thoughts of  family and friends and the special gatherings just 'round the corner. As we move toward the holidays, homeowners' thoughts turn toward their homes and Accents of Salado has put together some great new looks to fill your home with a warm, welcoming spirit.  This holiday season you can create well-designed rooms that wrap your family and guests in the warmth and magic of candlelight. The Olde Tavern hurricane set, designed in clear translucent glass, finds a home in a myriad of design themes and brings sparkling candlelight to special as well as everyday occasions. New to our candle holder collection, this set of glass cylinders is ideal for the creative imagination who always sets a beautiful holiday table. http://www.accentsofsalado.com/LG_CHGlassCandleHoldersOldeTavern.html

Are You Afraid to Paint the Ceiling Dark?

DON'T BE.

Darkening a ceiling actually creates a new exciting look you might have not thought possible.

Designer Christopher Lowell once said, "Painting the ceiling white is like throwing a sheet over the room." Lowell's advice has influenced every project, new or redesign, which I have attempted since hearing this advice.

Many years since hearing Lowell's recommendations, I find that all the ceilings in my home, as well as most ceilings in our home decor showrooms, are reverently painted shades darker than the wall color.

At Accents of Salado, I once papered a white showroom ceiling with an embossed tin-pattern wall paper found at home improvement stores. I painted the paper a dark, russet brown and then lightly dry-brushed the raised pattern with a copper metallic paint.

Considering our limited budget, the  result was game-changing and our old tin ceiling made quite an impression with our customers. The curious crowds seemed to inquire more about the ceiling in that room as they did about the merchandise presented there.

Painting the ceiling dark is especially effective when there is abundant natural light in the room and also when the room has exceptionally high ceilings. Rooms washed with light become more intimate and comforting. A dark ceiling finished with crown molding can lower a high ceiling in an expansive foyer and raises a high ceiling in a small room like a bathroom.

Recently I met a new friend whose artistic portfolio includes a dark metallic ceiling. Pictured in this blog are images that capture some of the steps used by decorative artist, Pat Strong, to re-invent a client's great room. In shooting these photographs, Pat demonstrates how a room can be taken from ordinary to absolutely stunning.

Pat's photos allow you to see how the project began and how the artist's vision resulted in a magnificent transformation.

Pat Strong is a long time decorative painter living in Austin, Texas, but her projects find her working across the country.

Pat specializes in projects that are transformational.

Pat likes to create relationships between her clients and the architecture of their homes. Her experience and training tell her that personalizing a home with color, custom textures and custom surfaces  makes it comfortable and beautiful.

Pat can transform just about any surface in a home. She specializes in murals, fine art, furniture and painted fabric.


Pat Strong works with other artists in the Austin area to produce a finished look in just about any media. No job is too large or too small for Pat if it's interesting.

Pat's Description of this Project

 

I love dark ceilings. I feel they can paradoxically,  both raise and lower a ceiling depending on the proportions of the room and the lighting.

 In this case, the ceilings were lower than the client would like and the upper floors seemed to oppress the space. Because this room was surrounded by rooms with higher ceilings, and adjacent to a deep covered patio, raising the "look" of the ceiling was out of the question. It was just too easy to compare it to the nearby areas.

By creating a warm, rich feeling on the ceiling, with a lot of detail, the room feels warm, cozy and very inviting. One completely forgets the height of the ceiling and just concentrates on a feeling of embracing shelter.

In this case, using a glimmering metallic glaze makes the room glow. In other cases, I use a deep color in an umber matte treatment to erase the awareness of where the ceiling actually occurs. Deep colored ceilings can also look infinite like a night sky.

 Pat Strong holds a degree in Art History from the University of Texas and has twenty five years experience in visual arts and commercial visual presentation. Learn more about Pat Strong and see more of her work on her Facebook page.

New Artwork at Accents of Salado

Accents of Salado is known for unique and stylish artwork for Mediterranean homes. The newest arrivals at Accents of Salado is a collection of prints that are ideal for many rooms through out your home.

Portraits of beautiful women are favorite subjects of European art. Our European Women Collection is representative of art found on walls of French chateaus, Italian villas and Spanish haciendas throughout Europe.

Shown here is a bold artwork expression that renders the portrait of a striking Spanish woman. The deluxe arch frame is the perfect compliment to Mediterranean architecture and furniture.

Classic and sophisticated, this oil reproduction collection will make your home beautifully chic with its deluxe framing and timeless themes.

See this new Accents of Salado artwork collection and the wide selection of fine art prints that can bring Mediterranean flavor to your decorating style. http://www.accentsofsalado.com/FramedPrintsSpanishWoman.html