Decorating With Class

Cottage Style Decorating

To answer Tea's post, Cottage style decorating is one of the most fun styles to tackle because it's difficult to get it wrong!

New Type of Stencil Design Soon to Hit The Market

Somehow over my 16 year career in the industry of "do it yourself" home decor products, I've developed the ability to sometimes see where there is a "hole" in consumer products in need of filling. It seems to just jump out at me at times and I scratch my head wondering why no one before me thought to produce an item that would bring such ease or new interest to our love of decorating our homes.

Same Style, Different Look

In my quest to "take a badly needed break", for the past few days I've been basking in the loveliness of Palm Desert, California. Isn't it interesting how different parts of the country decorate differently? I had the opportunity to visit a few homes while there that made me think of something interesting.

Creating a Sandstone Finish over a Tile Counter Top

I'm delighted to say that the new sandstone counter top is finished, giving my bathroom a new, updated and elegant look. From Funky

To FABULOUS!

See the step by step process.

Creating a new sandstone finish over old tile counter top

I finally got time to work on the tile bath counter top. Last night I reached the point where I finally got all the grout lines covered with Aqua Stone and they no longer show through my new sandstone finish. It really wasn't difficult after all and I love the new surface.

I decided not to even try to sand the new finish by hand and grabbed my trusty electric hand sander ($20.00 at Lowe's or Home Depot) and gave it a good smoothing. I did have to do just a bit of sanding by hand behind the sink and on the top of the tile back so I simply wrapped sand paper around a small wood block and that did the trick.

I'm thrilled to say that tomorrow will come the color wash and the sealer. I can't wait to show you the detail that the color wash will bring out. All the pits and skips look like real stone and color will only add to that beauty.

I'm now considering this same treatment on my bath counter top in the main bath in our home in Idaho. Right now it's PURPLE Formica! Since I've already accomplished a successful Formica faux finishing in our home here in Everett, I'm sure that the Aquastone product will work for that as well.

Stay tuned as I finish up this unique project and show you the results in pictures. You will want to do your own!

How to Create a Limestone Finish over tile counter top 2

Continuing this lesson on creating a sandstone/limestone finish over slick tile counter tops, I found that even with two applications of "Aquastone" from Faux Effects, I was still seeing my grout line indentations.

How to create a limestone finish over tile counter top

As in my previous post, I have begun the process of taking a super ugly tile counter top and without removing any tiles, creating a lovely sand stone finish right over the existing tile.

The Life of a Stencil Designer

One might think that a day in the life of a Professional Wall Stencil Designer might be glamorous, lounging about, bathed in sun streaming through the window, drinking tea from a rose covered china cup as she creates, draws and plans design uses. HA!!!