The brush strokes of Faux Bois and The Winner!

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The art of faux bois is the art of replicating wood. It can be done in the strictest sense, attempting to create an identical reproduction, or can be artistically interpreted to give the basic appearance of wood. It can be a rather daunting task to be given the request that this door needs to match another door standing right next to it. 

The woodgraining masters in North America include Mike MacNeil, Nicola Vigini and Pierre Finkelstein. However, there are also many decorative artists who do beautiful woodgraining. Pat Ganino, of Creative Evolution in Durham, Connecticut, produced the beautiful "wood" niche above, as well as the fireplace and column faux bois below.

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Isn't the detail amazing?

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I never would have guessed that this column started out white!

 

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Check out Pat's restaurant counter. Yes, it IS faux bois!

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When I moved into my studio, I was given pressed wood doors and walls to greet my clients. Obviously, this needed to be changed! I chose this door as my inspiration. I wanted the door to be "old" to fit in with the style of the old warehouse it resided in. I love the wood's patina.

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Here was my lovely start.

I first had to fill in the awful texture and make it somewhat presentable. A paint basecoat was added and then I began the graining process. It looks a bit odd right now, but every other "board" was done and allowed to dry before I filled in the other boards.

Ta Da!  The finished door. After the woodgraining was done, several layers of tinted wax were applied to tone the color and add the dirt and grime.

A closer look...

These kitchen cabinets were woodgrained by Judy Mulligan, a decorative artist in New Jersey who works with the fab interior designer, Marshall Watson. Look for an upcoming post on Judy's gorgeous work.

House Beautiful July / August 2010  Photo by Roger Davies  Artist: Judy Mulligan with Marshall Watson

This library cabinetry was also woodgrained.

Designers Here and There      Photo by Grey Crawford

Artist Tina Wainwright added her woodgraining touch to these living room panels.

Traditional Home May 2010  Photo by Werner Straube Artist: Tina Wainwright

Traditional Home May 2010  Photo by Werner Straube Artist: Tina Wainwright

An artist in Kentucky took a creative approach to creating this "wood" door by first applying gold foil to the white door and graining with acrylic stains by Faux Effects.

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This accent wall shows off hip faux bois panels in a new, contemporary home. 

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Wood is always a classic. It fits in anywhere. If you cannot hire Greet ( of the Belgian Pearls blog) Lefevre's company, Lefevre Interiors,  to install beautiful wood panelling, consider calling a decorative artist to create it for you!

And now, I am happy to announce the winner of my 100th post giveaway hydrangea wreath!

The winner is  Leigha Oaks of the elle oh blog. Congratulations, Leigha! As soon as I finish the wreath, I'll post its photograph before shipping it over to Portland.

A big thank you to all of you who entered! The response was exciting!

An ode to summer

Summer is beginning its graceful exit.
How do I know that fall is slowly returning?

The acorns have been falling for a week. Leaves are beginning to slowly turn a color other than green and a few have even dropped. The figs are ready and the tomatoes are filling up my neighborhood's kitchens. The spiders are out in full force in my garden, the critters are going after the grubs under my "grass" and many of the hydrangeas are leathery.

Here's what I'll miss about summer. The taste and color of figs.

  New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

 All that potential with the luscious, ripe grapes.

New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

A late afternoon snack on a lazy day. The screened porch is a god-send during mosquito season~ now.

 

Cultivated Pleasures by Elizabeth Saft

On a vacation with a view, fresh fruit, comfy chairs and guests due any moment. 

Italian Style by Jane Gordon-Clark

A spur of the moment dinner outside.

Set With Style by Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Parking in the loggia with friends and family for the entire evening.

Set With Style by Caroline Clifton-Mogg

Picking the ripe peaches, then biting into your peach with the juice dribbling down your chin...and everyone else's also! No shame here. (Anyone have a napkin?)

 

New French Country by Linda Dannenberg

Strolling through the garden and eating tomatoes just like a peach!

Essentially French by Josephine Ryan

I found this wonderful recipe and plan on making a few tomato pies this weekend to share. Would you like to join me? Here is the recipe.

 

French Chic by Florence de Dampierre

I have plenty of basil to spare. We experimented and planted the "regular" basil and Italian basil seeds from Franchi Sementi. The leaves are large and puckered and very sweet. Right now, we have fresh pesto several times a week. Soon, we'll freeze ice cube-size batches for the winter.

French Chic by Florence de Dampierre

This is my 100th post and I am celebrating by offering a wreath giveaway.

Be sure to check HERE to learn how to win a hydrangea wreath for your fall decor! The deadline to enter is this Sunday, August 22nd.  

Comment often!

Thank you, Cindy, at My Romantic Home, for Show & Tell Friday.

 

A special 100th celebration!

This week marks my 100th post in this blogosphere! 

I have made many friends and learned so much from all of you. I feel as if we are in it together!

To celebrate, I am offering a 24" hydrangea wreath created out of the many hydrangea bushes we have. Since the hydrangea blooms are still drying (can't rush this stage), I will have to substitute a photo similar to what I'll be creating:

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These are a few of the hydrangeas (as they were before drying) that I'll be using:

Simply Flowers by Barbara Milo Ohrbach

Here is how you can win.

All you have to do is make a comment on this or any post by the upcoming Sunday, August 22nd. Be sure to include your name and/or blogger name. With each comment, your name goes into the box. If you become a follower, you receive another chance. Comment every day and you'll have 6 chances to win! If you mention Rose et Lis' giveaway on your blog, you earn yet another chance to win.

The winner will be selected and announced next Monday, August 23rd. If I don't hear from the winner within 7 days, a new winner will be chosen.

And now I am off to design centerpieces for a wedding. Yes, it is a Tuesday evening wedding! Ciao!

 Unknown source   If you know who took this photo, please let me know.