Blog - Page 7 of 11 - Leichsenring Studios

Not your grandmother’s cabinets…anymore!

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 06, 2015· in Artisan Finish, Birds, Furniture, Kitchen·

I’m not asked often to redo kitchen cabinets. This recent project was a manageable size, and a great way to show you how effective paint can be in updating a kitchen. Keeping it short and sweet, here’s the finished kitchen. Here’s what it looked like before. These oak cabinets are fairly standard. There was no reason to justify ripping them out, but boy, did they look dated and boring. The granite was going to stay, as well as the floor. My client liked the route that I think is more than just trendy of having a different finish for the island. It’s been around for a few years and I believe it’s going to become a standard. Here’s the sample boards I did, as well as a new color with a lot of punch in its depth for the walls. My portion of the work was soooo easy. Super painter Dino Tetu and company (203-258-9818) dismantled the kitchen, removing all the panels, drawers and doors. These were primed, and then painted. Can’t say it enough: great prep insures a great finished job. There is an artisan feel to the work as the glazing shows some of the irregularities of the […]
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Be Not Afraid

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 13, 2014· in Ceiling, Mica, Powder Room, Scrollwork·

I think you know by now that I am bored silly by beige. I know it has its place, but it just freezes the creativity out of me when color is called for but the client is just afraid to indulge. Indulge? Yes, because that is exactly what it can become. An indulgence. Big, bold use of color is probably not good if you’re only thinking of resale value. Color makes a statement. It says you have a personality maybe bigger than life, and that’s what YOU want to surround yourself with. My latest client came with just such a request. Her condominium had been doused with mind-numbing neutrals. And the lady loves Red! I’ve got to work backwards because I just have to show you how a pop of red inspired the bathroom redo. Here’s the before picture and now, with a huge splash of red. So, now in order of what I did here. First, the ceiling of the long narrow hallway and foyer was filled with soft billowy clouds. I created a sample of peakaboo plaster, multi-layered mica-infused with the tantalizing peaks of red and merlot peaking through. You also see the red I chose for the […]
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Walk Away From The Wall!

by Sharon Leichsenring· November 05, 2014· in Childrens, Clouds, Dining Room, Floral, Mica, Murals·

A few years back, I used to teach week long workshops at schools for those wanting to learn decorative painting. Subjects included painting murals, clouds, trompe l’oeil and perspective. I taught occasionally in Denver and Atlanta, but was most at home in Houston at Janie Ellis’s School of Decorative Painting at Anything But Plain. As I was scheduled there several times a year, I had the unique opportunity for me to get to know my students well. I followed their progress and got to know them well enough to appreciate some very distinct personalities. The most common problem most faced was expecting way too much of themselves during a short period of time. The mind says “Yes, I know I need to factor in years of practice” but the truth is the heart looks for perfection. Quickly, with frustration only a heartbeat away. I shared my own mantra of what to do when that happened. I tell myself to walk away from the wall. A few feet’s distance quickly puts things into perspective. An artist needs to learn when something is done. Two projects this month had me muttering to walk away from the wall, indeed. A dining room designed by […]
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A Rose by Any Other Name

by Sharon Leichsenring· October 02, 2014· in Ceiling, Dining Room, Floral, Furniture·

A rose by any name other than DeCandolle’s Rose would just not express how happy I am right now with the universe. Love when the universe gets it right! The project for redoing this dining room began as a discussion over a cup of coffee with my client in her home, where I had done some smaller projects. Her dining room, though very pretty, was just not hitting the mark to reflect her personality. We talked about something floral, and I asked her if she might consider something where the scale was a little less than traditional. She said sure, and I was off and running. The room seemed perfect for huge, oversized blossoms, with exquisite swirled stems and leaves. My inspiration came from a favorite engraving of mine, Pierre-Joseph Redoubte’s De Candolle’s Rose. It’s beauty to me lies in its simplicity, a sweet briar rose. The sample was painted on a creamy background that I glazed with a pale gold metallic paint. The painting seems so alive, with the gentle shimmer of gold. Here’s my sample. It’s time for the big question. Will my client, Jeannie, love it as much as I do? I’d been vague about what type […]
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Under the Weeping Cherry Tree

by Sharon Leichsenring· September 07, 2014· in Artwork, Kitchen, Murals, Stairwell, Trompe L'oeil·

Sometimes the simple answer is the perfect answer. My client in this elegant Fairfield, Connecticut home had a section of wall that just glared, needing an solution that wouldn’t look too contrived. The wall was formed when the 12′ height of the kitchen dropped back to 8′ in the foyer and hallway. Here’s the kitchen before I started. Hanging a large painting just felt awkward. Thank you again for the always imaginative ( and superb) painter, Dino Tetu, who was on the job and suggested that I might be the solution. A discussion with the homeowner led to the direction of a painted window for the space. I noted that there were several window transoms in the home and thought the added architectural interest would look better than a big picture window. So, what to paint, what to paint? We discussed vistas that had appeal to the family (beaches were high on the list) but again, not feeling natural. As I walked through the first floor of the home, I was struck by the lovely trees I could see from every room and Voila! There is was. The painted window would just be another opportunity to view the outdoors. Here’s […]
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Take Me To Venice

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 05, 2014· in Furniture, Places, Scrollwork·

Mr. John Hennessey might be one of the most romantic husbands I know. I’ve known John for, well, decades really. We go back to my earlier life when I was Sharon the Signpainter and I lettered many a panel for John in his bustling real estate enterprise. We’ve crossed paths over the years, so I was not surprised when John called for my help in creating a surprise for the lovely Marianne for their upcoming 38th anniversary. John delivered a chest to my studio. Funny thing about it; I had monogrammed it some thirtysomething years ago and it was going to be redone as a surprise anniversary gift. He was leaving everything in my hands. The metal straps could stay, or not. It could remain cedar, or perhaps not. The subject matter was Venice, and John emailed me some great photos from a recent trip there. Beyond that, all he said was “surprise me, Sharon.” He didn’t want to see sketches, concepts, progress pics. He’d be as surprised as his wife at the unveiling. I’ve got to do this in order. Here’s how it started out. My husband took off the straps and brass tacks and sanded it smooth. I […]
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All in a day’s work

by Sharon Leichsenring· July 06, 2014· in Budget Conscious, Ceiling, Fireplace, Trompe L'oeil·

It’s summer, and the livin’ is easy. So is work when simple projects go exactly as planned. Here are two of my current favorites. The first was a request for a simple medallion to enhance the breakfast area in this transitional style home. Here’s the sketch I started with. It is sweet music to my ears when the client already knows “design” language. She said, “I love how this drawing speaks to the round and square elements in the space.” And indeed it did. I made a quarter pattern to get the design up on the ceiling quickly. And without further ado, and happy smiles all around, the completed trompe l’oeil (fool the eye) medallion, an exercise in painting highlights and shadows. Here is a close up view. The second project was a distressed finish on a fireplace. I’ll show you the finish shot first so you’ll get my color choices. I had shown the owners several options, the alternative being the safer, simple beige route. I was so happy my clients trusted my vision and went with this sample. The fireplace was prepped and painted for me when I started. Kudos to Professional Painting by Dino Tetu (203-258-9818) for […]
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Into the woods…again!

by Sharon Leichsenring· June 07, 2014· in Columns, Commercial Space, Murals, Trees·

Sometimes, I have to admit, it’s pretty good to be me. This past week working has provided another of those times. I have to revisit an earlier project to explain. Last spring, I had the distinct pleasure to be commissioned by the PTSA of Fairfield Woods Middle School (thank you again, Tausif for your continued support of this project) in Fairfield, CT. Known to most in the area as simply “The Woods”, renovations had left a stark column in the middle of the foyer. I painted a quasi impressionistic forest that wrapped the column. You can see that story by clicking here to see that project. There are other areas surrounding the column, and this year I was invited by PTSA to continue the “Woods” environment. I started out by drawing the design on a photo of the area. It’s terrific fun working while school is in session. I have had a vocal, appreciative audience of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, plus staff and teachers. Again, principal Dr. Rosato navigated traffic during the craziness of buses arriving and the massive exodus at dismissal. Nary a smudge! Here are progress pictures as I got moving along. The design grew a bit in […]
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Oops, I did it again

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 04, 2014· in Powder Room, Scrollwork·

I promise myself over and over, not to get too attached to the things I paint. I’ll confess, I know the work is in your house, but in my head, they’re still my walls. That’s exactly what happened after I finished the walls and ceiling in this guest bathroom that doubles as a powder room for company. I simply didn’t want to leave. Humility aside, these walls rock! Here’s a before shot. The owner shared he just kept the door shut. Agreed , it was boring. So, the walls got painted a great shade of grey (Ben Moore’s Pewter). My photos don’t do the colors justice. There’s quite a bit of grey in the tile. The design would be done in monochromatic shades of the pewter. Here is how it began… And, now the finished walls—a quick 2 days of work, with one additional day for the ceiling’s matching medallion. I loved the play the mirror gave the design. Here’s another view showing the tub area. Here is a closeup of the wall connecting to the bedroom. Contemporary scrolls, not too frilly. I want them in my house, somewhere. Soon. I’d love to know what you think.
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Fancy Fretwork

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 03, 2014· in Fretwork, Kitchen, Trompe L'oeil·

There was no clue on the outside of this home about the scrupulously period perfect design I would find within. Tastefully done, the Victorian interior was just delightful. The kitchen had been completely remodeled and there was a small wall that marked the end of the kitchen, and was visible walking down the hall. I chose to use “fretwork”, a decorative detail that’s found inside and outside of Victorian homes. It is recognized by its graceful, interlocking designs. Here’s my concept drawing. It was a good solution for an awkward space, and an opportunity to introduce architectural detail in trompe l’oeil (French, for “to fool the eye”) fashion. Here’s the design base coated. You can see, the design got a little more elaborate compared to the original sketch. I have to confess, I don’t often get the opportunity to do this particular type of ornament, and when I do, it’s a personal play day for me! The kitchen is a study in grey, so I chose to paint the base in light grey so I could use a nice crisp white in the highlights. The wall is adjacent to a lovely granite countertop, making for the perfect palette. I […]
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