Scrollwork Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Leichsenring Studios

Be Not Afraid

by Sharon Leichsenring· December 13, 2014· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Ceiling, Mica, Scrollwork· 0 comments

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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Take Me To Venice

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 05, 2014· in Furniture, Places, Scrollwork· 0 comments

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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Oops, I did it again

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 04, 2014· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Gifts, Scrollwork· 0 comments

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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Look Up!

by Sharon Leichsenring· March 03, 2014· in Ceiling, Clouds, Dining Room, Scrollwork· 0 comments

Ceilings… Designers think of them as the fifth wall. Let’s take a look at the possibilities. I’d like to share a recent ceiling project. It’s the ceiling in a large entertainment space. The overall ceiling measures a massive 40′ by 75′. My design was dictated by the two parallel lighting tracks, leaving a width of 18′ by 48′. I took this picture before the second chandelier had been hung so you could see it clearly. When working on a ceiling, any consideration making the work time shorter is much appreciated by the already stressed neck muscles. I cut large patterns out of ¼” foam core. This is work that can be done in the shop ahead of time and getting the design up on the ceiling. Each pattern was 6′ by 8′. I’d outline one side and then flip the pattern to complete each half of the semi-circle design. Here’s the template in place. Cool stuff indeed! Here’s a close-up shot. Another ceiling took on a completely different aspect. Here a small dome that’s been treated to a sophisticated celery metallic paint treatment. A three foot wide floral border circles the dome. It’s a grand ceiling for a formal breakfast […]
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Just Scrolling Along

by Sharon Leichsenring· August 10, 2013· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Kitchen, Scrollwork, Trees· 0 comments

Sometimes I truly need to stop a minute to consider which project I’d like to share with you. Sure, part of me wants to impress you with most grand and extensive transformation on which I’m currently working. But this month, I came to a realization. I admit when I’ve rung your doorbell and I’m waiting for the door to open, the little voices in my head (yes, they are there al-l-l-l the time) are chattering away. “I hope there’s a dining room calling for a medallion….I hope when they said a little detailing in the foyer, it really meant a full scale mural complete with lions and tigers and bears, oh my.” Oh, I could go on. But those are the voices in MY head. What about the questions rolling around in my client’s head? “What made me even call her? This is going to be too expensive. What was I thinking-I’m sure she will think this project is too small.” So, the truth . I love those big, extensive, multi-room contracts. But there is huge satisfaction in small, one or two day jobs that result in a great impact. Those are equally as rewarding. Case in point. A recent […]
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My Love Affair with Ornament

by Sharon Leichsenring· May 10, 2013· in Bathrooms/Powder Room, Gifts, Mica, Murals, Scrollwork· 0 comments

I recently finished some detailed, painted ornament on a project. It may be my favorite thing to paint. I love the planning stages, sketching out the designs, playing with the colors. I appreciate the mathematical precision necessary to get the repeats correct, the arcs just curved so. My book shelves are brimming with source materials; Auguste Racinet’s polychrome series mingles with the lush pages of William Morris. There are torn out sections from discontinued wallpapers mixed with a seemingly endless collection of Dover catalogs from every historical period. Though the scroll patterns are certainly traditional, the choice of a mica-infused plaster as a backgrounds brings a contemporary edge to my this foyer. Here is a classical scroll, painted on a champagne gold base. The ornament has been painted on a layered, mica plaster. Graceful tracery adorns the front door here. Italian Renaissance Grottesca fills the loggia entrance to the living room in this living room. Grottesca is an ornamental art design combining scrollwork and foliage with humans and animals. A scene reminiscent of an 18th century French tapestry is framed with a simple trompe l’oeil (French, meaning “to fool the eye”) border. The rich chocolate brown walls of this master […]
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Headboard Redux

by Sharon Leichsenring· April 10, 2013· in Headboards, Scrollwork, Trompe L'oeil· 0 comments

It started as the simplest discussion one could imagine. What could be done to dress up this simple brass headboard? The linens chosen were elegant, providing an equally sophisticated palette of gray and taupe. Take a look at the headboard to be considered. The queen size bed is situated in a well proportioned room measuring approximately 24′ x 26′. Take a peek at what else provides design elements in the rest of the room. I decided to use the graphic design the headboard provided. My client was quite clear in describing what she saw as the gap needing filling. The design would need to encompass more than just around the perimeter of the headboard. Pictures had been tried above the headboard and just didn’t fill the proportions properly. The solution I came up with is certainly grand in scale. The area behind the swirl work is a strie that I created for just this space. Usually a strie treatment describes pulling, or dragging a brush through wet glaze to get a linear effect. Here, the process involved a similar dragging but through many colors and layers of mica-infused plaster. I have to tell you that I always give fair warning […]
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Just a spoonful of sugar

by Sharon Leichsenring· January 05, 2013· in Ceiling, Dining Room, Headboards, Scrollwork· 0 comments

If just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, wouldn’t it be nice to see how easily a few spoonfuls of paint improve a situation? My client could not find the perfect size headboard for this bed. See below the bare space available to work with. Here’s the resulting headboard, with the exact design, size and colors. Beautiful custom window treatments are enhanced with painted borders. The beautiful inspirations are taken directly from the fabrics with a bonus of highlighting the Palladian window. Window treatments design by Dyane Prezioso Interiors. White ceilings are becoming a thing of the past. Think of that ceiling as the fifth wall. Designers do. Doesn’t it deserve a little more than a coat of ceiling flat white? In this example, a lightened tone of the wall color was used to create a large rectangle with ensign corners. An additional border, a little lighter yet, defines the detail and the ¼” hand-painted pinstripe seals the composition. A little plate of “eye candy” served up to start out an inspirational New Year. Ready for a taste, give me a call. …and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you!
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