Kami Tremblay Design

Wall ideas for Girls Rooms

2011-11-28T12:16:00.008-05:00

There are so many options for bedding for little girls rooms, but what about their walls? You can have sunflowers painted on the walls, like a mural. This sunflower room, has sunflowers dancing around the room. I did this mural about 5 years ago, and the little girl still loves her room. She's about 9 now.
How about an activity room for your little girl? These walls have murals of bumble bees, flowers, chalk board paint in the shape of frames, butterflies and words to go along with the creativity that can take place in this room.
Purple! Purple has been such a popular color room or little girls. In this purple room, this little girl wanted to be all grown up! So to make it fun, I created freehanded stripes, and pok-a-dot swirls. To top off the room, I painted the same polk-a-dots that were on the accent wall, around the room, making it look like a fire fly was zipping around the room!
I have to say this little girls room in pink with painted tulips has been one of my all time favorite rooms! I think the mother had a Pottery Barn quilt, which was so delicate! The tulips that are painted on the walls, almost look like a watercolor, very faint and warm.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Baltimore Maryland

2010-07-25T11:32:00.002-04:00

There is something to be said for volunteering, and the impact you can have on lives.

The Extreme Makeover Home Edition surprised Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore Maryland!

These 7 wonderful girls; Asia, Ajia, Milan, India, Destine, Lasha, and Shaolin now have a positive, supportive living situation thanks to thousands of Baltimore area residents who vollentereied their time.

Boys Hope Girls Hope helps academically capable and motivated children-in-need meet their full potential and become men and women for others by providing value centered, family-like homes, opportunities and education through college. Read More

Being asked to be involved in this, was an honor. A colleague through the Greater Maryland Decorative Artisans Group, had appointed me and another colleague as co-captains, heading up 15-18 other decorative artists. Our team was in charge of the 3 upstairs bedrooms.

Talk about a roller coaster of events! We were originally slated to start work on Wednesday, but due to weather and delays in the build, Friday at 9pm was our time to shine. Slept in, expecting to pull an all nighter, to an e-mail at 8:30am Friday morning that stated we were expected on site for 10:30am... Oops! I was in VA, and needed to hussle back. Through all the rushing back, we sat around till about 6pm before we could start, but this is the name of the game. I LOVED IT!

I really can't remember much while we were creating our portion. There were painters, painting ceilings above us. Tech guys under the ladders, installing wires and then everyone else piled into the room.

My experience on the Extreme Makeover, Home Edition was incredible. Every volunteer on the site had dedication, drive and passion for these 7 young ladies. Some volunteer's hadn't slept in over 3 days, but were committed to completing their portion of the job. We were all creating a space for opportunities for their future, making a difference that will last a life time.

If anything I would challenge you to volunteering once before the summer is out, I'm certain it'll change your life, and impact another. Go ahead Volunteer one day before the summers out!

House Paint Touch Up Tips

2010-04-16T21:02:00.000-04:00

It's spring time and we're all getting our houses in order.

When you go to touch up your walls this spring follow these tips:
-Make sure the paint is at room temperature.
-Look for any separation in the paint, and smell. If this is present, than the paint is bad. Time to get a new quart for touch up.
-Try a magic eraser on walls first. I've had a client us a magic eraser on the ceiling to remove wine stains, and it saved her bundles of money.
-When applying the paint, 'feather' out the paint. Meaning, don't 'dab' it. You want to make sure that there's no distinct line. When it dries, it'll look seamless if you feather it.
-Don't use the roller! That's considered 'dabbed'! It'll look awful, so pick up the brush, instead and feather it out.

How to Paint the Perfect Little Girls Room

2010-04-13T20:50:00.000-04:00

With a little imagination, you can create the perfect little girls room with paint in no time.

This themed room is suppose to look like the outside of a doll house. The walls are painted with a pale pink, then with a darker shade of Pink Folk Art Paint, that you can buy at Michael's or Jo-Anne Fabrics, horizontal free formed lines were created to appear as if they were siding on a building. Then with light green Leaves were applied, then tulips were sprinkled in to give a light delicate feel that will get any little girls imagination going long after she's asleep.

To top off this doll house room painting, hang watering cans, and umbrellas from the ceiling.

For a mininal cost, this painted room idea can go along way.

How to Remove Paint off Ladders Video

2010-04-12T20:30:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you have a ladder that's covered in paint, or when your working on a project, paint drops on your ladder and you leave the paint to dry... well once you watch this, you'll see why its so important to remove paint off your ladder...

How to Get Paint out of Carpets

2010-04-06T13:28:00.004-04:00

Materials:
Baby Wipes
Water Bottle
Razor Blade

We all make mistakes, and get paint on the carpet while painting. The best way to get paint out of carpets while it's still wet, is to use baby wipes. Yes, baby wipes, the same things you use on your precious little bums, will take paint out of your carpets... lets not even think if it can do that, what it could be doing their little bums.

This works great for the little drops and splatters of paint. I find it useful to always have baby wipes handy while painting.

Blotting, and massaging out the paint with baby wipes, then using water to flush out the rest of the paint works the best for getting paint out of the carpet while it's still wet.

If the paint has dried, a great way to get paint out, is to use a razor blade and gentle cut out the paint, then feather out the carpet fibers, and no one will ever notice!

Happy Paint removal!

How to Paint Wallpaper: Save Time & Get it DONE!

2010-04-05T12:12:00.004-04:00

Don't remove that old dingy wallpaper of yours if you don't need to! Paint over that wallpaper to give your room a whole new look and feel. It's easier than you would think. Follow these steps:

Materials:
Wallpaper paste/Glue
Caulking
Vinyl Spackling
150 Grit Sandpaper
TSP
Oil primer-Like Sherwin-Williams ProBlock
Latex primer

1.Look over the wallpaper to see what condition it's in. Make sure that there's no lifting, or tears. If there are use the wallpaper paste or glue to paste down lifting spots.

2.Next look at the seams of the wallpaper. Make sure any noticeable gaps you fill in with the Vinyl Spackling. This will give you a great finish when you apply the paint.

3. Caulk the ceiling, base boards and corners. This gives you a polished look, and if there's any lifting in the wallpaper, the caulking will hold it down, and will minimize the seams in the wallpaper.

4. Now sand and rough up the patches. If there's any sort of raised pattern or shean, scuff it up now.

5. Wipe down the walls with TSP, to make sure all dirt and dust is off.

6. Prime the walls with your Oil primer-Like Sherwin-Williams ProBlock. Make sure this layer gets to dry fully. Once it's dried, make sure that the paper is not bubling or lifting. If you'll have any problems, with your finish project, it'll be here in the priming stage.

7. The step you have been waiting for, painting! Go ahead and apply your paint. A flat, eggshell or satin works great to give you the best final project. You can even do a faux finish for a whole new looking room.

The Many Colors of the 2010 Olympic Games

2010-02-23T21:36:00.006-05:00

As we all sit eyes glued to the television watching these amazing athletes compete at an event of a lifetime, you may not realize how the strategic placement of color helps aid in your visual excitement of these 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

It's not mistake that from curling to biathlon, skiing and everything in between the colors above have been prominent. The colors that have been chosen are an interesting twist off the Olympic ring colors, and have been placed in a way to make even the most mundane sports visually stimulating.

As you can see of the athletes above, notice all the vibrant greens and blues in the banners, ice rings, etc., mixed in with the added vibrant uniforms of the countries. With all this combined it creates an energetic backdrop and focal point to make even you at home, visually stimulated and excited. This was by no means a mistake.

So next time your watching the Olympics, remember that some marketing geniuses spent hours on the color selections and placement of color to help aid in the you excitement of watching the games. Happy viewing!

Quilts, Patterns & Fabric, OH MY!

2010-02-17T19:18:00.003-05:00

Stumbling upon a find like this, really NEVER happens, and when it does, you have to jump upon it.

Growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, around a seamstress and many quilters in the family, I started sewing and quilting before I really can remember. My grandmother decided that she HAD to teach me how to use the sewing machine, since I started to teach myself, and you know what could potentially happen there... fingers getting stuck! Yikes! That had to be around when I was 5. I can even remember the first quilt I made, it was the Ohio Star.

Needless to say I have a great appreciation for the time and passion that goes into each end every quilt. Every quilt carries a story with it, every quilt have a 'mistake from God' (there always ends up being a 'mistake' and it's acceptable, well that's what's been passed down through generations, that the mistake was a gift from God.). I can only imagine the stories that were told during the making of the quilts. I know for myself, summers were spent quilting and sewing around my Mom, Grandmother, Aunts and Cousins, laughing and sharing.

For me handmade quilts are so much more than 'just' an item, they carry a story, and with that being said, I came across this collection of quilts, and fell in love.

Imagine the stories behind them, the bond that women(or men) could have shared during and after the creation of these quilts.

Take a look!

Resturant Update | Adding a SPLASH of Color!

2010-02-16T10:55:00.004-05:00

Today is the clam before the storm... energy's brewing, and things are moving. Tomorrow marks the day for the start of a restaurant re-do.

This once tiered, outdated restaurant is getting torn apart and thrown back together, with a vibrant splashes of color with touches of faux finishes and murals added in.

Here's a sneak peak of how the restaurant looks now, and some general color/design concepts that's going to take place.

Don't forget to follow us on twitter: @tremblaydesign for up to date progress!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T08:08:00.003-05:00

We took painting skills from decorative painting on walls, and transferred it to cookie making... that's right. It was heaven. 2 little hands helping make valentine cookie perfection. What could be better?

Happy Valentine's Day... put down the paint brush today and make something sweet...

Stairwell Painting | Adding Color to Large Walls

2010-02-13T15:35:00.004-05:00

Here's the perfect solution for adding a splash of color to a large stairwell. So many houses have an open floor plan that includes wide open spaces, that adding color and selecting the right painting can be a challenge.

One of the best ways to find the right size, is using a hollow door that you can purchase from Home Depot or Lowes.

Splash some color the the unfinished door after it's primed, attach hooks and WA LA! An instant splash of color on a large intimidating space.

Adding a Special Touch to an Open Floor Plan

2010-02-09T09:09:00.004-05:00

Most homes now are faced with the challenge of planning colors for an open floor plan. The most common question then is "How do you add personality into different areas while having an open floor plan"? For this home, that has no clear division lines, to split up the straight painting, we turned to the ceiling to add personality.

To create personality for this dining room, we added a hand painted vine, in very faint neutral colors. It's important when adding decorative painting to an open floor plan, to keep in mind that the wall colors should appear in the decorative painting to keep the colors harmonized.

Now this dining room has it's own personality through a custom, hand painting vine.

Cabinets Re-Finishing | Easy Update

2010-02-07T17:26:00.005-05:00

There are easy ways that you can cut corners when you are remodeling your home. One of the best ways is to salvage you old cabinets and give them a new updated look, with half the cost.

Here's the cabinets before they were painted. Still in good condition, solid wood, but the style of the counter top and fixtures really dated this bathroom.

My client loves hand painted furniture so I took clues from what she had around her home already, as inspiration for the bathroom vanity.

After a few coats of paint, some decorative painting, these once dated cabinets got a much needed update with a price tag that can't compete with re-finishing a vanity.

Stay tuned to more posts/tutorials on the very popular idea of using the cabinets that you already have.

SNOW Day FUN!

2010-02-06T14:17:00.002-05:00

The one thing that's been tough living in the Mid-Atlantic region has been the lack of snow, which means a lack of playing in the snow, AND playing in the snow is the best thing in the world... so this decorative painter got her fill on playing in the snow.

Here's today's castle in the snow... now for a quick nap before another round of shoveling and playing in the snow.

22 FOOT Hand Painted Ceiling

2010-02-05T20:27:00.003-05:00

Overcoming fears of heights, has to be done when you're attempting to paint a center piece in foyer... here's the ceiling...

Christmas Time = Present Time

2009-12-23T15:03:00.003-05:00

I know, I know. Christmas is right around the corner... but I have to share one of the projects that I did for the $40.00 Christmas challenge... Painted wine glasses! Friends & family, cover your eyes ;)! How perfect! Bicycle wine glasses! Happy Holidays!

$40.00 Christmas Present Challenge

2009-12-04T10:08:00.008-05:00

Who's up for the challenge? What is it you ask? For all you do-it-yourselvers, crafters and creatives alike why don't we use "stuff" we have to make Christmas Presents!

Rules: You have $40.00 to spend on all the materials, wrappings etc. The $40.00 is for ALL gifts. No matter if your making 1 or 100 gifts, that's the amount you can spend.

I'll post the gifts I've made after I've given them out, since most of my friends get notification of what I'm doing.

Keep us posted on what gifts you have been making for friends and family.

I'm off to screen print my Christmas cards on paper I already own!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T06:31:00.002-05:00

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day filled with friends, family and happiness... and maybe even on this Thanksgiving Day, there will be painting fun!

Wishing everyone the best!

Coffee Talk & The Perfect Color

2009-11-17T07:28:00.005-05:00

Many of us have this problem, and it's not a bad one, of LOVING coffee! As I'm drinking my cup this morning, it hit me that the color of coffee, I drink mine with way more milk & sugar than coffee, is the perfect color for walls especially in the living room, family room or study!

My color pick is Diverse Beige from Sherwin Williams, as the best color match for the perfect cup of coffee. I've used it in many applications and it's worked like a charm every time. The neutral color suggests a casual elegance that's sophisticated and warm.

If you're a lover of off-white, white and gray paint, than give Diverse Beige from Sherwin Williams a try. It will be a neutral backdrop for your furnature, and it'll be visually interesting.

Good Morning, and happy coffee drinking!

Wallpaper vs. Painted Surfaces

2009-11-12T11:35:00.007-05:00

It's a hot topic right now in the design world. Why would you use a decorative painter, when I can use wallpaper? The answer is really simple... you can't achieve the layers, effects, colors and custom design with wallpaper like you can't with paint.

Right now the trend with wallpaper is bringing back the mixed patterns and colors of the 70s. This trend has made the decorative painters shift their portfolio to add unique textures and patterns that can't be found with wallpapers.

I'm fairly certain given a cape and gallon of paint, I could save the world!

2009-10-31T19:26:00.003-04:00

Article in PWC

2009-10-25T11:03:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share this with everyone... Kami Tremblay Design was mentioned in the September/October issue of The Painting and Wall covering Contractor. The article's called "looking Up" written by Eileen Smith Dallabrida, what a wonderful job she did.

To Prime or not to Prime?

2009-10-24T08:21:00.006-04:00

This is a question I've been asked a lot this week from clients. "Do I really need to prime the walls? It's an extra step, I want it done now!"

It may take some extra time and money, but to get results like the pros, PRIME!

Here's why:
Primer seals the walls. It creates a layer that allows your next layer of paint to lay on thicker, richer and allows your final coats to look smoth and uniform. You'll block stains and odors, prevent peeling, and have an easier time top coating.

Getting a Professional look:
Spot Prime: If your walls only have a few imperfections, than you can spot prime. This means hitting the few areas on the wall that needs sealing. I.E crayon stains, bare Sheetrock, patched walls.

Sand Glossy Surfaces: You'll need to hit any surface that had semi-gloss, or gloss on it. By scuffing it, you'll give the surface some tooth for the paint to adhere to. You may even want to hit it with primer to add even more adhesion.

Dramatic Color Changes: To get the color you see on the chart, the correct primer is needed to achieve that. When trying to achieve a rich, dark, vibrant color, have the paint store tint the primer around the same color that you're painting. This will cut down the number of coats that you'll need and will give you an amazing final look! It's similar when going dark to light. You'll want to prime the walls with the correct primer, usually just white to achive the correct color.

There's no way around it. PRIME! Here's 2 of my favorite primers that have always given me the best results.

Harmony® Wall Primer from Sherwin Williams:

"Need an environmentally preferred primer for walls and trim?Harmony is made with an exclusive zero-VOC, low-odor and formulated without silica."

Multi-Purpose Latex Primer from Sherwin Williams:

A general-utility primer ideal for both interior and exterior applications. Its wide versatility and strong adhesion properties make it a universal favorite – plus it works without the solvent odors and high VOCs common with most stain-blocking primers.

Just in time for a weekend painting project... prime, paint and ENJOY! Happy Painting!

Sophisticated Wall: Greet your guests with Style

2009-10-13T19:37:00.006-04:00

What does your wall say to your guests when they walk into your home? This home greets their guests with a splash of energy and sophistication. The min guests walk into the house, they know there welcomed.

One may ask what faux finish product was used for this wall. The answer is simple. Pure paint, and good old simple products that you can't find on the shelf of sophisticated faux finishers. I'm an artist, who pushes products to get results that aren't right out of the can... and that's the way I like it...

Embossed Painted Stairs: Adding a Special touch to a dull area

2009-10-13T08:27:00.004-04:00

Sometimes hallways can't always shine the way the rest of your homes decor shines due to the lack of wall space and floor space. These home owners, wanted to add something extra to their hallway, and add some pizazz.
This was an interesting challenge. Since it's an older home in the Homeland area in Baltimore, I didn't want whatever we decided to do, jump out and clash with the style of the home. The final result was to do an embossed painted look, that picked up the banister colors. When you look closer there is a hint of gold to add some light in this somewhat dark hallway.

It was a happy ending for this hallway and an interesting way to surprise any guest when they arrive.

Painted Pumpinks Today

2009-10-12T18:55:00.004-04:00

Everyone one needs a little recharge every once in awhile. Well up in PA on a farm was where I found that recharge to happen for today. Regardless of the clouds and grayness outside, the fresh air and autumn scenery was just what the doctor ordered for this decorative painter.

Now who wouldn't enjoy spending time in a place as charming as this?

Embossed stairwell: decorative painted with holds blacks and reds

2009-10-09T12:13:00.004-04:00

Greet your guests with style. Red textured wall with gold highlights

2009-10-07T19:55:00.002-04:00

Oil decorative painted kitchen backsplash

2009-10-03T12:52:00.002-04:00

Greet your guests with style. Red textured wall with gold highlights

2009-09-28T10:20:00.002-04:00

The Meaning of Painting and Clients for Me

2009-08-28T18:59:00.003-04:00

Some days as an entrepreneur, decorative painter, it's tough. Making sure you have enough jobs in the pipeline, keeping up with e-mails and follow-ups. But it's the times when even 'mundane' straight painting can bring such joy to a client, give your purpose and all the 'tough' days disappear.

Back Entrance Way Floral Mural

2009-08-26T13:52:00.008-04:00

I'm now realizing for the second time that every project I do, and every color I use ends up being my favorite. With that being said, lets take a peek at my new favorite mural project of the week.

Every project has an exciting story behind it. The addition/renovation of this house was about 2 years ago, and ever since then, the homeowners have always talked about placing a mural within this space, since the walkway really doesn't allow for pictures to be hung. Well they got their wish about having a mural! The best part, is they have no idea. Lets see how long it'll take them to figure out it's there! I'm not good at surprises, and lets hope they're not following my twitter updates or blog.

Back Entrance Way: Before Mural

Being from Georgia, this house has the look and feel to be found on the pages of Southern Living. I knew that this mural couldn't be just ANYthing, but had to have a sophisticated look and feel, like something you would find in Southern Living.

My inspiration came from hand painted Chinese silk paintings, and kept with muted colors and some hints of saturated color here and there. Taking hints from the way homeowners decorate is a huge key an help when you are deciding how to design your mural. This homeowner likes to use muted wall colors, and accessorize with pops of color, and that's where my color decision came from. I also decided to do this mural in Oil paint.

Back Entrance Way: After Mural

Floral oil Painting for Sale

2009-08-18T19:07:00.005-04:00

That's right... I started an E-bay account today, to help fund the trip to Worlds for Michael Schiavone's on the US National Team to Australia. It's actually very big, measuring 36x48. It's the first in the series that I've been doing. Part of me really wanted to just try E-bay to see if it works, and then if it does, to raise money for Michel's trip...
Michael Schiavone's Story for Worlds

E-bay Link to BID!

Helping Clients Better Visualize a Mural Project

2009-08-13T08:15:00.006-04:00

We all know that murals can be quite the investment, and clients should have a great understanding of what you're going to create for them before they sign on the dotted line. This not only protects the artist, but also the client since both parties knows what's going to be delivered.

I've found that taking an actual picture of the room or wall, then placing the sketches within the photo and using past projects can be a great visualization for the client, and it's fun too! It's a sneak peak to what can happen and the beginning to a master piece!

Here's a sample sketch for a chalkboard wall with slated stones and wood for a small engine shop... I'm already excited, and it's only a quick sketch!

Your goal is to generalize the feel for the mural. Since these are inicial sketches, let your client then determine what direction they want to go in.

CloseUp: Painted Faux Marble Columns

2009-07-06T22:26:00.001-04:00

Faux Fireplace:Marblized

2009-07-06T22:21:00.003-04:00

This is REALLY hard to make out, but the top 1/2 of the fireplace was painted to look like marble. It's very faint. We didn't want the faux marble to be overwhelming... but subtle. The straight paint was to stark, and this dressed everything up.

Marblizing Walls in Action

2009-07-06T22:17:00.002-04:00

Painted Granite

2009-07-06T22:15:00.001-04:00

Mabled Columns

2009-07-06T21:46:00.003-04:00

May Color of the Month

2009-05-20T10:06:00.003-04:00

May's color of the month is, Grandiose From Sherwin Williams.

What a great way to keep spring around with this muted out green. Add accents in creamy whites and olives.

May 2009 Newsletter is out!

2009-05-13T09:53:00.006-04:00

This months newsletter covered, Inspirations for Bathrooms. Have you been daring with color in your bathroom? Bathrooms are the first place to look, if you have a bold wallpaper, or paint color you's been dying to try. These little, often forgot about spaces, can entertain any house guest when you apply the right decor to the walls, and keep them coming back for more.

5 Affordable Updates using Decorative Painting

2009-05-13T07:19:00.010-04:00

1. Do the base coat: To keep costs down, ask around to your family and friends, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone who is willing to help you base coat. Then the artistic work can be done.

2. If the wall paint is less than 1.5 years old: We can work with the existing wall base color, to do a color change, and you can instantly have a different room! (Photo Below: Room started off as the 'builder' white, and 3 layers were added to create faux)

3. Have a 'decorative boarder' added around a room: This works great in any room. Most clients have done this in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms. When you add a vine, or flowers to any wall color, you instantly get a different feel, and colors you never knew will start to shine through the room.

4. Paint the ceiling: That's right, look up in your home. These often neglected spots in the home are a sure way to give any space a 'wow' factor with out re-doing the whole room, with minimal costs compared to a whole-room re-paint.

5. Add a Decorative Accent wall: This allows you to have a whole new room, with only changing one thing, for a dramatic change.

The Making of Chip's Pizza Place

2009-04-20T18:30:00.004-04:00

So here's the making of Chip's Pizza place, in Forest Hill, MD. It'll be opened around May 1st, so be sure to get a slice of the best pizza in the world, made by Italians!

Black Zebra Print Mural

2009-04-20T18:29:00.001-04:00

Soon to be applied to a wall!

Papered Walls & Faux, a Perfect Fit!

2009-04-04T18:26:00.002-04:00

Little Teady Bears Nursury Mural

2009-04-01T10:00:00.002-04:00

Faux Painted Accent Wall, FINISHED!

2009-03-15T10:07:00.003-04:00

Here it is! The pictures are a bit blurry, I'll get better ones. The comments from people who walked in the house, was incredible. Comments like 'When did they have time to tile the wall?", "That's not paint!?"... followed by going up to touch the wall! I used all Sherwin Williams paint, no decorative painting fancy stuff, straight paint. This is a great accent wall, and fills the need of wanting a stacked brick wall, without the hassle or expense of real stone and installation.

Faux Stacked Brick Wall

2009-02-19T19:32:00.002-05:00

Here's a before and after of the sitting room... I'm working on the faux bricks in the shelving area right now.

You Pick the Name: New Faux

2009-01-28T16:21:00.005-05:00

Once again, here I go trying to break the mold of traditional faux finishes. I developed this finish for a very special client of mine. They have no restrictions when it comes to texture, deep colors and shimmers. So that's what I gave them, and we ended up with an ultra rich finish with tones of lavender, so refreshing I'm not sure if they'll leave the bathroom(I'm joking ;))

I was asked on this project what my favorite project has been. If you've been following the blog it would seems as if the latest post would be my latest favorite... but it's the truth. If you can find joy in everything you do, then why not have your latest project be your favorite! I was taught at the Maryland Institute, by a drawing teacher, that you are going to create things in life that you're not going to enjoy, and you better find a way to enjoy it. In adition you must create as if it's the best idea in the world... and it usually ends up the best idea in the world, until the next project.

The bottom photo is the guest bathroom down stairs, demostrating the fearlessness in texture/ shimmers and richness in color.

Preview your room with a Faux Finish

2009-01-27T11:53:00.008-05:00

I've finally sat down and discovered how to show clients how their room will somewhat look. By photographing my finishes, and using tools from a designer program. This way I'm able to give clients a feel for what certain textures and colors will feel like. Sometimes it's a huge jump going from white walls to color, so here's our answer!

Busy, Busy...Making Life Easier one Step at a Time

2009-01-26T12:57:00.005-05:00

We all know how hard it is to keep up with our own schedules, never mind trying to coordinate times to meet with others, that are outside our immediate bubble.

I've found that in decorative painting, you always have great ideas for your home, but never have the time to sit down and plan the project. I'll get you one step closer to making your dreams turn into reality by applying a calendar to my website with select times that are available for consults. This way times are clearly displayed and meetings can be made, with easy.

Please feel free to let me know how you like this new feature of scheduling your decorative painting consultation.

Try it out for yourself: www.kamitremblaydesign.com

Carrisa & Laura's Bedroom

2009-01-21T19:07:00.009-05:00

You can see the progression starting with the last photo... (I will upload the pictures that got missed when blogger is fixed... Sorry)

We started with a general concept board, but that changed during the painting of the room. I do have another sample board depicting the plaid for the bottom of the wall.

We were going to keep the room in a pink and white theme, but then while I was painting I realized that I'm all for pretend, but this pretend wasn't right! The trees looked sick without leaves! Like something got into the water... so leaves it was.

Talk about a sophisticated look for 2 little girls!

Suzie's Kitchen is done

2009-01-21T18:59:00.003-05:00

For all you cycling fans, check out the bike and the like (www.bikeandthelike.com). It's Suzie, my client's cycling touring company. I can't wait to head out on one of them!

Alright, now for the decorative painting part. Suzie's kitchen is done! I'll be taking better pictures, these don't do it justice at all!

Suzie decided that she liked the branches and flowers to be more faint, and I think that was an excellent idea to keep things faint.

Orchaid Inspired Kitchen Mural | Sample board

2009-01-13T19:31:00.009-05:00

Here's a proof of a kitchen mural I will be doing. It was inspired by this arched wall that I had previously done. Instead of reproducing the previous mural I mixed up the colors with light peaches and apricots vs the neutral colors. It'll be interesting to see this up against the cabinets that are in the kitchen. I have a feeling that it will make the kitchen flow more rather than be choppy.

I used faux techniques mixed in with traditional painting techniques to create this sample board. These proofs are getting so much fun to do. My client wanted to keep this and frame it... and it's not the first time this has happened.

Off to bed to paint this tomorrow in my clients home!

The art of LESS is MORE: Ruby’s Nursery

2009-01-12T19:57:00.006-05:00

We all love the challenge of re-inventing the wheel... because it is possible (right?!). This was my chance to reinvent the lovely birds and branches we always see. The challenge was making it soft enough for the new baby, Ruby, but not making it to girly girl, and tying in the Dwell Studio sheets from Target.

The end result is a room that has a zesty pop, yet calming feel all in one breath. How did I accomplish that? I put a pop of color on the ceiling and window wall. This wall already had a bit of action on it with the window, and the dormer style roof slope, so that’s where I put the ‘accent’ color. To balance off the boldness of the green I added a soft latte color for the surrounding 3 walls.

For the branches and birds, I created a template of 3 birds that I created free-hand to keep the sizes consistent through out the room. Since the green was bold and the branches holding the birds could be too busy for the size of the room, I decided on picking 3 spots around the room to place the branches and birds. I also made a template out of circles on my computer, printed it out and cut them out as a template that also picked up the circle pattern in the bedding to sit as flowers in the trees. If you look closely you will notice that the green flowers are not the same color as the ceiling. I used a lighter value to give the room some movement without changing to much. White flowers were also added to give some depth from keeping things from looking too flat.

Wa-la! We have a little girls nursery all ready for her when she gets here in April!

P.S.- I had to top off the room with 2 little birds flying off!

New Website!

2008-07-28T20:54:00.002-04:00

Visit my new website... www.kamitremblaydesign.com

Gray Marble

2008-03-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

Guest Bathroom

2008-03-05T18:01:00.001-05:00

Interior Design done by Kimberly McCarl of Interior Concepts

Kitchen

2008-03-05T18:00:00.001-05:00

Interior Design done by Kimberly McCarl of Interior Concepts

Master Bathroom

2008-03-05T17:58:00.002-05:00

Interior Design done by Kimberly McCarl of Interior Concepts

Circles Delight| Ever little girls dream

2008-03-05T17:55:00.001-05:00

Textured Sample Boards:Blue Tones

2008-02-28T19:39:00.001-05:00

Textured Sample Boards:Pink/Rose

2008-02-28T19:38:00.001-05:00

Magnolia Sample Board

2008-02-28T19:36:00.001-05:00

Almost Done!

2008-02-28T19:34:00.001-05:00

USWCDP Jersey Design

2008-02-21T19:31:00.005-05:00

Seeing how most of you are involved in my cycling. I wanted to show you our newest creation that we have added to the US Women's Cycling Development Program. Our new Jerseys! I designed them earlier this week, and we have gotten gotten awesome responses! Like always if anyone is interested in sponsoring the USWCDP.org please let me know! When they go into production I'll be sure to let everyone know, so you can get one! We are also are going GREEN!

High End Barber Shop: Baltimore, MD

2008-02-21T19:17:00.003-05:00

Here's the shop I'm working in right now. Today I added vertical stripes on the left hand wall in a brown that was used on the opposite wall faux. When I first approached the job, it looked like something i could just knock out. Oops. Looks can be deceiving! There is over 1,600 square feet of walls, including the bathrooms. In the end it's going to be worth it. The Chairs and booths that are going in are black, and very streamed lined. We are keeping the floors cement to keep with the industrial feeling with the exposed pipes. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress. I love getting involved with fresh start-ups like this!

New Coordinating Faux's

2008-02-15T10:24:00.005-05:00

This is how the house looks when I develop the sample boards. I'm very lucky to have a wonderful guy who understands that it might get messy sometimes in the house!

Wall Finished!

2008-02-07T16:56:00.001-05:00

Dining Room: Vines

2008-02-07T16:53:00.001-05:00

Grape Vines

2008-02-07T16:51:00.001-05:00

Commissioned Canvas: Framed and Hung!

2008-02-04T20:24:00.001-05:00

Spring Edition: New Faux Technique

2008-02-04T20:18:00.001-05:00

Dining Room:

2008-01-31T19:49:00.001-05:00

I'm super excited for tomorrow! I'll be adding a motif on the ceiling! There is green tile in the entrance way, so I'm going to tie it in the dining room. Let's hope for the best!

Cherry Blossoms: Day 3

2008-01-31T19:40:00.001-05:00

This is a work in progress, for sure! Once I get the dining room done, I'll make my final decision on how I want to finish this off.

Cherry Blossom's: Work in Progres

2008-01-29T20:10:00.001-05:00

Goddard School: White Marsh MD: Work in Progress

2008-01-14T20:30:00.001-05:00

Holiday Cards are OUT!

2008-01-03T09:43:00.001-05:00

Painted Stripes

2008-01-03T09:40:00.002-05:00

At the end of the month, I will be adding a glaze over the top of the stripes to lessen the contrast, and make it more neutral than it is now. This room was designed by Kimberly McCarl, of Interior Concepts in Annapolis MD.

Stenciled and Fauxed bathroom

2008-01-03T09:38:00.002-05:00

This bathroom is in process. Not only does it have a matte glaze, I also added a shimmer glaze that adds even more depth than a regular faux.

Decorating for the Holidays

2008-01-03T09:33:00.002-05:00

We had to get the biggest tree, we have high ceilings!

Leather Faux

2008-01-03T09:21:00.002-05:00

These are the same stripes that were shown in the previous post. The lighter stripe leads into the hallway creating another good merge between colors, but also adds an interesting twist in size and form.

Fauxed Stripe

2008-01-03T09:17:00.002-05:00

Before:
After: I used the same technique that was used in the sun room, and created the red stripe. After I did the red stripe I used the same faux in the sun room and created a smoke look over the stripes. It tied in everything wonderfully!

Venitian Plaster

2008-01-03T09:14:00.002-05:00

This house is am amazing. Not to many people can pull off an all white/off-white color scheme in there house. This one works beautifully. It's really hard to see the marble like surface on that back wall.

The Living Room

2008-01-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

Michael always gets the really dirty jobs, or stuck with cleaning.
This is what it looks like for now. Just the beginning...
Me fauxing the fireplace, with an off-white glaze. We like green, but this hue is way to intense, so we thought by adding a neutral color the intensity would soften, and it did. I really should have been in bed, but things like this keep me up at night.
This picture is hard to see. I re-did the painting about the fireplace to add more color and texture in the house.
This is a better view of the painting. Oh, and that's my dress making model

The Bathroom

2008-01-03T08:56:00.002-05:00

More skim coating. Check out that color!

Before the new floor!

The Kitchen: It has a color curse

2008-01-03T08:50:00.002-05:00

Michael took the hard job and spray painted the cabinets.
I painted the 1st of many coats of paint to touch these walls. The space is so small that dark colors intrude on you, you'll see what we ended up with!
It was worth a try! I sampled a faux on the back wall!?! What was I thinking! It was late.
In the process of laying down the floor.
Bamm! This is our new kitchen floor! Notice the wall color! Looks good with the floor, but to dark!

The Office/ Art Room

2008-01-03T08:48:00.002-05:00

The Bedroom Process

2008-01-03T08:44:00.002-05:00

I had to skim coat all the walls, and tape, and... you name it!
The joys of being a decorative painter. I had some left over brown suede paint from Sherwin Williams, so I treated the walls, after they were primed with a brown primer.
The final product! Yay, one room is done!

The Process of our House!

2008-01-03T08:37:00.001-05:00

Look what I decided to move us into!?

Park Place- Annapolis MD: Kitchen

2008-01-03T08:32:00.002-05:00

It's so hard to photograph Faux Finishes. Take your pick on what looks better, I wanted to show what it looked like with a flash and without.

Junior Achievement of Central Maryland

2008-01-03T08:23:00.001-05:00

Clouds in the walkway to the work city, look at the website and it's explained. Really neat!

http://maryland.ja.org/

What is Junior Achievement?

Mission Statement

Junior Achievement's purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives.

Description

Junior Achievement (JA) is a non-profit educational organization that partners with the education and business communities to teach kids in grades K-12 about business and economics, and help them become workforce ready. JA connects elementary, middle, and high schools with adult volunteers to teach students how to succeed in school and in life.

If you would like to volenteer contact Diana Chapin: 443.394.7211

Orchid Potting Room

2008-01-03T08:20:00.004-05:00

Motivational Switch Plate Covers

2008-01-03T08:15:00.001-05:00

Who wouldn't want to be reminded about there favorite quote when walking into a room! These light switches are decoupaged with all my favorite types of patterns and colors topped off with an encouraging saying. They are for sale at Wholly Terra in Hampden, Baltimore, MD. I will also have them on a website with a shopping cart in the future, I have to build up to it.

Park Place- Annapolis MD

2008-01-03T08:10:00.001-05:00

This was the day before Move in for the family. All hand stenciled, mixed in with vertical stripes!

Tuscany Kitchen: Olive Grove

2007-07-27T21:46:00.001-04:00

Before:
After:

Look hand painted light switch covers!

Intergrated Foyer

2007-07-26T19:00:00.002-04:00

Here we have the first step of the faux. I then taped off 6 inch stripes to intergrate all the colors in the open floor plan.

Modern Living

2007-07-26T18:56:00.002-04:00

The First Stage. The first solution is not always the best solution...
We're getting closer, but it's still not working...

The room has been put together, yet it's still not working!
Ahh, finally! The accent wall works with the room! Always try new solutions... it's only paint!

Fish Bathroom

2007-07-26T18:51:00.003-04:00