My Home- Decorative Painting Advice From Leslie Sinclair!

As I mentioned in my previous post (here), Leslie Sinclair of Segreto Finishes is an extraordinarily generous woman. She ever so graciously offered me invaluable advice on a design dilemma I have been pondering over and had no idea how to address. The problem I posed to Leslie is-

When you have a home that is run of the mill, very architecturally unexciting, how can a paint finish be used to bring character to a room?  And, how do you incorporate this look into the house?  In other words, say you just do the living room- will that room then look out of place or look awkward within the context of the whole house?


As an example, I would love to do just one or two rooms in my own house but I am not sure if it would stick out like a sore thumb as the balance of the house would be just paint over dry wall.

Well, a series of emails ensued with my sending over photos of my interiors, the layout of the rooms, the ceilings, how the rooms tied together, the paint colors and so on. Now my home is nothing remotely as beautiful or high end as the homes Leslie has designed for. I have to say I cringed at the idea of her seeing my home as it greatly pales in comparison to the homes she works on every day. But, Leslie was endlessly encouraging and kind and indeed persuaded me that there is hope for my cookie cutter house yet!  Here are her suggestions for taking my living room and dining room from ordinary to extraordinary!! And, still have flow and continuity throughout.

The foyer which opens to the upstairs as well as to the living room and the hall leading to the family room.  The house is 2 levels with all the bedrooms on the second floor.

Here is the living room. The coffee table is antique English scrubbed pine.   The screen is antique French with a lovely hand painted scene which sadly is becoming more faded with time. My photos are not professional which becomes painfully obvious when compared to Leslie's beautifully photographed rooms!

 

 

 Looking into the living room from the dining room

 

 Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray Paint

Looking into the living room from the dining room. Neither room is large but the flow is good and both rooms get a good bit of natural light. These rooms are the only ones with crown molding and there is a chair rail in the dining room. The walls in both rooms and throughout the lower level with the exception of the hall and foyer are painted Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore. Below the chair rail is a darker gray but I don't recall the paint color. Here, the chalk painted settee (see that story here) is sitting between the dining room and living room until it finds a new home.

 

 Another view of the dining room

 

 From the dining room, a glimpse into the family room. I hope to finish my chairs to resemble Leslie's which you will see later in the post.

 
Looking from the family room down the hall to the front door. The two doors on the right are to
a closet and basement.

 
 Looking the opposite way down the hall into the family room

 
The family room which opens into one large space which includes the kitchen and breakfast area. This entire space also has lots of windows providing plenty of natural light.

 


 






Remember the pewter I purchased at auction here?

Here are Leslie's suggestions for adding visual interest and character to my living room and dining room through decorative paint finishes.

You have a very open floor plan so I think that the colors being consistent is very important. I would wrap the wall color onto the ceiling in all areas especially where you don't have the crown molding.

Here are several different options to consider:

Option 1:

I would plaster your living and dining room walls and ceiling both in the same color.  I would probably use a blue-gray darker than your main house color (Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore).  I would paint out the chair rail the same color as the plaster or remove it so as not to separate the rooms.  My favorite plaster is USG Diamond plaster- I would do it in a smooth finish.  It is not a product to do alone or if you have no experience so I don't know if that's an option in your area. 

 

Here, we did wax the ceiling to give it more reflective value since the ceilings are low. This gorgeous home will soon be featured in Decor Magazine!

 

This dining room is another example of Option 1. 

Option 2:

Faux the living room and dining room in a very soft glaze to emulate plaster. You could just do the walls but paint the ceilings your main home color.  Start with BM Stonington Gray latex eggshell as a base.  Mix SW 7650 with glaze and do a wash on the walls, trying not to have big wash or rag marks, just softly.  Then go back over when dry with this glaze mixed with Stonington Gray to lighten the glaze by half.  This softens the effect and acts like an eraser getting rid of any lines.  Here is an example. 

 

Option 3:  Which could be in addition to Option 1 or 2 

Paint your crown differently in these 2 areas or just your dining room to separate the spaces from the entrance hall.  If you just treat your dining room leave your living room the color of the main home and paint the ceiling that same color.  Pick a color much darker for the walls and ceiling of your dining room.  An example of this:

 

 My Music Room

and

 My Dining Room

Option 4:

A stencil design in the dining room.  If you really want a pattern in the dining room you could stencil the walls.  I would keep it very tone on tone like the feel of a Rose Tarlow fabric. I might stencil the ceiling or do a line detail rather the walls. 

 

  

I love the flow between your living and dining rooms- such a great entertaining space. Because these two rooms read as one I think you should move the two side couches closer to the coffee table so you can walk between the rooms- you might even get a smaller coffee table that is taller in height.

-Leslie-

Well, as you might imagine I am thrilled to have so many wonderful options!  I love them all and will need to think long and hard to decide which is the best choice.  I cannot thank Leslie enough- I feel as though I have been gifted with a personal consultation (in fact, lucky, lucky me, I have)!!  I do believe though, everyone can benefit from Leslie's advice. By studying the layout of your rooms and how they flow together and grasping the big picture, we all can perhaps achieve a bit of Segreto magic! 

Aside from photos of my home, all images courtesy of Leslie Sinclair.

See here for more on Segreto Finishes.  Go here or here to order "Segreto, Secrets To Finishing Beautiful Interiors.  Go here to read Leslie's blog.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO LESLIE SINCLAIR!

I make every effort to credit original sources and link wherever possible. I would be grateful if you can provide information on any unnamed source.  If you are the owner of any uncredited images, no deliberate infringement of copyright is intended. I respect all intellectual property and will remove or modify any image or post at the owner's request.

Thanks for visiting A House Romance!

Chatting With Leslie Sinclair Of Segreto - Part One!

One of the most accomplished and admirable woman I have had the pleasure of getting to know is Leslie Sinclair, founder and owner of Segreto Finishes, a premier finish design firm. Segreto is well known to Houstonites and the design world as the name behind countless, jaw-dropping beautiful homes. Working in conjunction with many of Houston's top designers and architects, Leslie and the Segreto team transform the ordinary into the extraordinary thru custom finishes including gypsum plaster, murals, stencils and glazes. Segreto has been featured in many top shelter magazines including Veranda, Traditional Home and House Beautiful.

Leslie is very hands on in the day to day operations of Segreto. In addition to being the creative force, she oversees a large and loyal staff and meets individually with every homeowner to ensure their vision and personal taste are successfully developed.  In addition to the huge task of managing Segreto, Leslie is a wonderfully talented and in demand artist and owns Segreto Studios where she helps promote new talent.

Leslie is also a blogger and author of the wildly successful book, "Segreto, Secrets To Finishing Beautiful Interiors",  a luscious, photo rich treasure trove of Segreto projects. Leslie is already contemplating another book, sure to be equally as exciting and well received as her first!

Available here

One could reasonably expect to find in Leslie a harried, frenetic woman or a design snob. Instead, she is great fun with a wonderful sense of humor, a loving wife and mother of three, hugely talented and generous with her time and self!  Leslie is an early riser who likely accomplishes more in a day than most of us do in a week! You are sure to be inspired by the very gracious and down to earth, Leslie Sinclair!

INTERVIEW

Q-  Leslie, when did you conceive the idea for your decorative painting company, Segreto Finishes?

     

I have always loved home design, art and painting. I was always doing projects at my own home and began experimenting with faux finishes.  Reading books about the subject and asking the paint stores a million questions, they began to tell me that they felt my finishes were better than many professionals in the field.  I decided to quit my corporate consulting job, hire a basecoat painter to help and start my own business, thinking I would do it part time.  With a love for the old European painting and plastering techniques, I named the company Segreto Finishes after my husbands Italian family who had changed their name from Segreto to Sinclair in hopes to be viewed as more American.  The name means secret in Italian and I felt it was perfect for my new adventure.  I have been so blessed to find a career that mixes all my passions; art, architecture, home interiors, color, paint and business.

Q-  Who were some of your first customers and how did you gain their trust to hire you?     

So excited about the new venture, I talked to everyone about what I was doing.  I had some friends and acquaintances hire me and then it just continued to spread by word of mouth. I laugh and say when I first started with little knowledge that I grew because I was on time, on schedule and truly put my all in making every client feel special.  Since I have learned so much and with that knowledge and the mastering of new techniques, Segreto continues to grow, improve and evolve.

Q-  Are any of your family involved in your business?  Do any of them have an interest in art?

My husband and I are complete opposites so before I started this I would say he had no interest in art or home design.  He has been very supportive, however, in my business ventures and has been a great support and help with the household chores and the raising of our three children.  He is semi-retired now and does help with the insurance, bank reconciliations and deposits.  My mom, more like my husband, is my CPA.  All my kids have really grown up around the business and when they were young I took them to work with me many times.  They have taped off rooms, painted, filed and run errands for me.  I am currently helping my son with his new apartment in Dallas and have been so excited to see that he has picked up so much and is really loving furnishing and picking out things for his new place.  Although I offered him many of my antiques, he likes mid-century modern, so its really been fun.  My middle daughter has interned with us the last 4 summers.  She has a real knack for the whole business.  Just graduating from college she is looking for a job in  marketing.  Hopefully, she will come back one day to Segreto.  The baby studying to be a teacher is creative differently.  She has a beautiful voice and was very active in drama in high school.  With a love and flair for fashion, she would rather I just do her room for her.  I couldn't have grown and accomplished what I have today  without the support of all of my family!!

Q-  You have successfully married a business degree with your personal interest in art. Do you find yourself spending more time on the business or the creative end of things?

Wow- that's a tough one- I think both equally.  It is the frustrating part trying to do both well.  With a staff of 35 and a huge payroll, I have to make sure that I keep up with the paperwork, billing and employee concerns.  I also know that my spending time with the clients and in carefully designing and overseeing each project is key to client satisfaction and a beautiful room.  My greatest joy is working with the clients coming up with designs and overseeing their project.  It makes me so happy to leave a beautiful space we have worked in and see how happy it makes the client.  I struggle constantly with the balance and in delegating my staff in a manner that things run smoothly. I have been really blessed with a hardworking, loyal staff who take pride in their work! Thank you, God!!!

Q-  You are quite a fabulous artist.  Did you put this aside while you were in the corporate world?

Wow- thank you!  While in corporate America I did things for fun on the side, like I had a clothing business, painting t-shirts and outfits for adults and children. Haha-the 90s. I also made my own drapes, always loved to redecorate, made crafts and floral arrangements.  I used to have shows at my house with the things I made.

Q-  Tell us about your art gallery.  I love your paintings! For example, "The Party Dress" and "Dazzled" are stunning, but it is hard to choose as I love your style.  Where do you find your inspiration?

"The Party Dress"

"Dazzled" 

 I have had so much fun with the gallery.  I joke that I start a new facet every time a kid goes to college- a way to fight the empty nest syndrome.  I have had so much fun working with other artists, many young and up and coming!! I started painting canvas art when I was opening my gallery and artists- many don't have the concept of need by a certain date.  I was so worried I would have no art for the show.  My first pieces I signed with my grandmothers name because I didn't want people to feel bad if they were talking about pieces with me and they didn't like mine.  I was really shocked when so many of mine sold.  I loved using just leftover plaster and paints I had in my garage and playing on colors and textures.

Q-  You have worked with some of Houston's top designers including Ginger Barber and Eleanor Cummings.  Do you have any tips you can pass along that you have observed in working with them?

Pam Pierce, Kara Childress, Celerie Kemble from New York and so many more.  Although I have never met Miles Redd, I even got to silver leaf a ceiling in a home he was doing here.  I have learned so much from them; their fabrics, surfaces and vision.  I really like my place in home design being the backdrop to their wonderful vision!!!

A project Leslie worked on with Joni Webb. An antique finish on the paneling wraps the room in a warm backdrop.

Q-  How about your own personal decorating style?  Your home is absolutely stunning.  Is there any decorator who had a major influence?

The dressing room in Leslie's master bedroom features a stencil design over plaster.

It is hard to imagine that a mud room could look so beautiful! The formerly white cabinets have been glazed to look like furniture and a French tree mural has been painted on the walls and ceiling.

The hard part for me is I like so many different styles and see so many beautiful homes and work with so much talent.  It is hard for me to choose what I want for my own home.  I am now currently redoing some of it and that has been the hard part. I like to mix in so many different styles and of course love paint and plaster.  How to mix all of this into a cohesive, warm, interesting home, instead of a hodgepodge mess- haha.

Leslie's elegant living room displays her enormous talent in a hand-painted mural which even includes her Australian Shepherd!

The kitchen walls in Leslie's home are plastered and the cabinets are distressed and glazed. The refrigerator on the right features a hand-painted mural.

The kitchen cabinets beautifully illustrate the use of decorative finishes- just gorgeous!

Q-  Your book, "Segreto- Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" is a huge hit and is filled with luscious photos of different projects you have worked on.  What was it like working on the book?  Would you do another?

I love to learn so this was definitely challenging but I so enjoyed it and learned so much- like the basics past and present tense. Thank goodness for spell check!! The publishing industry is interesting as well though I am not sure I have a grasp of it.  I did decide to self-publish mainly because right or wrong, good or bad, I really wanted creative freedom.  I will publish a book two and hope to start on it sometime this year.  The hard part is pulling all- nighters at my age isn't as easy as it used to be.

Q-  When I look at all your accomplishments, I am astounded at how you find time to do it all.  Business owner, artist, author, blogger, wife, mother.  I know I am missing something.  Have you cloned yourself or are you just a really excellent multi-tasker?

I love to multi-task and feel that I am better with a lot of different things to do.  I also do have a wonderful staff and family that without them, I couldn't do any of it. I am not saying it is easy though, or that I have done a good job in all areas at all times.  There are so many women that are trying to mix it all in and I am so impressed with so many of them- they are inspiring to me.

Q-  You have been interviewed by The Skirted Roundtable (here).  Yes, and I have never been so nervous in my life!!!  You mentioned your first job was a Hill Country house that was plastered.  You ended up running the plaster to the floor and eliminating the molding.  Is this something that would work in every home?

It depends on the style of the home.  Also, there are maintenance issues of running a mop and getting water on the plaster or cleaning solution.  I have done many homes like this, however, and have had no complaints.  Having baseboards definitely creates less maintenance.  

Q-  Let's talk about the average homeowner.  Obviously, you have finessed your work to the pint of perfection- but most homeowners are looking to replicate this look within their own abilities.  Especially those of us who live far from Texas and Segreto Finishes!  Is this even possible? Or advisable?

I started painting for myself  so it is possible.  There are so many YouTube videos out now on how- to which makes it easier.  I think certain techniques are better to try than others.  I get many questions on our difficult techniques and some of these take years of experience.  Others, I say go for it.  Remember, it's just paint and can be painted over if you are not happy with it.

Q-  What is your personal favorite decorative finish?  A favorite project you have worked on?  Your favorite room in your own home?  A favorite work of art you have painted?

The master bath in Leslie's home features an old world faux finish and mural.

Gosh, so hard, I love so many- I love the gypsum based plasters and cabinet and furniture finishes.  I also adore some of the allover stencil designs and some hand painted ceiling and wall treatments.  I truly love finishes and have so much fun researching new and innovative ones!

The den in Leslie's home is so warm and inviting with its soft colors and beautiful fabrics.

I adore how Leslie has styled her shelves with corals.

Segreto has worked on some of the most beautiful homes in the Houston area with Leslie the driving force behind each design. 

This is only a small sample of the stunning homes that Leslie and her Segreto team have performed their magic on. To see more of Segreto Finishes go here. See here or here to order "Segreto, Secrets To Finishing Beautiful Interiors. See here to read Leslie's blog.

Don't miss Part 2 of my feature on Leslie Sinclair and Segreto where Leslie offers decorative painting advice for the average home (mine)!   Coming Soon!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO LESLIE SINCLAIR!

I make every effort to credit original sources and link wherever possible. I would be grateful if you can provide information on any unnamed source.  If you are the owner of any uncredited images, no deliberate infringement of copyright is intended. I respect all intellectual property and will remove or modify any image or post at the owner's request.

Thanks for visiting A House Romance!