I love all the gray rooms and accessories that are in home design today.  But, at first glance when looking at the meaning of gray, it's a little perplexing why the color is so popular and how it manages to work with so many different design styles.
As a true neutral, gray communicates a void of movement, emotions, warmth or any identifying characteristics.  Yikes!!  But, somehow, I find this bath painted in BM European Gray to be calm, soothing and elegant.  Why is this?
It's this very lack of emotions that makes gray so calming!  Because gray isn't expressing much of anything, the color remains simply restful, quiet, and tranquil. It allows vibrant colors to pop while also cooling their intensity. Oh I get it!!

Every color seems to perfectly complement some shade of gray - just take a look below at how these accent colors look with a gray backdrop!

Yellows and Golds!!!

Source: The Architecturalist

Reds and rusts!!!

Source: Belgian Pearls Blog

Oranges!!!

Source: South Shore Decorating Blog

Greens!!!

And even teals!!!!!

Some Native American tribes relate gray to friendship, and many other cultures use the color to symbolize security, maturity and dependability!

The Four Seasons in Florence uses the sophisticated color for this lounge that caters to the business sect. It's a smart choice considering how gray suits have become part of the uniform of the corporate world. Dark, charcoal gray imparts the strength and mystery of black without its negative connotations.

While gray goes wonderfully with most colors, picking the right gray to complement your accents can be tricky.  The 10 Rooms blog has some great tips and color suggestions!

I love the above grays from SW!!! They are some of my absolute favorites.

Benjamin Moore also has a lovely one called Silver Fox.  Designer Michael McKinnon calls it "a warm, taupeish gray, what artists call a French gray. Very relaxed and chic. It immediately puts me on the Île Saint-Louis overlooking the Seine. It’s equal parts earth and air, to use feng shui terms, which means it’s perfect for a small, narrow entrance hall, because it adds warmth and air at the same time.”

So… put some gray in your home if you want:
    •    to create an environment where compromise is encouraged
    •    a neutral, non-invasive feeling
    •    to reduce the intensity of another color, while still including it
    •    to create an isolated getaway

Do you have a favorite gray room? Send me pictures to leslie@segretofinishes.com - I'd love to see! We have just gotten a new shipment of art and jelrey at the store--come by and take a peak!!!  Have a great week!  xo  Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

I always love sharing current projects that excite me. Although this one doesn't include paint, it certainly hits close to home!  My 24 year-old son, Matthew, is relocating to Dallas for a new job and asked for my help to decorate his pad. Jumping at the opportunity to spend more time with him, I said, "Yes, of course, when can we start!!!!"

I initially offered him some of our furniture that we weren't using, but he quickly responded, "Sorry, Mom, I don't think you own anything that I would like - I want my place to be modern!" Though a bit out of my comfort zone, I was excited to help him put together his mid-century modern apartment on a budget. We set out for a day of shopping so he could see a wide range of things and gain some understanding about costs.  Our first stop was Ikea.  It's probably the best bang for your buck so I felt it was good place to start.

He loved the bar, entertainment center and rug as well as some of their desks, but he decided to hold on all of his furniture purchases until he found a well-built sofa and chair to invest in.  We did outfit his kitchen though, complete with pots and pans, dish towels, dishes, glasses and barware.  As he pulled out his credit card, he said, "Boy, isn't $270 a lot to outfit a kitchen?"  Ha!!  Since Matthew loves leather and modern pieces, our next stop was Cantoni.

Sleek, mid-century modern, he had to have this one!  He loved the chrome and the way it transforms into a rocker when you take it off the base stand.

Matthew was instantly drawn to this espresso brown leather couch that had a cool feature: the back can lay low as shown here to be used as a seating ledge or it can pop-up for a higher back.  Although the piece was 30% off, we went off to comparison shop. 4 hours later, Matthew called Cantoni and gave them his credit card. That’s a change - your child footing the bill!!!  For the rest of the apartment, he wanted to furnish with pieces that had a nice look but were not so expensive.  

George, a friend of mine who owns Randall Edward, was having a huge up to 80% off sale so I scouted it out and took some pics to show Matthew.  Here are some of my finds that he liked: vintage seltzer bottles, a pair of lamps made from 200 year-old Greek tiles, a circle sculpture composed of ship masts from the 1700s, and wooden balls. He was very interested in the history of all these pieces and loved the idea of mixing the old with the new. The entire purchase was around $750 (Mom pitched in here)!

One of my favorite Houston shops, Denny Register, buys up large estate sales and puts their finds in a massive, un-air-conditioned warehouse filled to the brim!!!  We bought this unique side table a a bargin price. Love the bamboo and retro 60s style. 1001-A W 34th St. (713-817-5760).

Of course a home is never complete without something on the walls! I had so much fun painting this work for Matthew using his pop colors of orange and teal, and I've given him several other pieces over the years that can now come in handy. To add a little of the mid-century element, I also framed some pages from a 1930s suit catalog that I have in the store. He picked out the two that were my favorite for him plus one more!

The rest of the shopping was done online.  CB2 is a wonderful place to get cool contemporary pieces at very good prices!

The coffee table, stacking side tables, and bar were all purchased for about $500, a fraction of what we had found similar pieces for!

West Elm also has some great buys. He got the headboard and fun martini table there. Unfortunately, they didn't come in time for the final reveal!!! For the bedding, Matthew purchased hotel-type linens that were crisp white with gray stitching details from Rue la la for 75% off. It's one of my favorite online discount shopping sites.

The last purchase was a cow hide rug. CowHides International seemed to have the largest sizes and prettiest hides for great prices.  On sale for $199, Matthew was thrilled! He decided to go with this rather than the shag rug from Ikea he originally wanted.

For the big move, Matthew used Point 2 Point, a firm that I use to deliver furniture for us.  They were excellent, taking such good care of him and doing a fab job - on time, on schedule, and no breakage!!!!

And now for the Final Reveal!!!! (wish my iphone pics had turned out a little better)

Here's the view as you enter the door.

I love how all the pieces came together!

Of course, a 24 year-old boy's pad isn't complete without the TV!

The vintage suit catalog artwork is so fun!

Matthew, of course, loves the bar!

The kitchen has beautiful finishes. We'll see how much he actually uses it - hehe!

All his UT memorabilia is prominently displayed over his desk. Love how he mixed the clean lines of the chair and desk with the antique lamp which he stole from my shop.

There's a beautiful view of Dallas from the balcony.

We all had a wonderful time getting Matthew settled into his new pad!

He seemed so happy when we left!  Furniture set up, clothes put away, and ready to start his new adventure!!!!

We were all exhausted when we got back home and a bit sad that Matthew had moved away!  Chrissy's already missing him!!!  I wanted to thank my sweet friend Mimi from the blog A House Romance for writing a two part blog series, the first an interview with me and the second on after seeing her lovely home what finish recommendations I would give. To see the first go here, then for the second part hit newer post. She writes a great blog and I was honored she asked me to help with her home.  I hope everyone has a great week!!  xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

While I adore all the wonderful homes I get to see and all the projects I get to do, it's always refreshing to be involved in historic home renovations, especially in a city of tear downs and big new constructions.  I really appreciated the opportunity to work on this 1930s French chateau, designed by famed architect John Staub.  The gorgeous estate was just featured in the August edition of Architectural Digest.  Some of you may have also seen Miss Joni's wonderful write up on this house over at her blog, Cote De Texas.  After uprooting their lives from New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, homeowners John and Terri Havens lovingly restored and brought life to this stunning Houston gem with the help of designer extraordinaire Kara Childress and talented architect Ken Newberry!!! Old time great Tyne Sparks was the chosen builder for the initial remodel and his forman sweet Ernest Melchor still works for the Havens today.

Led by Terri and John’s direction, the team was ready to go.  As Kara explained quite well, “the Havens love the house, they love its history, they love design and art and all that is involved in making a project like this happen. They value and insist upon authenticity in bringing their house back to its original splendor; they truly appreciate the labor and efforts to attain that goal.”  With that, I certainly agree!  I was brought in to restore and re-plaster the interior of the home as well as to finish much of the cabinetry, paneling and moldings.  What a treat for me!!!  We started in 2007, and we're still working on some of the new additions to the home!

The stone flooring and railings were hand-selected in France and brought over for the original construction. Although the whole experience was wonderful for Kara, one of her biggest challenges was mixing in the fresh, modern touches that Terri wanted while also staying true to the period of the home as John insisted.   A compromise was reached when Kara selected a gorgeous, citron-colored silk to modernize the antique settee!

 Another shot taken at a different time-the staircase and railing are stunning!!!

Kara’s favorite room in the house is the library!  With gorgeous French oak paneling that's original to the home, custom Fortuny drapes, one-of-a-kind, centuries-old light fixtures, an antique Sivas rug, and a stunning ceiling that they found, restored, and installed, how could you disagree?!!!

Painted on canvas and hung in a villa near Parma, Italy, the ceiling dates back to the late 16th century.  Kara went on so many incredible buying trips with the Havens - they even brought Kara's daughter, who is currently studying design, along for one of them!

The ballroom, beautiful, elegant, and comfortable, has many unique features.  Kara's particularly fond of the pocket doors throughout.  All the windows are actually floor-to-ceiling doors that slide into the walls, revealing the gorgeous terraces outside!!!  Since there was no air conditioning when the residence was built, John Staub situated the house in such a way as to receive the best of the Gulf breeze during the hot, humid months of summer.

Here's another view which was taken years earlier!  This room was particularly difficult for us. Before we could re-plaster the ceiling, we had to remove the canvas backing from the first plaster job without harming the beautiful plaster medallions above the light fixtures.  The walls in this room were left as they were when the Havens purchased the home.

The music room is perhaps my favorite!!!  Elegant, warm, and tranquil, I love the mix of luxurious fabrics and beautiful, soft hues. 

Here is an earlier shot right after we finished plastering the room and glazing the beautiful moldings to bring out more detail!!!

The home boasts a sunken dining room adorned with the original moldings, flooring and chandelier, as well as a 15-foot ceiling!  We plastered the walls in this room in Venetian plaster, just as it was in the 1930s. 

 The ceiling was plastered in a traditional gypsum plaster like the rest of the home, lending continuity from room to room. I love how this offsets the walls from the ceiling with a slight sheen difference.  The moldings were glazed to bring out their carved details and soften the feel of the room, allowing the wonderful furnishings and fabrics to remain center stage.

The way families use their homes has changed significantly since the 1930s.  The small kitchen, baths and closets all needed to be revamped for this modern family of five, with two dogs and lots of visitors.  “The house had no family room when we began the project,” said Kara.  “Instead, there were only formal spaces.  In the '30s, I don’t suppose any of those things were negative, but with today’s busy families – sports, friends, entertaining, etc. – the Havens’ needs are different.”

Architect Ken Newberry extensively researched John Staub and the period in which the home was built in order to stay true to the intended architecture of the home. Using this research, he designed a breathtaking conservatory to give the family a more casual space to eat and hang out. Kara furnished the new addition with a gorgeous breakfast table and a cozy settee, perfect for a sunlit morning with coffee and a good book.

The new addition also included this wonderful family room!! "Family is of the utmost importance (and enjoyment) to the Havens", smiles Kara. " I also love the fact that John Staub combined the formality of  ‘pure Louis Quinze’ with country French to make the house as spectacular as it is."  She has also mixed the two so seamlessly in her exquisite design.

Going down to the wine cellar is certainly a treat! It feels as if you are traveling back to Europe in time!

 This wine cellar is a new addition to the home, created from a space in the already existing basement. Ken outdid himself in the design — so warm and charming!  The floors and stone from Chateau Domingue and the wonderful furnishings that Kara and the Havens found melt together to create an amazing ambiance. A hangout room for the kids was also fashioned from space in the basement. Fun and comfortable, this space was true genius from Kara.  With four kids of her own, she knew exactly how to combine functionality with charm! Sorry I don't have pics!

To keep the additions seamlessly consistent with the period and style of the rest of the house, Kara and the Havens selected tiles and old stone flooring from Chateau Dominque, which has an amazing collection and assortment of old floors, tiles, doors, and fountains.  To see my visit to Chateau Domingue, click here. The wood floors were restored beautifully by Custom Floors Unlimited, Inc..

The master suite and dressing areas are simply divine!!  Painted a solid cream when the home was purchased, Kara wanted to bring it back to its original splendor!  With drapes as our color inspiration, we layered a series of glazes to lend that been-there look.  Here's the room in progress... you can see the bottom half is complete, and we're still adding more embellishment to the top.  The corner panels flanking the opening to the bedroom are hidden closet doors!!!

Stunning!!! I love the fabrics that Kara chose here - they remind me of ornate, ball gowns.

Finishing the cabinetry in a way that would blend with the built-in reclaimed doors and stone was quite a fun challenge for us.  It was of utmost importance that the finishes retain authenticity and not look contrived.

A room for a princess, the daughter's suite is so charming!  Kara created a timeless space that will last from elementary to the teen years and beyond.  We plastered the ceiling a soft shade of pink to complement the fabrics and furnishings.

This project truly had a dream team!  The Havens are as philanthropic as they are warm and fun, Kara Childress is one of the most talented and sincerely sweet people I know, and Ken Newberry had such knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the project. I was honored to watch them all do their magic and to help them restore this historical beauty!!!  In asking Kara what were her best memories of the project her response was-"Though probably some of the strongest memories about the decoration project itself tend to be in regards for different events generously hosted by the Havens ~ and crazy deadlines…everything from an intimate wedding in the chapel, grand gala for 350 people tented in the backyard, a seated dinner for 2 different US Presidents, or a romantic 8 course meal in the wine room (nothing like a party to get things done)!  I was honored to watch them all do their magic and to help them restore this historical beauty!!! Please visit Kara's website-still under construction--beautiful homes!!!

I hope you have a great week!  I'm off to California to spend time with family. It'll be the first time we've taken the boyfriends along!  Should be fun!  xo  Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

This week we are welcoming a guest blog post from one of the newest members of the Segreto team, design assistant Andrea Condara.  As the oldest of 6 kids, she is no stranger to the challenges of sleeping arrangements for herds of family and friends! Today she tells us a little bit about bunk rooms and their many iterations.

There is nothing quite like the memories of staying up for hours, talking the night away, in the bunk room at my grandparents house in Galveston. After a long day at the beach, swimming and working on our sunburns, we would pile anywhere from 6-10 grandchildren and friends into the bunk room to "sleep". We would stay up for hours talking and inventing games and generally causing mayhem that only the closeness of bunk beds can inspire until we would finally drop off, one by one, to sleep. 

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As a child, nothing compares to the rush of winning the battle for the top bunk and the novelty of being allowed to climb a ladder, by yourself, to the place where you would be sleeping! With the exhilarating memories of feeling that grown up freedom, it's no wonder that bunk beds are so irresistible to the young and the young at heart! 

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Although there is no official recorded beginning of the bunk bed, there is some evidence that the concept of a lofted bed dates as far back as the Ancient Egyptians.

Soldiers in bunks aboard the S.S. Pennant Source

Bunk beds, as we recognize them, have a long history of providing functional and space efficient sleeping solutions for large groups of people. Less glamorous examples include the military, ships, trains and even prisons. More comfortable versions are found at summer camps and personal and vacation homes. 

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The "standard" bunk bed is a simple, space saving design of a twin bed stacked over a twin bed with a frame made of metal or wood and a ladder to the top bed. In the recent decades, the style of the "standard" bunk bed has become just one option in many. Today, designs include lofted beds, twins over full sized beds, L-shaped configurations, queen beds and custom multi-story built-ins.

Colorado Scarp Ridge Lodge

Southgate Residential

As special as our bunk beds in Galveston were, with their bright blue metal frames and the white sheets printed with brightly colored sailboats, they now seem like primitive prototypes for the incredible bunk beds that are cropping up in contemporary designs. These rooms are literally the stuff of dreams!

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Coastal Living

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Stepbrothers, 2008

Bunk beds are not just for kids! Bunk and lofted beds are a great way to use your vertical space more efficiently! As Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly point out in "Stepbrothers" - It will give us so much extra space in our room to do activities! Lofted beds are popular for college dorm rooms and many styles have built in drawers or storage underneath.

Elle Decor

Contemporary loft and grown up sized bunked beds open up the door for creative sleeping arrangements, especially for guest rooms at a lake or ranch house (or even for the college graduates moving back home)!

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So the question of the day is: "Do you ever become too old for bunk beds?" Our answer: Never! 

We hope you enjoy our bunk bed finds! Do you have a favorite bunk room? Share them with us in the comments section! Have a wonderful week! Warmest Regards, Andrea 

New at the Segreto Boutique! 

Greyfreth Bottles from California

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

What Segreto's been up to.....  

With so many people on vacay, you would think that things would slow down for the summer - haha, not so!!! Here are a few of the fun jobs we've been working on lately:

This breakfast room is part of a beautiful new construction that we just completed for Memorial Custom Homes.  Homeowner Donna Hinds saw the ceiling in my office (check it out here), loved the look and decided to apply the same treatment to the walls in her home.  It's the first time I have done this finish over tongue and groove pine on walls.  After seeing the finished look, I just have to have this in my home somewhere!!! Love the wonderful light fixture from MAI too!

I am so excited about working on this house! Built in the 1930s, it's located in South Hampton, one of my favorite areas in Houston!  While the structure will be left as is, the homeowner is adding a slice of France and a bit of glamour to every room.  In the shot above, we are hand-painting some cabinetry that we had glazed in the kitchen.  I'll keep you posted on all the beautiful updates to this amazing home!

Featured in last week’s blog on the French Chateau, Kara Childress and Ken Newberry also teamed up on this wonderful, newly constructed home. They're both pros at creating an enchanting atmosphere, as though the home has been there for centuries! Here is a sneak peek of the kitchen, still under construction. We plastered the walls and ceilings and applied a textured milk paint finish to all the cabinetry. Oops... as you can see, we haven’t plastered the shelving yet!

Sarah West brought the Segreto team on board for another kitchen. You can kind of see the sample on top of the island - we're giving it a soft, grayish stain for that washed-out look. The surrounding cabinetry will have a light, antique finish to ever so slightly bring out the details. It's hard to see here, but the hood is plastered in the same color as the walls.

Love, love, love this idea that designer Suzanne Duin had for a headboard! She had us add an ornate monogram to the center of this gorgeous old piece she found - it really brings out all the ornate woodwork.

To bring the whole room together, we also painted two chests that will flank the bed. Here are some before and afters! In person, the finish reads more like the darker blue-gray part of the inspiration piece.  We also brought in a gold trim to really complement the headboard!

For designer Julie Dodson, we're also working on a mural for a playroom. This forest wonderland scene will be such a fun backdrop for the three oh-so-cute girls to play pretend!!!

On job sites I spied.....

This beautiful headboard! I love the way that designer Teri Symington constructed this piece by adding a wood carving to a plush, tufted headboard - so creative!!!  Look, she purchased one of the BVIZ pillows from the shop!  The perfect finishing touch!!!

A lovely table setting!!!  This client is certainly the hostess with the mostess! She was getting ready for a dinner party while we were painting.  I love the placemats and her mix of old plates from a historic hotel in Houston.  I think they had menus on them!

 Some renovating at my house...

A couple of years ago, my dining room (pictured above) was completely dismantled and turned into my book storage room!  But now that Segreto has its own place for my books, it's time to reclaim the space and make it a dining room again.  There's not much left though since I had moved the light fixture, table and mirror into my breakfast area.

It had been 12 years since the last redo, so even though I really liked the old version, I was ready for a new look!  I got my inspiration from vintage Fortuny drapes that I scored from Atelier Fifteen-O-Five. When I was writing the blog here on their wonderful resale shop, I spied these curtains and fell in love. With my starting inspiration, I was ready to begin.

First, I re-plastered the walls in a taupe color with a slight purple hue. Then, I was off for a new rug.  I wanted something a little contemporary, so I chose this beauty from Madison Lilly!  They are having a fab summer sale right now - it's a great time to go in and see their store!!!

When I was out shopping for my son's new pad, I found this solid marble table at Denny Register. Perfect!  1001-A W 34th St. (713-817-5760).

And this is as far as I've gotten... I always move so slow on my own home!  I'll keep you updated with progress!

What's new at the shop.....

I always love when we get new art at the shop!  This piece from Segreto artist Chistina Graci is no exception!!

Debbie Moseley also brought in this stunning painting!!!!

Another one of Christina's!  It just makes me smile.

We got more of these wonderful paper placemats and table runners from Kitchen Papers, including some that are UT, A&M, and LSU themed.  I have become addicted to these, they're great gifts, and you can just throw them away after use - no clean up!

We also got a new shipment of my favorite thing to shop for - jewelry!  Each piece a unique creation, there's a beautiful array of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Even some special vintage pieces!

And finally, we had a photo shoot at the store for the new Scout Guide. Look at all the great pics they got!!!  It was so fun! This publication is definitely a fab place to "scout" out some cool finds.

I hope that everyone has a great week!  'Til next Monday! xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

I love love to shop and with so little time on my hands, I seem to find myself sourcing little treasures at all the beautiful homes I see each day! I have been craving some of the luxurious materials and soft colors of the rugs available today.  After all, many times the rug is the starting point for the color schematics of a room. When I asked where many of my favorites were purchased-Madison Lily kept coming up. So I had to go see their showroom for myself!!

I called them to see if they were open at 11:45 on July 4th (having a bit of time to shop) and owner, Edgar, answered the phone. He said he was there working on some designs and would be there till one. I quickly put on my Lulu Lemons and off I went!! 

With fresh designs, beautiful soft color combinations, and high quality materials I not only fell in love with their product but also enjoyed learning about the creative and passionate team behind the Madison Lily brand and wanted to share a bit of them with you!! 

Kelly and Edgar Podzemny began their business almost 20 years ago, first teaming up with antique stores and having trunk shows across the country and settling down to open thier first store in Austin. After meeting in Hawaii, they travelled the globe together before settling in the US. Edgar is an art major from Amarillo and Kelly is from Wales, UK.  Having visited areas that wove rugs, they fell in love with the art form. Later, the opportunity arose to move to Houston and Madison Lily was born. Named for thier eldest daughter, Lily Madison, Madison Lily seemed to have a nice ring to it. They have also named other lines of rugs after their other three children.

They graciously shared insights into their creative process and the trends in the contemporary rugs. See their answers to our questions and their gorgeous work below!

Q: What makes Madison Lily different from other companies?

A: We have a passion for the design and quality of materials used. When designing the next piece, we consider how each material used will play into the finished product, from nettle and bamboo silk, to hemp or hand-spun wool, the options are endless. 

Q: Do you do all of your own designs?

A: We design all the more modern rugs in the store and our partner designs the more traditional pieces. The partnership was a perfect opportunity to meld Edgar's design styles with that of our partner's more traditional taste. It has been a lot of fun, artistically, to create pieces together and to use both styles in the same interiors, a beautiful addition to any home. 

Q: What is the best type of rug to buy for high traffic areas?

 A: All of our rugs are made of quality materials and really can all be used in high traffic areas. We can also stain guard our rugs, which helps repel stains, etc.

Q: What questions should you ask when looking for a rug?

A: There is such a broad spectrum of qualities out there. Look to see if the rug is hand knotted, types of materials used, and policies of the store. Do they have full service for cleaning and repair, etc.?

Q: What is the best way to clean a rug?

A: The best way to clean the whole rug is to have it professionally cleaned. For spills and spots, it is best to always blot the stain, never scrub, and use a mild soap like dawn and luke warm water and blot until the stain has gone. 

My dog had an accident on mine and they had said to try club soda mixed with dawn and then follow rest.  It worked!!!!! Yayyy!!!

Q: What are your favorite designs from your collection? 

A: It is hard to pick just one favorite. My (Kelly's) favorite right now is the Relish. I love the vintage texture of the scraped away design and the organic texture of the handspun, semi-finish wool background. Egar's favorite is the Niagara (pictured above), which has a very similar finish to the Relish.

Q: What trends do you see happening in the industry as far as color and style?

A: We see a lot of neutrals and tones of gray as this can work with many different design styles. Though we do, of course, have many clients that love to add a splash of great color.

Q: Can you do customized rugs?

A: We can customize any color, any size, and shape. We can create a virtual rendering on the computer that shows exactly how the finished rug will look. This is a great tool to take a lot of the unknown out of the custom process. 

Q: What is the biggest challenge in opening the business?

A: I guess the biggest challenge is juggling a young family and a business, there is never a dull moment, that's for sure!

Q: What is each of your favorite part of the job?

A: (Edgar) My favorite part is creating and designing the rugs and (Kelly) Playing our part in helping our client create a beautiful space for their families to enjoy for years to come.  

I wanted to add a bit of life and fun in my breakfast room and purchased this polka-dot pattern that makes me smile every time I walk by!!  Charlie loves it too!!

Going a bit more contemporary in the dining room, this rug was the perfect choice for me! Yikes! I can't seem to fiqure out what to do on the walls!!  Many Thanks to Kelly and Edgar for sharing their story and beautiful rugs with us! Visit them on the web HERE or at their showroom at 1727 Post Oak Blvd, Open: Mon-Sat 10:00 - 6:00PM. 

New at the Segreto Boutique!

Start a unique colletion: Combining vintage crystal and metal crosses with unusual glass and cut crystal bases, Greyfreth Designs creates unique and beautiful objets d' art that are a conversation piece in any room. 

Jewelry with a story: vintage pieces by Intellectual Propery, like this lovely vintage bronze and enamel Catholic La Salle School Merit Award, 

Be subtle but glamorous: This unique necklace is made with labradorite, pearl and black diamonds! 

Bring in a little nature: New corals and minerals have just arrived at Segreto! Until next week! xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

Meet Christina Graci: Designer by Trade, Artist at Heart

Christina, one of the wonderful artists featured in Segreto Gallery, runs an interior design firm based in New Orleans with her brother, Chad Graci. Together, they are able to offer a wide variety of services to their clients from color consultation and space planning to complete home design. In her art, Miss Graci truly brings the color and enchantment of her hometown to life on canvas.

"My design style is transitional but leans more towards a traditional, comfortable side. Chad’s style is a bit more transitional but with a more modern, eclectic feel. We both love the combination of beautiful antiques with modern and new furniture."

I was lucky enough to find Christina while visiting my daughter, Sammy, who was attending LSU at the time. After getting a bit lost in town, I wandered into an antique mall where Christina was showing her art. Moved by the wonderful color combinations and composition of her work, I purchased one piece and ended up contacting her later for more. Her work has been so successful in our gallery.  Read on to find out how you can enter to win a Christina Graci original...

"My work is constantly changing and is a reflection of my mood and the place I am in during my life. I have many different styles and have an urge to try new things all the time."

Christina, who began painting in high school, uses her art both to inspire and adorn the walls of the interiors she designs.

"My paintings, although sometimes have a lot of movement, are also very precise and thought out. I would never paint something that I wouldn’t put into one of my clients’ homes."

Hailing from a creative family, Christina’s career path and passions are not unusual. Her father and Chad both graduated from LSU with an architecture degree, and even her cousin has an incredible talent for art.

"My design style is actually a lot like my paintings, believe it or not! A cool, pale color palette with pops of color, proportion and scale, thought out placement of color, and a very simple and precise aesthetic would be the main focuses of my design."

As far as being an artist goes, Christina is the total package. Not only does she have the intrinsic eye for art and design (perhaps a talent passed through her family}, but she is also well-educated in the subject. She received her degree in interior design with a focus on art history from LSU and was able to spend a semester abroad studying design in Copenhagen, Denmark. She later went on to work with two prominent New York design firms: Victoria Hagan and David Easton.

"The only time my mind is completely clear is when I am painting. It has been the most calming, fulfilling aspect of my life thus far."

When she isn’t painting or running her interior design business with her brother, Christina can be found near the by-water area outside the French Quarter. She loves to browse the antique and vintage shops, including Sterling Provision, a personal favorite of both her and Chad. For all you Houstonians out there – Christina recommends Carl Moore and Joyce Horn as great shops to visit.

Christina’s creativity extends to the kitchen where she absolutely loves to cook for her friends and family. "I guess that’s just the New Orleans Italian in me!" she explains. On the nights she doesn’t want to stay in, you may find her at Mr. B’s or even Galatoire’s for Friday lunch. "Galatoire’s is the epitome of New Orleans dining in my opinion -- it's classic and fabulous."

"I truly get gratification when a piece of my work is purchased. I love knowing it’s hanging in someone’s home."

As for the future? Christina’s goal is to continue to build upon the success and happiness in her life she has already experienced, and then some. "I would love to be able to continue Graci Interiors and my painting well into the future, someday have a family of my own, and maybe live in a foreign country for an extended period of time to be truly inspired."

Thank you so much to Christina, you are a true talent!  Many of these wonderful works of art are available at Segreto’s gallery and can be viewed online at www.segretofinishes.com. Or...... stop by Segreto at 1414 Antoine (Open M-F 9:00-5:00) to see her paintings in person and browse our little shop.

Don't forget! You can win your very own Christina Graci original. Here's how: 

1. Go here to "like" Segreto on Facebook.

2. Go to our Facebook album of Christina's paintings here and choose your favorite Christina Graci original. Then post a comment describing why you love it.

3. We will have a drawing and the lucky winner will receive the 12" x 12" Christina Graci original painting below:

Best of luck!! Till Next Monday!!  xo, Leslie

 Summer is over and school is back in at least here in Houston!  I hope everyone has had a great summer.  Here are a few projects we have been working on!

 Paneled Rooms!!

I love how glazes enhance natural lines of the wood adding character to a paneled room. It is really easy when your paneling is freshly painted  but what are your options if you have stained paneling in which you would like to alter the color?

This study previously an orange stained color that was popular in 80's and 90's that has been transformed with a gray wash.  When glazing over an existing stain you are limited a bit by what is underneath and can only go a certain amount lighter.  Darker finishes are easier to achieve.

Although still up to date this walnut toned glazed paneling was too dark for the homeowner.  If you can see the new fabric in the chair and the soft colors of the rug, we wanted to attempt to lighten the space and bring in the soft teal color that was now being introduced into the room.

The new finish was about two shades lighter, still neutral but definitely a softer look with the new decor. Why try to glaze over the existing finish rather than paint and start fresh?  A huge money savings!!  For a painted finish the walls would need to be sanded, primed and then painted with two coats of paint before any of the glazing begins!! In a room this large, the expense could add thousands to your project. When working with a finisher have them apply a sample for you on the back of a door or shelf to see if the sought after look can be achieved over the existing stain.

Its all in the details!

This built-in cabinet (there are two that flank the fireplace) is slated for an old distressed finish. this is how it looked when we started the project.

Pulling a door off the piece, we did the sample right on the job. I can't wait to see the piece in its entirety complete--what a transformation!!

If you have a light fixture with a patina that is not quite right for your decor, it's easy to alter the finish with paint for a fraction of the cost instead of buying new!!!!

Solid marble or fauxed to look that way? Can you tell the difference?

Only the tip top slab is marble.  The rest was built from wood and fauxed to look like the top!! Hats off to Segreto's finisher, Alex!  I couldn't tell the difference when I checked on the finished product!!

When the homeowner first moved into this house, she couldn't get past the rangehood finish to see she had a lovely kitchen. Calling me in, we came up with an idea that totally changed the feel of the room.

First, the hood was plastered in a smooth finish to blend with the walls and the heavy stained wooden strip at its base was painted to match the cabinetry.  Secondly her island was painted and glazed in a French blue to lighten the space and blend with her drapes! Lastly a design was painted onto the plastered hood.

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This embellishment to the hood was the homeowner’s husband's family crest, which was used on her wedding invites and stationary. Hand-painted in a tone on tone fashion, it added such a personal touch to the space.

Its all about the stencil!

This painted stencil design really complements the mirror and stone in this oh-so-elegant powder.  There are no seams with paint and it’s easy to get the perfect color this way!!! Now we just need to hang the mirror and the room is done!!!

Although many of the stencils we do are tone on tone, you can add different colors to stencils, giving it a totally different look to the design. The base in this room was painted Sherwin Williams 7016. The light color of the stencil is Sherwin Williams 7028 and the leaves were Modern Masters Warm Silver. I love the bit of shimmer added to the walls.

Wanting a totally different look from this powder that the homeowner inherited from the previous owner, we decided to stencil the walls in a large pattern since, the room was spacious and the ceilings very tall. What a transformation this powder undertook!!!

She did replace the counter of the existing piece, the faucets, the mirror and the sconces, but the rest we achieved with paint!! We used a stencil from Royal Designs and painted the walls with a combination of Farrow&Ball Pavilion Gray and Wimborne White. In Houston, I purchase Farrow&Ball products from Boxwood Interiors.

I love how the homeowner added the skirted table on the opposite side of the vanity in this oh-so-spacious powder adding a softness to the room!!

Our funiture refinishing studio!!! We have been really busy in our workshop transforming and refurbishing some wonderful pieces for our clients!!! If you love the lines of a piece but not the finish giving them a facelift can make them work perfectly in your space!! I hope you enjoy the before and afters!!!

What's New at the Segreto Boutique!

 Love these pieces we had framed that were the pages of a 1930's men's suit catalogue.  I used a few in my son's new apartment in Dallas!!!

These Rosy Ring candles and diffusers smell wonderful, last forever and are beautiful!!!  Perfect for the Holidays!!!

Part of the new jewelry shipment that arrived I may have to purchase one of these for myself!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!! I do appreciate the patience of all of my clients, who have waited for us to arrive at their homes, and the support from all my blog and Facebook friends.  We will announce the winner of the art-give-away next week.  If you haven't entered read last week’s instructions on how here !!  Till next Monday!  Xo Leslie

Closets are becoming as important in home interiors as the kitchen or the master bath.  Adorning them with custom cabinetry, specialty finishes, elaborate draperies, chandeliers or wallpapered ceilings, they are spaces that big or small bring out the inner princess in us all!!

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With carefully considered storage for accessories and shoes, islands with built in refrigerators and ironing boards, the new breed of big closets challenge even the most famous of celebrities. 

Architectural Digest

The infamous closet of diva, Mariah Carey, as featured in Architectural Digest and MTV cribs. A completely color coded personal boutique!

Joan Crawford (left), Christina Aguilera (right) Source

Architectural Digest

Sir Elton John's Sunglasses closet

A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

One of the main tips from professional closet organizers is to make sure that you take a mental inventory of your entire collection of belongings and make sure you have a designated spot for each item. If something has a home, it's easy to find when you need it! 

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Storage solutions made simple!!

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Decorative moldings painted to the color scheme of your room make prefect ledges for shoe storage!

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Love this idea of having a lazy susan built right into the closet.

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Edging it's way out of the retail stores and into home closet organizing, slat wall is an extremely versatile organizational tool. You can use it to hold up shelves, baskets, hooks and change the configuration whenever you need to reorganize!

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Letter dividers for flip flops or flats!!!

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Built in jewelry storage with a mirrored front!!! I would love this!!!

Special Touches

Closets are the perfect room to express your personality and indulge in special finishes and wall treatments that can be much more dramatic or completely different than the rest of your home! 

A closet we painted modeled after the Dior boutique in Paris!!!

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Elle Decor

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Conceal in Style

Whether your closet is big or small you can make a statement with interesting doors or curtains that cover the clutter. 

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Traditional Home

So Many Clothes, So Little Space

I loved when talking to my fashion forward design assistant Andrea hearing about how she made her oh-so-little closet special so I wanted her to share what she did with all of you!!! Take it away Andrea!!!!!

I never thought I had a problematic amount of clothes and accessories until I tried to squeeze them all into a 3 ft wide "reach-in" closet. Needless to say, I had to find a more efficient solution to my fashion problem!

J. Crew's creative director, Jenna Lyon's, closet as featured in Elle Decor 

My roommate, Anne Marie, and I both wished for a surprise third room to appear so we could turn it into our own dressing room heaven, like J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyon's closet above, but unfortunately it has yet to appear!

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Anne Marie's solution was to get a good quality rolling hanging rack from the Container Store and it works perfectly for her! Her strategy for keeping it beautiful is to keep things consistent. Stick to one type of clothing or one color scheme. I tried a rack from a different company that wasn’t very sturdy, so I always had a precariously leaning tower of clothes. So buy good quality!

My next attempt was to use an armoire. I added a dowel rod in the top and it was the perfect height to hang shorter items like shirts and jackets, and then I stored shoes in the bottom drawers. This is a great solution for anyone on a budget! Now that flat screen tvs are the norm, people are getting rid of armoires they previously used as tv cabinets for great prices.   

But I still wasn't quite there...

My designer Mom came to my rescue with a simple and functional soulution that only took an afternoon to install! My hanging space went from 3 ft to 6.5 ft using just a few stock materials from our local Home Depot and a shutter we found at an antique store! She added a cubby shelf and some cute storage boxes underneath to create even more organizational space for shoes and accessories. We finished off my new closet with some curtains from Tuesday Morning that blend with my existing draperies. I absolutely love my new custom closet and it adds so much charm to my room!

Thanks, dynamic duo sweet Andrea and her cute mom Sally, for sharing such an innovative, functional and beautiful way to create a closet!!!!

There are so many incredible closets for inspiration! You can find more pic ideas on my pinterest board here. The winner of the Christina Graci art give-a-way is Janet Sheperd Preble!! Congratulations Janet!! Have a wonderful Labor Day and a great week!!  Till next Monday!!! xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

I was thrilled to learn that Kemble Interiors, with offices in both New York and Palm Beach, will be expanding into Houston! I had, of course, heard and known about the wonderful work of Kemble Interiors for some time, but about two years ago, I got to experience the design firm's trend-setting work first-hand while helping Celerie Kemble and her associate Lindsey Herod with the finishes in a Houston home. It was so much fun watching this design legend's philosophies at play!!! 

Here's busy Celerie, sitting on her Serpentine sofa (photo by Don Freeman)!  In addition to running the New York firm, Celerie is constantly designing various pieces for her collections.  This sofa is part of her gorgeous collection of case goods and upholstery with Henredon Furniture. This line is perfectly complemented by her accessories collection from MAITLAND-SMITH.   

Celerie also has a rug collection with Merida Meridian!  She has a talent for mixing colors and patterns in bold, unexpected ways, as evident here in her Catalyst rug shown in Pink Grapefruit.  Check out more of her designs below!!!

Whether you prefer wool or jute, Celerie has some fantastic options! I've included the specs on these rugs below, in case you're interested in learning more about her collection with Merida Meridian:

• Catalyst, Plough, Tremor, Rake, Craze: 100% Wool, Made in USA, lead time 6 weeks
• Climb, Nasturtium Weave: 100% Sisal, Made in Belgium, lead time 2-4 weeks
• Cocoon: 100% Jute, Made in India, lead time 2-4 weeks         
• Belted Stripe: 100% Abaca, Made in Philippines, unbacked, lead time 12 weeks

There is truly nothing that this little lady doesn’t do well!!! She even has a wallcovering and fabric line with F. Schumacher! All of the items in Celerie Kemble for Schumacher espouse her well-known design aesthetic, combining classic lines with modern detailing and an eclectic flair. Celerie is a pro at blending a variety of styles and trends in a beautiful, harmonious way.  I just love how her F. Schumacher collection has everything from geometric patterns to ikats to metallic finishes to velvet!

So how could this busy mother of three have time to expand? Her right-hand gal, Lindsey Herod, a native Texan, was happy to take on the challenge! Here's Lindsey inside the incredible home I helped them with a couple years ago!  Go here to see the house when we first started and to meet Christopher Garrett, the renovator!!!

This two-story entrance has corridors upstairs and down as well as a room that leads to the upstairs halls.  After falling in love with a discontinued wallpaper, Celerie and Lindsey enlisted Segreto's help to replicate the look.  Using the wallpaper as inspiration, we came up with this elegant, two-color stencil design.

You can see the detail of the pattern above! It was such a pleasure getting to know Lindsey better throughout this process. She's been interested in art and design since she was a little girl. Although she graduated with a degree in architecture from Texas A&M, she quickly became head over heels for the interior design department at Pratt and completed her Masters of Interior Design there.

It was so fun for me to see how Kemble interiors maintained the home's cohesive feel while layering myriad colors throughout! I asked Lindsey how they managed to achieve this so spectacularly: ”I typically start with one pattern or multi-colored item in every room.  It might be a wallpaper or a rug or a fabric or a painting.  Then I draw everything from that.  And I always layer in texture.  A little grasscloth or sisal, some brass, something shiny, and something dull and always something old.  An easy way to do that, don’t buy everything in your home from one place or in one style.” Love that advice!

As you can see from this home, Lindsey adores color! While some people are afraid of using color because they're worried about flow, Lindsey's not one of them!!! "Flow can be overrated!  I’ve put a bright coral entry, next to a pale yellow living room, next to a natural grass cloth family room, next to a high-gloss mint lacquered dining room, next to a lime green kitchen!  It doesn’t feel odd or confusing; it feels like a surprise is up ahead."

This color philosophy is at play here, going from a room saturated with jewel tones to this more neutral dining room with plastered walls keeps the home interesting.  Kemble Interiors always finds so many unique pieces, like the iron doors, chandelier and velvet chairs on display here! With experience in cities across the country, Lindsey has developed a repertoire of shops she loves! Some of her favorites include Dixie Highway, Shi Ernhart, D&G Antiques, and Circa Who in Palm Beach, and in New York, she loves Todd Romano, John Rosselli, 145 Antiques and John Sallibello. 

While she's still discovering all the great places in Houston, Lindsey frequents Brown, FOUND, The Gray Door, Joyce Horn, MAI, Carl Moore, Longoria Collection, and Segreto Gallery when shopping for her Houston clients.

What a fun, unexpected back staircase!!!  I love the layers of interest from the paper, the washed wood floors, the wonderful pops of color in the fabrics, and the staircase balustrades that we embellished with a hint of gold. You can certainly tell that the Kemble gals love what they do!  

This wide open kitchen/breakfast area is spectacular! It has an eclectic feel, yet all the elements marry together perfectly!!!

The Carrera marble back wall reads like art! I think the combo of the industrial feel of the bar stools and the European touch of the brass and metal hood is so stunning! This is an absolute dream kitchen!!!

Our part in the kitchen?  The floors!  Taking inspiration from the window treatments, we hand-painted the floor with a design of delicately scattered leaves.  Throughout our conception of these floors, I imagined it as though we had thrown leaves up into the air and then painted them wherever they landed.

In the cozy breakfast area, comfy chairs and a loveseat invite you to sit down for a family meal.  To personalize this space, we also added the kids' names around a few of the designs... they had so much fun looking for their names!!! 

Another clever idea - hiding the tv behind curtains! In a kitchen/breakfast space like this, I think this concept works particularly well since it draws on the cottage style of using curtains to enclose cabinetry.

It’s all in the details with this home! We not only finished all the vents and lights to blend with the papers, tiles, or paint finishes on the walls and ceilings, but we also added striping details to lights and finishing touches to furniture.  This guest room is still a work in progress, but we have just completed the walls and moved the furnishings back in.

What an amazing project to be a part of!  The best part was getting to know Celerie and Lindsey!!!  They are as creative as they are nice, beautiful and charming! Thank you so much to both of you for letting me share your work and a little of yourselves.

Next week: a bed and bath makeover from Lindsey and the Kemble Interiors team!  Have a great week everyone!  Till next Monday, xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website, click here or to purchase through Amazon, click here. To subscribe to Segreto Blog, click here.

Last week’s post introduced you to Lindsey Herod, a designer from New York firm, Kemble Interiors. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with this talented young designer, and this summer marked our second project together.

The master bedroom and bath of this home built in the 70’s had virtually remained untouched!!  After living with the banana yellow walls and bright green carpet for so many years, the owner of the home, oh so cute Jill, was ready for a full redesign of the room hiring the talented Lindsey for the interiors and  builder extraordinaire Steve Goodchild of Goodchild Builders for the renovation work.

Before…… 

Notice the shutter doors here—look for their Segreto transformation in the completed room!!!

Looking at these “before” pictures, Jill points out that the built-ins were a problem area: “Instead of using those shelves for antique pottery and wood candlesticks, it was a place to store folded towels, baseball hats, and pictures of the kids.” Jill and hubby had been renovating the rest of the home and had decided to completely wait on the master area until they could do exactly what they wanted.

After.....

Lindsey’s focus in the redesign was to open up the space and make the rooms relaxing and enjoyable spaces. As you can see from the “after” pictures, she definitely accomplished her mission!! The inspiration and color scheme for the bedroom came from the fabric used for the headboard – “Tribute to John Fowler” by Hazelton House – which combined Jill’s favorite colors of pale aqua and soft lavenders. “Beautiful fabrics are my favorite way to start a room scheme,” Lindsey explains.

Lindsey utilized Jill’s existing glass urn lamps and then accented the room with antique Swedish bedside chests and a sanded wood French console found in Round Top.  Lindsey also incorporated a lush purple fabric that they had found at Glicks (a discount fabric store in Houston having a going out of business sale).  We plastered the walls and ceilings in a smooth finish in a palest hue of  lavender.

You can see the tips of the shutters here.  These are the same ones painted gold previously, refurbished and repurposed!!! Now to Jills favorite element in the room—the floors!!! “The painted floor is my most favorite element – I have never seen anything like it!” says Jill. It was certainly fun to create!

The inspiration for the floor design came from a pic Lindsey and Jill saw on my Pinterest board when we were meeting at my studio to go over the concepts for the room. The Segreto team hand-drew a pattern onto the floor, creating a stencil, then painted and hand embellished it.

Now for the bath!!!

In the bathroom, Lindsey made the call to start completely from scratch: “We started with a blank slate and ripped out everything existing and the closets to make one big wide open space.”  Steve and Lindsey actually drew out them plans themselves on the walls.

The bathroom was a complete transformation!! Walls were remodeled in the bedroom and existing closet to expand the square footage of the bathroom.  The gorgeous tiles you see are handmade concrete tiles by Aguayo in the Dominican Republic. Lindsey loves how the colors and patterns can be customized. Lindsey loves the softness they lend to an otherwise hard surfaced bathroom.  Aguayo’s line can be found at Architectural Design Resources in Houston.

The smooth plastered walls in the bathroom create the perfect backdrop for the artwork – a Christina Graci original – found in the Segreto Boutique.

I had to look back at the before pictures to remember what and amazing transformation this space was. Lindsey so perfectly captured Jills style and Goodchild Builders did an amazing job making it happen.  Thank you so much to Sweet Jill, for trusting me to be a part of such a fun wonderful project.

What's New at Segreto Boutique! 

Getting ready for Holiday shopping--I’m loving all the new jewelry we have gotten in. From bracelets to earrings to necklaces the price points range from $25 to $1000. I had to purchase a few myself!!!

Loving these driftwood reindeer and Christmas tree creations. Quantities are limited on these unique creations – the reindeer are $55 each, the small tree is $169 and the larger tree is $195.   

I am so proud to say that the two new paintings above were created by my daughter, Kirby! We have been doing some mother-daughter painting lately and these are the finished products. I think she did a great job!

We also have a few brand new paintings available from Debbie Mosley – “Chillin in the Air” is shown above.

Finally, I have brought a few more of my own  created during that Mother daughter time!!

Stop by the boutique to see all of our new inventory!!  1414 Antoine, M-F 9-5.   Till next Monday!!  Xo Leslie

To purchase “Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors” on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to Segreto Blog click here. 

Like a little black dress and a good pair of pumps, fashion and art have always gone hand in hand. From ball gowns to wedding dresses, simple shifts to sundresses, the dress is an iconic piece of clothing that can be found in closets and art alike.

Dresses were made to be both functional and fashionable, although the styles have changed drastically within the last 100 years or so. 

The pictures above show a few fashionistas wearing some of this century's most famous dresses that have inspired art, and been inspired by art - you probably recognize a few!!

One of my all-time favorite dresses is Scarlett O'Hara's green velvet hoop skirt dress in the classic movie, Gone With The Wind. Money was tight for Scarlett during the Civil War, so this famous vixen resorted to using the velvet curtains (complete with tassels!) from her home to create an eye-catching dress. Desperate times call for desperate measures!!

These and other memorable dresses have inspired contemporary fashion and art in a multitude of imaginative ways.

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The dresses adorning the walls of these rooms come from the talented Todd Murphy, an artist well known for his paintings of highly stylized dresses set against dramatic backdrops. The dresses look so realistic, you fell as though you could reach out and touch them!!

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I just love the oversized painting in this room, designed by Lucinda Loya Interiors of Houston - it makes a royal statement!!

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Here are some of my favorite renditions of dresses found in artwork that I have pinned recently on my Pinterest board!!

If you really start to look, you will begin to notice the different interpretations of the dress all around you. More and more I have been seeing dresses framed and literally used as the artwork - such a fun idea to add visual interest to a blank wall!!

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Some creative moms are using their children's baptism dresses or vintage children's gowns to beautify the walls of their nurseries.

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If you're married, your wedding dress is probably the most important dress you've ever worn. Rather than hiding it away in a closet or garment box, why not showcase it on the wall of a walkpin closet or hallway in a Lucite frame?

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At weddings and formal events, you can see the influence the dress has had on decor in elegant chair covers and trimmings. So pretty!!

Segreto has a few artists of our own who have their individual take on "the dress"!!

Recently, one of our clients commissioned Segreto artist, Rachel Schwind, to create replicas of her wedding dress and child's baptism dress to decorate the walls of her home. Rachel carves her designs from plaster and then glazes them to enhance their wonderful texture. Sentimental and one-of-a-kind, these pieces become heirlooms.

Here is another lovely creation by Rachel Schwind. I love the texture her technique creates to bring movement to the piece!! 

This sculpture of a simple yet feminine dress by Segreto artist, Doug Forrester, was created from reclaimed wood with vintage 24 carat gold accents. It really pops off the wall in this Houston home!!

Kiah Denson is another one of our wonderful artists featured in the Segreto Boutique who currently has fashion-inspired artwork here.

I have also found myself moved by th glamour of the dress! Above is a 40" x 30" mixed media canvas I created with an embellished party gown complete with jewels and rhinestones.

For a stylish look in the kitchen, we carry these great linen aprons from Ice Milk Aprons for $72 - they come in oatmeal with a black sash, or cream with an oatmeal sash.

These shabby chic slipcovers from Beadboard Upcountry we carry at the boutique have a light, feminine look to them with beautiful linen skirts reminiscent of dresses.

I hope you enjoyed exploring the inspirations between fashion, design and art!! Visit my Pinterest board to see more fun inspiration. Have a wonderful week - Till next Monday!! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

What a treat to work with designer Mary Nell Corson and Goodchild Builders on this recent project!! Mary Nell has been in the design business in Houston since the early 1980's and has worked with these homeowners for the last 15 years. Steve Goodchild, builder extraordinaire, has built or redone the last 6 homes for these oh-so-sweet owners!! This long-lasting client relationship certain gives tribute to this dynamic duo's abilities.

The biggest challenge up front was deciding whether to keep the existing structure or start anew. In the end, the vast majority of the home was demolished leaving only the garage and its living quarters above intact which allowed a fresh start to include the most up to date energy efficient technologes, and much desired open floor plan. Expert home designer, Robert Dame Designs, was brought in with his right hand guy, Don Pattie, both of which did an exceptional job. This new home is equipped with beautifully detailed oversized living areas and walkways - perfect for entertaining guests which is something very important to this couple whose growing family visits often - 7 children and 16 grandchildren so far.

As you enter the home, it's not hard to notice the breathtaking wood floors made of 250 year old reclaimed oak that came from Custom Floors. Mary Nell chose to use plaster because of its classic timeless appeal and the richness it lends to the walls. She believes "the subtle finish of the plaster adds a certain amount of elegence without being too formal. It is just so much more interesting than a solid paint color and less busy than a faux type finish."

As you go through the photos, notice the stunning lighting used throughout the home. Unique and one of a kind pieces from around the globe really give each space personality. Above this chandelier, Segreto gave presence to this vestibule by hand-painting an intricate medallion atop the plastered groin vault ceiling.

The powder bathroom was inspired by the architectural elements found in Roundtop, Texas at Marburger and a few pieces which were converted into one-of-a-kind sconces. Mary Nell also owns a custom lamp and shade shop, so she really has a creative eye. Notice how we hand painted around the sconces to expand the size of them. The marble top is cut  from an unusually thick slab found at Mary Nell's favorite marble source, Sweeney Marble, in Houston. Just beautiful!!!

How inviting is this study?? Although many items in the home were purchased during the renovation, the study decor remained almost intact from their pervious home since it is one of the homeowners' favorite rooms. The tight seating arrangement makes for such a cozy place to visit with friends and family. Mary Nell comments that one of her favorite parts of the room are the appliqued crest pillows created by Marsha Henshaw on the sofa.

In the dining room, the main goal was to make sure there was enough room to house people during large parties and to include enough seating for their 7 children and respective spouses - what a big group!! The fabulous inlaid table came from Carl Akins many years ago, but needed a big of an update, so he came out to add additional leaves, a third pedestal and refinish the entire table. Now that's what I call great customer service! The walls and ceiling maintained the same continuity of the tinted plaster throughout and the baseboards were colored to blend with the plaster. But wait, notice those doors!!

Mary Nell and the homeowners were inspired by the vintage doors they had seen but were not the right scale for the space. No worries - taking elements from many pieces they had seen and coming up with a unique design, they had their own custom doors built. We had a ball finishing them to an age old feel. Here's a picture of the doors in progress, just waiting for the finishing touches!!

The hallway that goes to the left of the entranceway leads to a bar, the kitchen and breakfast area!! You can see the dining room on the right.

The den acts as the perfect gathering place. The wood beams and plaster accent the ceiling to bring an established feel to the room. And I just adore the floor lamps!! They were originally two antique columns from Joyce Horn to which Mary Nell had large bases, wiring, and custom shades added. Simply wonderful!!

To the left of the den, large doors lead to the sunroom. With serene-colored plastered walls and beautiful furniture, you truly feel as though you have walked into a spa retreat!

To the right of the den is this fab kitchen I love!! The beam motif is carried in from the rest of the house hinting at a slightly rustic style and creating a great sense of continuity. The custom stove hood from Lonestar Range & Hood is made from aged copper. The finishes Segreto used on the cabinets in this room really make it a feast for the eyes!! We used two different  finishes and a multitude of textures to add interest to the room but also make sure to balance the other strong elements at play here. 

The breakfast room turned out to be the perfect space to display the homeowners' extensive dish collection - they use several sets regularly when they entertain guests! I got to use my favorite Blaygeen color on these cabinets.

From the catering kitchen, you can take this hallway back to the study. Again, we see the wonderfully warm aged oak and beautiful staircase balustrades that really welcome you into the home.

That's all for this week's tour of this wonderful home!! Make sure to read our next post where we will continue our journey through the same home and get a peek into the upstairs and master bedroom. What fun!!

What's New at Segreto Boutique

All of the girls at the office are loving this new collection of jewelry we just got in!! The druzy earrings are gorgeous and the vintage tassel necklaces are perfectfor layering!!

Speaking of decadent, we also just received a new shipment of antique textile pillows. These beautiful restored antique embroidered and applique velvet pillows are sure to sell quickly so come by the boutique soon!! 1414 Antoine, M-F 9-5.

I hope everyone has a great week - Till next Monday and part two of our home tour!! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

Welcome to part two of our tour through this exquisite home from interior designer Mary Nell Corson, homebuilder Goodchild Builders, and home designer Robert Dame Designs!! If you missed the first half of the home, click here to read all about it.

A beautiful exterior. I love the way its very charming, "Welcome" is what it says to me, and welcoming are what these lovely homoewners are!!

After entering the home, our tour takes us straight towards the master bedroom. This elegant gallery walkway coated in plaster leads to the master suite. You can see the study to the right! 

The homeowners' master bedroom retreat evokes a serenity that is a must in the room you sleep in! The distinctive rug was custom made, based on one they saw at The Cloister in Sea Island, Georgia a few years back. It was our color inspiration for the room from which we customized the plaster providing a subtle backdrop to the stunning fabrics and furnishings in the room!  

The plaster was continued into the master bath area. We lended some finishing touches to the space by distressing the furniture-quality cabinetry and gold leafing the framed mirror designed by Mary Nell and built by Steve! The lighting is beautiful and the architectural pieces that Mary Nell found make each space so unique!!  

The shower and tub side of the bathroom is just as pretty. Notice how the paint for the trim and shutters blend with the plaster! This makes the cainetry and stunning shower surround stand out as the beautiful architectural features they are!!

Continuing in the hue of the bathrom, what a pretty, feminine closet just for her. The clothes are behind closed doors so as to not collect dust and whether the closet is actually organized or not, it always looks it!!  

His and her closets would be my dream! I absolutely love the way the husband's closet turned out, stained wood is handsome and masculine - perfect for a man's dressing area!!!

The upstairs is warm and inviting and has ample room for visiting grandchildren and guests!!  

Upstairs, the plaster but its tone was matched in paint lending continuity!! Although a custom mix, it is somewhere near Sherwin Williams 6106 150%. The blues mix so beautifully with this tone, Mary Nell certainly created a comfortable, casual, beautifully designed space. The built in cabinets that store the television were painted in a different color and finish from the rest of the room which really gives the impression that they are a separate piece of furniture with a distinct story. They seem to balance the one of a kind amazing screen hung as art in the room. Notice on the drapes, a carved cornice was constructed and finished by Segreto, adding that bit of detail that Mary Nell is also known for!!  

For the built ins in the sitting room, we created two different finish samples for the homeowners to choose from - a lighter and a darker version inspired by their fabric selections. Ultimately, we chose the lighter version shown on top.

In this upstairs bathroom, we distressed and stained the cabinetry in a grayed finish. Love the industrial bookshelf with more traditional features such as the mirrors, rug, and sconces.

My favorite part of this bath is the tub in the shower. Because of the placement of the window in the room, Mary Nell chose a beautiful Sunbrella fabric (which is able to get wet!) and had it screen-printed by Silkworks to add the damask-type design. Voila! Instant and lavish privacy. Brilliant!!!

You know you're in Texas when you find a pair of antlers on the wall!! In this guest room, sophisticated elements such as the ornate gold picture frames and oriental rug come together with the more rustic wood elements and antler decor in perfect harmony. I love the custom king-size headboard from Hien Lam!!   

In another guest bathroom the vanity was glazed with a dusty blue color pulled from the marble counter top. She picked up this accent with the monogrammed towels and architectural piece!!

The homeowners wanted each of the rooms to be comfortable, special and distinct. Robert Dame did a great job on the plans and it was such a joy to work with these homeowners, Mary Nell, and Steve. They made a great team and created such a beautifully designed, well-constructed, quality home which I was so honored to be a part of -- the final product turned out exquisite!!

In the spirit of entertaining, which this home is decidedly perfect for, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes which is so easy to make and always requested. We made it for lunch this week in our office -- it was definitely a crowd pleaser!!

Leslie's Chicken Salad!!

 Ingredients:

• 2 cans Kirkland's chicken from Costco, drained -- I've tried other brands but this tastes better than a fresh cut up rotisserie!
• 5 or 6 hardboiled eggs, chopped well
• 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese or to your liking
• Hellman's mayo - have tried Duke's, there are many fans, but I like Hellman's better!
• Kosher salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients in a bowl - so simple, so easy, but so good!!

Put spoonfuls on cucumber slices garnished with a sliver of sweet tomato poppers to make a great snack or finger food for a luncheon!! You can serve them on trays or beautiful cutting boards like these marble ones we sell in our shop that range between $45 and $85. Presentation is key!!

Easy and delish!! Make sure to give this one a try, and let me know how it turns out.

Until next Monday, I hope everyone has a great week!! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

Monograms have been in vogue for centuries - and our era is no different!! Incorporating a monogram is one of the best ways to add a personal touch to your home, clothing, gifts and accessories. Some of my favorites are below!!  

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One of the first recorded appearances of the monogram was in Greek coins to identify the city where they were issued. Later, they were used by artisans and craftsmen as unique signatures for their work. Monarchs across the ages have used monograms to signify their family crest and lineage. Here is the gorgeous monogram that Marie Antoinette used - I love how simple yet glamorous the design is!! 

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In more modern times, monograms have come to graphically symbolize one's own name, or even a family name as a married couple. Traditional monograms consist of three letters intertwined as a design. The initial of the last name is centered prominently with the first name initial to the left, and the middle name initial rounding out the right side. Many young married couples celebrate their union by creating a new family monogram with the joint last name initial in the center, and the first name initials of each partner flanking the sides.

Monogram-Inspired Interiors

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The elegance of using a monogram on a cornice of drapery, as shown in this bedroom here, is undeniable!! The cool hues of this room work perfectly with the creamy white of the monogram.

   In this tranquil master bedroom, one of our clients utilized their monogram to customize their upholstered headboard, pulling the thread color from the more neutral bedding surrounding it. So pretty!! 

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A classic way to flaunt a monogram is to decorate your pillows, sheets, and even duvet covers. You can be as simple or embellished as you like - it is a reflection of your personality!! 

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Love this monogram stenciled footboard - a perfect touch to personalize a kids room.

Tiny Monograms - Baby and Children

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Here Comes the Bride!!

These days, and thanks in large part to Pinterest, people are trying to find ways to truly personalize their wedding day!! Below is a collection of bridal trends in mongramming mania!! I love the cowboy boots (especially for those of us in Texas!!) that are embroidered with the bride's new married name monogram. Customizing these boots for their special day, brides change into them for the reception to dance the night away.

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Thank you gifts to the bridesmaids and groomsmen have become commonplace in today's wedding scene!! An especially popular trend is for bridesmaids to receive matching robes or oversized Oxford shirts with their monograms on them to wear as they get ready for the wedding. For guys, a nice set of cufflinks or monogram travel shave kit from Jon Hart are great options too.

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Jewelry!

Ever since Carrie Bradshaw's famous name necklace worn in Sex in the City, monogram gold and silver trinkets have been popular for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Segreto's own jewelry designer, Jennifer Welker, was put on the map when her chic designs were worn by Pippa Middleton and Jenna Bush. We carry her full line of customizable jewelry here at the Segreto Boutique. They make great gifts!!     

Gifts

With the holiday season coming up, it's time to start thinking about gifts!! Here are a few fun ones sure to please!!

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What's New at Segreto Boutique!

Lines from Lollia!! We had so much fun testing all of the new scents - "At Last," "In Love," "Relax," and "Wish." 

Have a great rest of the week -- Till next Monday!! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to Segreto Blog click here.

This time of year with the holidays fast approaching,  there are so many deadlines to have clients' homes ready for parties and family gatherings.

Photographer: Wade Blissard

This lovely client's home was no exception. For the past 6 months while having so much fun working with Brad and Melissa in thier new home, I have been hearing about a party deadline but really didn't know what this special occasion was all about!

Photographer: Wade Blissard

Two weeks before the party, while Melissa and her team worked to perfect the finishing touches inside the home, Aztec Events and Tents  was constructing a tent coverting their entire backyard into a room to host the big affair!! At this moment I realized this event was special and asked about the function.  

Photographer: John Lewis Photography

This was not just a party but rather a charity event graciously hosted by my sweet clients and benefiting Texas Children’s Hospital’s Fraser’s Friends, a cause so close and dear to them. In 2011 their daughter Hailey, a 13 old fit, athletic young lady began experiencing a series of seemingly unrelated minor health issues such as sore throat, ear ache, sinusitis, and strep throat. The ailments would resolve after taking antibiotics, steroids, or allergy medications so they didn’t think anything was serious.   

In late May, Hailey had strep throat accompanied by fever that would not go away with antibiotics, so her pediatrician, Dr. Rey Calderon, advised her mom to take her to Texas Children’s Hospital to be safe.  After a very long terrifying day in the Emergency Room, her blood pressure fell to dangerously low levels. Within a few minutes it was determined she needed open heart surgery to remove a large amount of accumulated fluid around her heart caused by “viral myocarditis”, a condition they said they encountered only 14 times per year in the hospital. 

Hailey endured a series of 5 different operations over the next 30 days or so, and after many very scary moments and lots of hard work on her part, she was released from the hospital to begin her life on lots of medication.

Photographer: John Lewis Photography

Hailey, pictured here with Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Donovan Chair and Chief Congenital Heart Surgery at Texas Children's Hospital, is doing well, going to school but missing being able to play competitive sports. She has volunteered over the past two summers working at Texas Children's Hospital, has been a speaker at various fundraisers for the hospital, and has shown a confidence and poise that is rare for a 15 year old who has gone through all of the pain and anguish that she has endured.

Taking in enchanting ambiance, it was easy to get lost in the evening while walking around mingling with all of the guests and enjoying the amazing food by  Swift + Company. The realization of the importance of the evening became clear when the Juneau family began personally sharing their story. 

 
    Photographer: John Lewis Photography

In essence, as soon as Hailey was told she would need open heart surgery, the world class surgical team of Texas Children’s Hospital executed a highly complex surgery at 4:30 am the same day and saved Hailey’s life.  The Juneaus had no idea what they were facing when Hailey was taken to this hospital, which happens to be the third ranked hospital in the entire country. They very quickly gained a deep appreciation for the blessing that Texas Children’s Hospital and their talented staff were to their family, and the families of the many patients who are seen there each day. The average person may not consider a statistic such as a hospital ranking to be that important, but the moment that a loved one is at the brink of life or death, this statistic becomes the most important one you may ever encounter. Throughout the course of the evening, I was lucky enough to meet many of the supporters of Texas Children’s Hospital and I heard countless other tales of how this world-class hospital saved their children’s lives as well.

This is Melissa and I reminiscing on what a wonderful evening it was! The best part was learning more about Texas Children's Hospital and hearing beautiful, courageous Hailey and the Juneau family talk about their experience. Although my children have not gone through the unexpected health issues that Hailey has experienced, it comforts me greatly to know that if something ever should happen, Texas Children’s Hospital would be there for my family the way they were for the Juneaus.

Donations small and large are what keep Texas Children's Hospital saving lives, by funding their world class physicians, facilities, and research. To learn more about Frasier's Friends or if you would like to generously donate to the cause, please visit their website by clicking here. Thank you so much Brad, Melissa and Hailey for sharing your story and opening up your home!! We all wish your family continued health and happiness. Till next Monday! Xo, Leslie 

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Halloween is this week and kicks off one of the best times of the year - holiday season!! Here are a few simple yet impressive ways to treat (or trick!) guests in your home this Halloween:

DIY Tabletop Decor
If you plan on hosting any Halloween parties, a well-decorated holiday table is a must!!       

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Here's a cute do-it-yourself project using some of my favorite candy! Use a paper towel roll in the middle of a tall column vase and then fill the outer ring with candy corn and pumpkins to your liking. Spray paint a few branches (that you can pick up from your local craft store or even your front yard!) black and insert into the center of the paper towel roll. Ta-da!! A creative centerpiece.       

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Martha Stewart shares this great idea for place cards if you are serving a festive dinner!! Using black crepe paper, wooden skewers or toothpicks, and tags to write names on, you can recreate these pumpkin-bat creations for your own table!!  

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This is an easy one your kids would like to do -- bringing terror to a tablescape with this creepy flower arrangement!!

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Another fun DIY centerpiece with candy!! All you need is a little hot glue and a Styrofoam ball painted black.                               

Perfect Pumpkins
I shared some unique decorating ideas for your pumpkins last year in my Halloween blog post, but I keep discovering new and great ways to decorate them! This year's crop is below. For many of them, if you click the link to their source you can find a helpful DIY tutorial!!             

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Treats & Sweets 
Let's be honest - everyone looks forward to Halloween so they can indulge in all the candy they want! And we all know calories don't count that night... But if you're looking for something a bit more healthy to serve, these made of apples, marshmallows and peanut butter would be fun to make and eat.

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For more traditional Halloween sweets, these festive goodies below make my mouth water! Click on the sources to view the recipes.               

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Helpful Halloween Tip!

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I'll leave you with a great new tip I learned from browsing Pinterest (click here to see my boards)! If you plan to put out your pumpkins early this season, wash them in a mixture of bleach and water first. This should clean the pumpkins of all dirt and other residue that can cause them to rot quickly. 

We are branching out at the Segreto Boutique! 

Finally, I found a unique line of gifts for men and right in our backyard!! The sons of one of my clients developed Paris Texas, a fun menswear line, and we are so excited to be carrying their array of ties!! Love the oil rigs, Texas flag, fish, "Come and Take It" and armadillo patterns!!

We are so excited to be carrying Mela & Roam's line of baby clothes and blankets. The first set of pictures above are traditional Indian summer blankets called Dohars. Made from three layers of pure, super soft cotton, their weight lies somewhere between a sheet and a blanket the perfect baby gift!! All of their hand loomed products wash well and are so super cute!!

I hope you can use some of these festive Halloween decorating and cooking ideas in preparation for the big night on October 31. Till next Monday!! Xo, Leslie  

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

Goodness with the holidays coming up we have really been busy at Segreto! From painted furniture to plastered walls and stenciled bathrooms, we are busy trying to put the finishing touches on our clients' homes for friends and family to see!!

Cabinet, Furniture and Wood Finishes!!    

This cabinet previously had different doors on the bottom and open shelves on the top. After the piece was re-designed with new doors, we completed the look by applying an aged finish atop in one of my favorite colors "Blaygeen."

This piece was done in our furniture refinishing shop! Previously stained mahogany, this piece made quite a transformation and complements perfectly our clients' newly redone breakfast room!! 

This formerly inexpensive feeling stained piece transformed the bathroom's look when a textured much lighter finish was applied. The added gold leaf rubbed onto some of the carvings, dressed up the piece without making it too formal for the space!!

Yikes!!!! Caught myself in the mirror while I was photographing the finish we just completed on this pretty antique to help it blend with the mirror above.

This one was quite a challenge. Loving this early American antique from the 1700's, these clients had the bottom base added to give the piece more height and extra storage. Given to us in a raw wood state, I would say the guys did a pretty good job making it all look like one!! 

Wanting to tie in her new wood ceiling with the reclaimed beams installed in this sunroom renovation, we aged the ceiling to blend with the beams making it impossible to tell which is old and which is new. With the homeowners' wonderful taste in furnishings and designer Courtnay Elias' fab fabric and rug, this room is as charming as it is comfortable. Many of the accessories came from Segreto's new boutique store!!

The treatment was carried out onto the patio. Modern Masters makes a wonderful dead flat exterior sealer that protects the finish without any sheen or yellowing over time.

Stencils

Who says stenciling is reserved for the walls!! This ceiling in an office really gives this space personality! Don't forget to look up when coming up with the finish designs for your room!!

Loving all the new geometric designs now available! This one looks so great with the drapes that Miss Mollie picked out for the space!!!

This back powder room had a major transformation with this damask stencil we applied to the walls. Leaving the base color of the cabinet the same, we gave it a furniture look with a series of soft glazes!!!

This range hood design felt a bit empty before we started applying the stencil. By hand embellishing the design, dimension was created. The right side is complete, while you can see the left doesn't have the embellishments painted that create a beveling effect. Way to go, Alex!!

What's New at Segreto Boutique!

We are so excited to have just received a shipment from Tizo, an Italian company that crafts beautiful home décor and gift items for men and women alike. The owner, Alex from LA, stopped by the store so we could meet him in person as he showed us the new items in their line!

For men, we now carry these handsome trays, coasters, picture frames, and clocks that would be perfect in a study or office.

Of course we ordered more colorful jewelry boxes for storing and organizing your jewelry collection!! And these gorgeous silver trays would look fabulous on a vanity or buffet. Love these!!

And my personal favorites are these unique acrylic and bamboo picture frames!! They come in various colors and sizes including 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10. Visit the boutique anytime M-F 9-5 to see all of the lovely new gift items from Tizo!!

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at what we've been up to lately here at Segreto. Everyone have a great week!! Till next Monday! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

Boxwood Interiors and B2 are two of my favorite home furnishings stores in Houston, combining New York Chic, Country French, and contemporary. I get so many wonderful ideas looking at their eclectic well put together vignettes!! In a blog post featuring their original store here, you will also see they are the only retailer in Houston that carries Farrow & Ball's paints and papers and that they have some of the best selection of pre-made pillows of anyplace I've seen.

I was so excited when I found out they were opening a new store, B2, located at 1320 West Alabama Street in Houston, and they called me to do some work there!! Look beyond the custom made couch and see if you can sneak a peek at what we did!!

There is my crew hard at work painting the floors!!! This shop is a must see! Bret Duhon took an old home, much like I did, and turned it into an amazing very well done showcase!!! On top of being the creative genius behind the Boxwood stores, he also does the most amazing interiors.

Here is a home we worked on together that was just published in Decor magazine!!! It was spectacular!!!

The Newest Member of the Family - Boxwood Containers!!
It has always been Bret's dream to travel abroad and scour Europe for fine antiques and collectibles. Loving the feel of a collected home, the Boxwood team traveled to France, Germany and Belgium, hand selecting unique antique and vintage items.

Boxwood Containers, open only when new shipments of their hand-picked antiques arrive, will host their first big sale on November 12th to designers and the 13th-17th to the public. Hours will be from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at the new location: 4622 Center Street, Houston, Texas 77007. Read on for a preview of some of my favorite items in their inventory!!

What are their favorites? Haha - they compared that to choosing a favorite child! Maybe it's this incredible gilt Louis XVI mirror with rope detailing that I found them swooning over?

Perhaps it is one of these three matching crystal cage chandeliers from France that would look breathtaking paired together in a long hall?

Or maybe it is one of these Globes de Mariee from the 1800's that I personally fell in love with!! These antique displays, which can house anything from mirrors to porcelain pieces to wedding crowns, have been traditionally placed prominently in the formal dining room of a married couple. They preserve wedding souveniers and tell the story of the couple's wedding and life together and continually grow add photographs, locks of their children's hair, and special jewlery!

Don't worry brides-to-be! There are some beautiful empty vintage French cloches on hand too so you can place your own memories in them!! 

The Boxwood team says their first collection has exceeded all of their expectations and I agree!! I encourage you to stop by the sale this coming November 13-16 to shop all of their beautiful vintage finds and antiques. If you would like to see more pictures, feel free to email Boxwood Containers to ask for preview photos of any specific items you may be looking for. They will be happy to assist you!! And make sure to visit their website and Facebook page as well to be kept up-to-date on new arrivals and upcoming sales!!

Tie Up Your Holiday Shopping at Segreto!

 We have extended the hours!!! Please join Segreto for our open house on Thursday, November 14 from 10:00 - 7:00 and Friday, November 15 from 10:00 - 3:00! Come see our new look while holiday shopping! You will find unique gifts, jewelry, art, home accessories, candles, baby gifts, menswear, ornaments, bath products and more!! We hope to visit with you there! Have a wonderful week!!! Till next Monday!! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.

Since I have painted the backsplash at my home (you can see it here!) and it has held up for over a year, I have felt confident to recommend this as an option to my clients. Here is a kitchen we just completed with tips and step by step instructions!

Moving into this lovely new home, the clients wanted a lighter cleaner look for their kitchen without a major redo!! They replaced the countertops with a light colored concrete and hired us to paint the tile.

We first cleaned all the surfaces very well and then applied the primer shown on the right. After it was completely dry, we painted the product shown on the left tinted to a chosen color atop.

After it was painted a solid color we decided it needed a bit of a glaze to help pull in the various tones of the concrete that one color just couldn't accomplish!! Here are some different samples we were playing with. You will notice too that the center tiles were never grouted. By applying a bit of caulk and then repainting it, the gaps were closed!!!

The texture of the stone was brought out a bit and the kitchen was given a whole new look at a fraction of what it would have cost to replace the tile!! 

Voila!!

Art Installed

This client fell in love with Kirsten McLean's painting from Segreto's gallery to the left but needed a complementary piece to flank the opening and go over the chest. She commissioned us to create a piece especially for her! I love how the contemporary art fits in with her more traditional French pieces!!!

This Christina Graci painting from Segreto's gallery really works perfectly with the beautiful vignette in an entryway in which the plaster was just completed!!

For my own home, I have been shopping for new things for an upcoming remodel! I was successful at Memorial Antiques and Interiors. I don't know where they will go, but I just fell in love with these vintage acrylic chairs from Kathy Flournoy's booth and had to get them!!

I also scored this antique chandelier from Janet Wiebe Antiques for my dining room.

I really loved this one at Joyce Horn Antiques from an old opera house in Paris but it was a tad too big! So sad, but there were two of them so they may still be available!!!!

Right now with the holidays fast approaching I haven't had time to complete my own home. My daughter, Kirby, who graduated from Texas A&M in May went to work for designer Talbot Cooley. Very talented and oh-so-sweet Talbot also has her own jewelry line. With home interiors and jewelry being two of Kirby's passions, it was a perfect fit for her! I have asked them to help me pull my dining room together, among other things, in time for Christmas dinner. Kirby found these rounded French chairs from Judith's Wholesale Antiques. At $100 each, they were a true bargain. I am thinking about mixing them with chairs I currently have. They of course will be painted, slipcovered, and monogrammed!

If you missed our Holiday Christmas event come in anytime M-F, 9-5.  We have lots of great gifts for everyone on your holiday list!!  Segreto is at 1414 Antoine(same street as Ikea), 3 houses north of Westview, in a light house with gray trim across from St Regis School. There is no sign.  Extra parking in the back! We look forward to catching up with you all!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week!! Till next Monday! Xo, Leslie

To purchase "Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors" on our website click here or to purchase through Amazon click here.

To subscribe to the Segreto Blog click here.