Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Antique Inspiration: Antique Mirror

I am a huge lover of antiques. I am always inspired by what I see. One of our products, the Antiquing Mirror Kit, allows you to create your own antique mirror. I hope you inspired by these real antiques to make your own antique mirror!


Inspiration:
A Pair of George I Style Mirrors
These mirrors were made in England circa 1900s
Their sale price is $24,390
Now you could get 2 pieces of mirror cut,
then use the Amy Howard Antique Mirror Kit
and voila, you have your own antique mirrors!


Hollywood Regency Style Mirrored Vanity
This vanity is from US dating back to the 1950s Hollywood Regency style
This piece is on sale for $6,500
Now again you could find your own vanity or piece of furniture to cover in mirror
You would have to measure and cut your pieces of mirror
then proceed to antique the mirror to your desired ware
then you could glue the pieces to the piece of furniture for the finished piece!


Pair of Black Lacquered Night Stands/End Tables with Mirrored Tops
These Mid-Century Modern nightstands or end tables have gold hardware & mirrored tops
The pair is on sale for $2,800
For these pieces, you could use the Antique Mirror Kit as well as Black Lacquer
I would suggest cleaning the pieces, priming them with the Lacquer Primer
Spraying them with 3-4 light coats of the Black Lacquer
You could then measure the amount of mirror you needed
Antique the mirror and glue it in place


The Amy Howard At Home Antique Mirror Kit
 and additional instructions may be found on www.amyhowardathome.com!

Monday, April 28, 2014

One Step Color Combination: Cherbourg, Robins Egg, Credenza

Color has a few different definitions but as I am taking it right now, it is defined as the quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light; saturation orchroma; hue.



The colors I chose for this combination are three of the Amy Howard At Home One Step options: Cherbourg, Robins Egg Blue and Credenza. It is always fun to take on a few projects of pieces that may go together in a room so I have also included inspiration of the color palette.

Inspiration:
Nature can be a huge inspiration for color
Artwork & Pattern
Great kitchen cabinets & I love the dark green chair at the table
Beautifully painted antique chest

Now go take on a project of your own so simply with using the One Step paint!





Friday, April 25, 2014

Antique Mirror on Walls

In looking back at the history of mirrors, the first mirrors used by people were likely to be pools of dark, still water, or water collected in a vessel. The earliest manufactured mirrors were pieces of polished stone such as obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass. Examples of obsidian mirrors found in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) have been dated to around 6000 BC. Polished stone mirrors from Central and South America date from around 2000 BC onwards. Mirrors of polished copper were crafted in Mesopotamia from 4000 BC,and in ancient Egypt from around 3000 BC. In China, bronze mirrors were manufactured from around 2000 BC,some of the earliest bronze and copper examples being produced by the Qijia culture. Mirrors of speculum metal or any precious metal were hard to produce and were only owned by the wealthy. 

The invention of the silvered-glass mirror is credited to German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1835. His process involved the deposition of a thin layer of metallic silver onto glass through the chemical reduction of silver nitrate. This silvering process was adapted for mass manufacturing and led to the greater availability of affordable mirrors. Nowadays, mirrors are often produced by the wet deposition of silver directly onto the glass substrate.


Inspiration of Antique Mirror on Walls and Large Areas
Bathrooms
Dining Rooms
Sitting Areas
Great behind sofas
and Behind Beds
Bedrooms

Kitchen Back Splash

Create a luxury lifestyle, the DIY way!
The Amy Howard At Home Mirror Kit is available on www.amyhowardathome.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Featured Retailer: The Embellished Cottage

Our Featured Retailer this week is The Embellished Cottage located in Texas. Charlene Hardy, the owner, actually has two locations in Marble Falls as well as in Georgetown.
The Embellished Cottage in Georgetown
Georgetown Location
The Embellished Cottage in Marble Falls
Georgetown also. the dresser and mirror were finished with the Amy Howard products
Another dresser and mirror finished in the AHAH products

As quoted from Charlene, "My customers are so excited to have Amy Howard products available at my stores in Marble Falls and Georgetown. We're now working hard to put together a demonstration and workshops. What a wonderful product line and I am still learning various techniques to do lovely restorations. And the customers are loving those finished projects too."

It is always exciting to hear about how my retailers are working with their customers and using the Amy Howard At Home products!

The Embellished Cottage
inside Elements
203 Main Street 
Marble Falls, TX 78654

The Embellished Cottage
inside Camille's
711 South Main Street
Georgetown, TX 78626
(330) 353-0528

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Interplay of Texture and Scale

"When I'm designing a home, I give as much attention to the placement of a decorative chair as I do the hanging of an expansive painting, in every instance engaging the interplay of texture and scale...A well considered vignette can make a piece of art all the more beautiful by adding a complimentary energy and form."
-Kelly Wearstler 

Simple elegance and keen placement. Oval eye track....... always! 
Love the bright coral chairs on either side of this oversized mirror 
I placed this encaustic painting in my Living Room 
the texture of the painting adds another element to design in this vignette 
The interplay of the velvet sofa with the light carpet and painting work fabulously!



Monday, April 21, 2014

Gray and Blue One Step Paint Ideas

Color combinations are so important in the way that you look at room. Color can influence the mood as soon as a person walks inside. I have pulled together a few inspiration/idea images that had me thinking about certain One Step Paint colors working together. 
Here I have put together Rugo, Chelsea Square, and Atelier.

Ideas and Inspiration:
Even fruit/nature can be a huge inspiration for color!
Great upholstered headboard

I hope you are inspired by this color palette of One Step colors!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Antique Inspiration for using Lacquer

As I previously have said this week, the AHAH lacquer is one of my favorites in the product line. The smooth glossy finish and range of colors can really bring a piece of furniture to life. As inspiration, I have found a few antique pieces that may lead you to find your very own project to lacquer!

Inspiration:
Glamorous White Lacquered Credenza
This antique lacquered piece was made in Mexico in the 1960s
This piece is on sale for $12,000
Now you could use the White Perfection Lacquer and Gold Leaf to get the look!
You would need to clean off your piece, use the Amy Howard At Home Lacquer Primer,
then spray 3 light coats of the White Perfection Lacquer
If you want the gold accents, you could use our Bole, Gilding Size, and Golf Leaf

1950s Stilnovo Table Lamp
This antique lamp comes from Italy dating to the 1950s
This piece is on sale for $2,100
Now you could use the Sunny Brook Farm Lacquer to simply spray a metal lamp
In order to get that true glossy look, you must spray a few light coats 

Deco Secretaire
This Chic Art Deco secretaire is lacquered in Hermes orange 
and was made in France dating back to the 1940s
This piece is on sale for $5,800
To achieve this beautiful finish, you can use the Kumquat Lacquer
I always do suggest using the Lacquer Primer before spraying your colored lacquer

All lacquer colors and instructions are available on www.amyhowardathome.com 
or at one of our retailers!