I am privilege to bring to you an interview with Steve Staresina, a dear friend to the Design Lines team and also a phenomenal artist right here within the Raleigh area. Take it away Steve.

DLL: When did you first meet Judy/Design Lines?

Steve: I began working with Judy about ten years ago. She brought me on for my artisan plaster work and distressing and wood staining finishes. Our first project together was a parade home that turned out beautifully. Judy and every one of the Design Lines designers are tremendously gifted and great to work with. Every time I am called to be a part of the team I know that it will be a great experience with the highest quality of design.

(Steve shown above with a commissioned piece for our client’s home above her mantel.)

 DLL: How did you develop your craft?

Steve:My artist and artisan profession grew out of my art and design studies at Kent State University. I have always had a passion for ancient and modern forms of art and visual communication. I came to Raleigh after college to find a growing, vibrant area with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham all having their own distinct flavors of design. I have enjoyed being able to work in and flow through each area, meeting different people and making friends along the way. At the time my interest was painting on canvas. I painted more realist subjects, but I had an interest in modern design. I studied endless books on plastering, wood finishing, wood graining and other artisan and paint finishes. This has enabled me to work in Raleigh in my artisan field going on twenty years!

(Above left, Steve used a faux leafing technique to mimic the look of a ultra expensive wallpaper and on the right matched the ceiling to the chartreuse fabric that lines the bookcase.)

DLL: What is so unique is that you not only do paintings, but distressing, antiquing finishing, and architectural motifs. What is the reasoning behind being so diverse in your artistic talent?

Steve:The progression of experimentation, invention and creativity has always been my focus. I want to bring a distinct and fresh approach to a design firm like Design Lines. I am currently working on recycled wood and artistic panels for walls and ceilings that can be illuminated with backlighting. These are not found typically in homes, but elements of these ideas can be used to create mood through lighting; it’s a real meld of my artistic approach to design.

DLL: For people who are not educated in fresco painting, briefly describe the technique?

Steve: My modernist fresco paintings are all natural marble and limestone plaster. I am currently working on a series entitled “Landscapes of Serene.” In the paintings there is an abundance of texture, layering and carving. A tranquility emerges from the use of ever slightly subdued colors. Judy has a wonderful client who commissioned me to paint the first of the series (which is shown above.) Over the beautiful limestone hearth, it conveys a  warm compliment to Judy’s overall interior design in the living room.

Today Stark Carpet’s Tim Cohen  from the Charlotte Showroom, presented the latest products from Stark at a lunch and learn. Thanks Tim for the lunch! Our favorite new product was Stark’s new paint collection. The palette is full of luscious colors fit for any area of the house!

Recent buzz about the paint has been in Elle Decor, New York Times and Home & Garden Magazine.

“Colorist David Oliver, designer, author and renowned colors specialist, brings an artistic, aesthetic expertise to designers through his knowledge of historic colors and their application to modern interiors.” Another plus?  The paint is non-toxic with no VOC’s. This paint is perfect for homes with children and pets.

Design Line’s favorites include “Squid Ink,” “Fog,” “Deep Water Garden,” ”Foundation,” “Elizabethan Red,” and “Diva.”   

Images: Stark Facebook Page & Stark Paint

Recently Molly and I had the opportunity to sit down with the Edelman Leatherrepresentative, Chris McGough, to see new Edelman Leather.  WOW, I we saw leather in a whole new way.  Not only did we see amazing new colors, styles, and applications, we saw leather that is powered by Crypton, which means, total FREEDOM! 

Edelman Leather Care products powered by Crypton apply the latest technology to cleaning and restoring; they contain no harsh chemicals, no bleach, no solvents; no VOC’s are released.  Food spills, liquids, some inks, red wine, and coffee can be removed easily.  The luxury of the leather is no sacrificed and is more practical.  It can be applied to all of the leathers listed here: All Grain, Baby Alligator, Cashmere Calf, Dream Cow, Jumbo Crocodile, Lusterleather, Magnifico, Metallic Dream Cow, Modern Metallics, Napoli, Parchment Cowhide, Royal Hide, Scotch Grain, Shagreen, and Smoked Metallic.  So next time you want to use leather but are afraid of the kids artwork ending up on it, or the bottle of red wine all over it, think again.  There is an option. 

We also got to see some full hides up close and do the whole touch and feel test.  What an amazing difference.  Here are some pictures of the pieces we looked at:

Another amazing feature that Edelman Leather does is BOOKBINDING LEATHER FOR UPHOLSTERY.

 Imagine, anyone can sit in an upholstered chair and feel intellectual because they are sitting in Bookbinding leather.  The story unfolds.

The concept is unique. A special dyed vegetable crust, a shade slightly lighter than the finished color, and, brings the grain to a dramatic peak. Onto this is our special glazing powder which enables us to polish the grain and the dyed color altogether. But know that these are crushed, crushed, crushed hides of ultra quality.
The colors are all new.  KEEP YOUR MIND AN OPEN BOOK!

We hoped you enjoyed the update on leathers!

Sincerely,

Molly and Ashley

You may recognize the fabulous and affordable fabrics above from Thomas Paul’s collection for Duralee.  It has been their most successful collection to date - so popular that he just released a second collection!  We couldn’t wait to share it with you!

Our Duralee rep shared that Thomas Paul got into designing fabrics after he couldn’t find affordable, yet well-designed pillows.  This fueled his philosophy to make his designs more accessible.  At the time, he was working on a tie collection and had an idea to use some of those silks for home accessories.  What started as a pillow line has now grown into fabrics, rugs, lamps, stationary, and more!

 We love the colors and graphic patterns that characterize his designs.  And I haven’t seen another designer with such a great look at such a perfect price!  Which fabric is your favorite?

Here’s a larger view of the fabric shown on the front of the book.

The color combinations are beautiful, and he has coordinates for each pattern that make pulling the room together easy!   This collection features designs including dragonflies, birds, seashells, turtles, fish, and more!  To see them all, click here.

Don’t forget to check back next week for another inspiring post!  With the new 2010 collections just out, this time of year is perfect to see the latest products in the design industry!

Lauren

Last night, Brittany and I attended a wonderful event at Rosenberry Rooms, a local and online design source for kid’s rooms!  We found them on the web a few years ago, for accessories for a nursery we designed – but we had no idea they were so close to home!  Not long ago, owner Susie Fougerousse decided to open a local showroom in an beautiful old house on Hillsborough Street.  They had an event last night to share their space with local interior designers – Brittany and I were in love!   

Brittany and I pose for a picture with Susie, the owner and mother of four.  We love these “diaper clutches” by Petunia Pickle Bottom!  (They also have the matching diaper bags.)  We enjoyed talking with her and seeing her vision for creating a place where busy mothers can find the perfect things for their children’s spaces.  We love having a place where we can take our clients to work on their nurseries and kids rooms!

They have adorable accessories – including a manly diaper bag for dad (seen on the top center shelf).  They have some of our favorite lines for kid’s rooms – and more – on display, including: Young America, Dwell Studio, Serena & Lily, and Stray Dog Designs.

Our favorite of the night:  this custom teepee, by TeePee for Me!  We love working on kid’s rooms and coming up with creative solutions just for you!  Check out some of the spaces we’ve designed: Harrison’s room, Haley’s room, Mason’s nursery, and a nursery for the Gass twins.

Thanks to Rosenberry Rooms for hosting a wonderful event!  We’ll be working with you soon - especially since Molly Simmons won the $1,000 gift certificate they gave away last night!  All three of her kids are pretty excited!

We’re truly sad to see another of our favorite publications go! As you may have heard, Time Inc. announced earlier this week that the September/October issue of Southern Accents will be its last. We’re still missing Domino, who closed earlier this year. (I actually went out and bought the book Domino published, so I could have a source for a bit more inspiration from them.)

We use travertine everyday in our industry but when I saw this story I had to share.

These pools are made of travertine a type of limestone deposited by evaporating water from the hot springs.

People have been coming to soak in these hot springs since at least 200 BC.

Archaeologist uncovered ancient ruins here, including baths, a gymnasium, and a Byzantine Church.

You want to know where you can find these amazing pools……. Denizli, Turkey. They are in a location called Hierapolis-Pamukkale, Turkey. The name of this place means “Cotton Castle” in Turkish.

I wish we could find something like this in the United States. What an amazing find!

Itching for a new look in your kitchen but don’t want to replace your cabinets? A new granite or marble countertop is the perfect solution! Read below for a few insider tips on making your installation a success.

1. When selecting an edge profile, consider not only the appearance of the edge, but the function as well. Will it feel comfortable to your arms as you are leaning on the countertop at the bar? Does it have a sharp edge that might be more prone to chipping if hit by a pot? Will it’s shape cause spills to “wrap” around the edge of the countertop and back towards the cabinets?

2. Make sure you are present when the fabricator comes to template your cabinets. This is when they take exact measurements and/or make a template that will be used to create the shape of your countertop. Inevitably, a question will arise as to how to address a particular area, and you will want to be a part of that discussion. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

3. Ask to be a part of the layout process after the templates are made. This is when the fabricator physically “lays out” the templates on your slabs to determine where the stone will be cut. Being a part of this process will allow you to put that beautiful vein directly in the middle of the island or to avoid the dark spot in the slab that you dislike. Not only is this part important, it is also lots of fun . . . like putting a big puzzle together!

4. Request that all faucet holes be drilled on-site. This will ensure that the faucet is placed exactly where you want it and will help you avoid any costly mistakes.

The images above were taken as I helped lay out the templates for a client’s new countertop at Absolute Stone in Cary. Visit them at http://www.absolute-stone.com/ to browse their showcase gallery and peruse their stone selections.

Have a question about installing a new countertop? Ask Stephanie by clicking the title to this blog and posting a comment in the “Comment” section at the bottom of the page.