Before

We are back at the Ronald McDonald House once again working with the incredible team from Marriott Hotels.  This time it is a “jungle” themed room, which Karen is designing.  It has morphed into a sort of safari/circus room, full of animals and color.

piles of inspiring animal photos

I have joined Karen in the painting, and here is what we have done so far – the big ribbon-cutting ceremony is next week!

Beds Go Here

Karen’s zebra, and chimpanzee in a tree

We both worked on the cabana effect over the bed areas, and I have painted the lions, giraffe, banana tree, and the monkeys, while Karen has added the zebra and chimpanzee in the tree.

Ronald McDonald House Charities threw their annual volunteer appreciation night party in April, and asked Karen and I to teach a “wine and paint class” as part of the evening’s festivities.  How could we say no?  So Karen came up with a design, and we got all the supplies ordered, and prepared to teach over fifty volunteers to paint a picture!

The party was held at Oaks Park in the banquet hall, and there was plenty of food and just enough wine so everyone was in a great mood when it was time to put them to work.

 Even the bartender joined in the fun!

Of course, I can’t resist stopping in to visit the Train Station in the dining room, to see someone having a little fun with it on my way to meet the new room adopters!

              My partner, Karen And I had so much fun working with the zany and awesome crew from four local Courtyard by Marriott Hotels – they swept in and re-did one of the older rooms at the East House, turning it into an undersea fantasy for RMHC families.  They started by scoping it out with us one day, and then, like I Dream of Jeannie, they got busy and quickly transformed the whole space, even adding a ceiling fan, and doing all the remodel work themselves.  Yes, we were actually painting while they ironed curtains, installed the lighting and new blinds, and put in a brand new carpet.  And yes, they actually showed up in their nice dress clothes, and never got a drop of paint on them.They threw a big party and ribbon-cutting ceremony, and fit 28 people into the rather small space, to celebrate.

We think everyone is happy with the new room, full of color and light and joy, just waiting for the first family to settle in.  We can’t wait to team up with this group again!

The completed room is full of nice details – they had fun shopping – and we had fun adding sweet touches, like the painted sunken treasure toy chest, which began life as plain, white and waiting for paint.

(Once again, I have to say it – I love Ronald McDonald House and all the people I meet there.)

Recently I have been painting some unusually colorless walls – but while they feature only shades of gray in their palette, they are certainly color-full in their visual impact.   This bedroom, when it is done, will be completed with all white bedding and crystal chandeliers for a powerful but romantic urban space painted to mimic aging concrete.  We washed pearlescent and silver metallic paints over the gray and white to soften the hard, edgy look with some feminine romance.

 Obviously, I love color, but I also appreciate the bold and simple impact some straightforward black and gray and white can add to a space.  In this house, the vast walls were all painted the same benign tone of beige, and the client was going crazy (the house came this way.)  She decided to choose a couple of areas to cover with a dynamic combination of simple shapes, and dramatic contrasting black and antiqued white/cream.  It completely changes the feeling of the rooms, and was a wonderfully neutral way to add a backdrop to whatever else she wants to bring into her home – new colors, textures and decor can all work well with these walls, and can change without competing. The office, seen here, has 14 foot walls, that really needed something other than more beige!  We painted the opposing wall solid black, and then did this harlequin treatment.  You can see in the detail we added a little bling because… well, why not?

A surprising, but lovely place for some gray and white paint was this sweet nursery.  We added a touch of color with bird silhouettes, and a crown, but otherwise, the room was a super simple gray and white tree motif.