Sophisticated Living Gilding and Glazing
Built in 1901, Lincliff is a stately Georgian-style home in Louisville that sits on a high bluff above the Ohio River. Author Sue Grafton had purchased the house and started an extensive remodeling of the interior. The plaster in this long, white coffered ceiling was hand-done and was starting to flake off in certain sections, revealing the horsehair originally used in the plaster 100 years ago. The interior designers on this project asked me for ideas on how to complete this part of the house because it was so long and detailed. I suggested glazing and gilding to create a dramatic statement for the house.
After a tremendous amount of preparation and neck-breaking labor, the final result revealed an incredible gilded coffer ceiling surrounding rich, dark red faux finished panels.
This spectacular hallway is now a fitting centerpiece for such a majestic home!
Sophisticated Living Woodgraining
This home is situated in the prestigious neighborhood of Indian Hills in Louisville. Before the renovation, the library had all-white crown molding, baseboards, built-in cabinets, and bookcases. All of this woodwork was woodgrained to resemble straight grain mahogany on the crown and baseboards, and flame mahogany on the panels.
The resulting transformation was simply stunning!
VICTORIAN FIREPLACE Restoration Gilding and Glazing
Built across from the former site where Thomas Edison first lit up the Southern Exposition with 5,000 incandescent light bulbs, this beautiful Victorian home lies in the heart of Old Louisville directly across from Central Park. This home was designed and owned by a female architect in 1890, whose ingenuity was way ahead of the curve, using steel in the construction of the house. Seeing the modern age dawn with Edison’s light bulb in the Southern Exposition, she also had the foresight to wire the house for electricity. The owner was also an avid Francophile, and the interior was decorated with a heavy emphasis on French detail.
However, this Victorian fireplace succumbed to the modern design age in the 1990s and was painted a dark, charcoal gray metallic. All of the wonderful Rococo detail was lost, especially the two female caryatids holding up the mantle. I was asked to give new life to a dark, boring focal piece of the house.
The fireplace was primed, painted, and then glazed to bring out the accents. Certain parts were double-glazed to bring out an additional third value of color. It was fascinating to see the details literally pop back to life. Selective ornamentations were accented with gilding to give the fireplace an extra punch of glamour.
The final result was spectacular, and the fireplace was completed on my 50th birthday… representing an exciting, new chapter of life for the three of us!
If you visit Louisville, you must visit these amazing Victorian homes here, especially St. James Court. This area is one of Louisville’s gems!
https://historiclouisville.weebly.com/the-southern-exposition-1883-1887.html
My Old Kentucky Home Restoration WoodGraining
Composer Stephen Foster first visited the John Rowan house around 1850 and was so impressed that he wrote “My Old Kentucky Home (Goodnight)”, which has become the state song for Kentucky.
Originally known as “Federal Hill”, the mansion underwent extensive restoration and renovation in 2005. Due to a previous partial renovation, the interior doors were mistakenly painted and could not be restored to their original state. I suggested wood-graining the doors to restore the look of the original doors and was hired to do all of the interior doors and the entrance doors as well.
The resulting renovation was incredible, and many skilled people did an amazing job transforming this wonderful landmark. As a native Kentuckian, I was proud to participate in preserving such an integral part of Kentucky's history and tradition!
https://www.visitmyoldkyhome.com/news/2018/1/3/10-facts-you-didnt-know-about-my-old-kentucky-home
Cave Hill Cemetary Restoration Gilding and Venetian Plaster
Cave Hill is a 296 acre Victorian-era cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the final resting place for a number of famous Louisvillians. Before the era of large municipal parks, it was common for cities to promote a garden cemetery as a green oasis and recreation destination, and Louisville was no exception. Cave Hill contains a number of stunning monuments situated in the middle of a beautiful park-like setting. Among the prominent people here are:
George Rogers Clark - American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War.
Patty & Milred Hill – The sisters who composed the “Happy Birthday” song.
Colonel Harland Sanders – The founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Muhammad Ali – American professional boxer, activist, philanthropist, and Louisville’s Native Son
The Administrative Board Room pictured on the right, was constructed in 1892 and was in desperate need of repair. The plaster walls were crumbling, and the wallpaper installed during a 1970’s facelift was peeling off the ceiling.
This renovation included a pearlescent, burnt orange, Venetian plaster finish on the walls, and gilding on the ceiling panels to compliment the solid mahogany panels and beams. The final reveal was absolutely stunning, and the grandeur of this beautiful, Victorian-era building was restored.
SOPHISTICATED LIVING Gilding And Glazing
This stately home is located in the prestigious area of Prospect in Louisville. Built by John Waller, this house demonstrates an attention to fine detail and exquisite architectural finishes throughout.
The entry foyer features a stunning light blue ceiling with gilded trim. The panels, bookcases, and crown molding in the great room have been glazed to accentuate the detailed woodwork, and to create a sense of depth and warmth in the room. The stairway contains dramatic gilded copper accents on an ornate black railing.
From the article… “Our goal was to create a home of grand proportion with details reminiscent of an era that embraced fine craftsmanship”, said Waller. Seeing how the rooms have come together in relatively short order, the homeowner is understandably pleased. “We couldn’t be happier!”, she said.