Gilded Glass

Gilding glass, or verre eglomise is a centuries' old technique of etching, applying metal leaf and paint to the reverse of a glass surface. This is our 21st century spin on the process. We think you will agree that this a very elegant finish.

We first positioned the 'positive' weed stencil on the glass panel and masked off a decorative border. Metallic leaf size (adhesive) is applied to the exposed glass.

When the size is tacky, variegated, metallic flakes are evenly distributed over the entire glass panel.

The stencil design is then backed with copper leaf and burnished with a soft brush. This ensures full coverage of leaf when viewed from the reverse.

A coat of sealer is applied for protection. When the size and sealer are totally cured, the stencil is pulled.

The final installation is the door of a newly constructed bathroom vanity. Stunning!!

Imagine the possibilities! Tabletops, serving trays, french doors, mirrors, sidelights, transom windows...endless!!

More photos to come, as we have several gilding projects in progress.

Susan & Tracey

FWS

The 5th Wall

A few posts back, Julie's dining room, we mentioned our 'strong' opinion regarding ceilings. Well, here we go again, a dining room and it's ceiling. The dining room walls had recently received a strie treatment. Strie is a combed glaze finish created by pulling 1 or 2 tinted glazes over a base color, resulting in a very fine pin stripe. The clients, Mary & Paul, weren't sure if the color or the strie were right for the room. We offered 3 solutions: paint an additional stripe over the existing colors on wall, add color and a medallion to the ceiling or do both.

It was decided to start with the ceiling. Replacing the expanse of the white ceiling with a warm, complementary color would change the entire feeling of the room. And adding a medallion would anchor the chandelier. Mary & Paul's existing walls were blue and the window treatments gold dupioni silk. We chose a gold lusterstone to 'warm up' the blue walls and balance the fabric and hardwood floor.

We won't bore you with the details of the installation...standard trowelling and stencil procedure for FWS. What we will share was the exuberant reaction of the clients: It's as if the ceiling color and artwork had ALWAYS been there!!! They were beside themselves. And it's true. The 5th wall just shouldn't be ignored.

We are currently doing some personal shopping for them, assisting them in completing some unfinished decorating projects.

No more white ceilings!!

Susan & Tracey

FWS