Sweet Suites
Faux Effects® & D Home = Nokia Theater Renovation
When D Home Magazine approached Faux Effects International Inc.™ to partner up with the renovation of luxury VIP Nokia Theater suites, eyebrows were raised with much curiosity. What a great way to brand Faux Effects® products and expose some professional Dallas area decorative finishers in the process!
After gathering much information about how and when the project would take place, Faux Effects® agreed to donate the decorative finishing products to make it all happen.
Since time was of the essence, Faux Effects International, Inc - Florida, and their Dallas location, FE Dallas, went swiftly to work. The telephone lines were ringing off the hook from interior designers before decorative finishers even submitted their information for review. But, in lightning time, the Dallas area finishers, interior designers and FE products were matched up and the project began. All were completed within one month’s time, truly an amazing accomplishment! Over the next several pages you will find the fabulous VIP suite images along with the amazing process of the project and detailed decorative finisher information.
“Curtain Please!”…………….
Brad Jensen of Redgate Studios - Fort Worth, Texas was in great demand when the D Home magazine/Nokia Theater Grand Prarie project was born. Interior designers, David Call and Luis Carmona, involved with the project were aware of Brad’s unique talents and called to him to assist in transforming their Nokia Theater VIP suites into “works of art.” He was also called upon by AEG Worldwide’s (who operates the venue), Julie Curtis, to transform additional areas on the VIP level to masterpieces. These areas were not initially considered for renovations, but once Julie saw the suites transforming, the additional areas looked tired. They needed attention, too! Brad took on these challenges also along with colleague, Cheri Stripling of Illusions by Design-Fort Worth, Texas. The duo designed and produced the exquisite finishes of the Lobby and VIP Club transforming the areas into a chic atmosphere within the enormous arena. The walls were finished in Weathered Bronze LusterStone® in both areas.
In the lobby, Palette Deco™ Metallic Bronze diamonds with red break away accents were then trimmed out with Palette Deco™ Black to create a dramatic effect. The VIP Club walls were then accented with over 20,000 crystals in a chrysanthemum pattern. All floors in the lobby and VIP Club were finished with SetCoat® Black, Metallic Bronze, Brown, and Neutral White then glazed with AquaGlaze® and SetCoat® Black. The VIP Club floor received an additional accent of the same chrysanthemum pattern to make the area “pop!” Just spectacular!
On to the suites! LusterStone® SetCoat® and O’Villa® were the Faux Effects® products of choice when finishing the walls in various areas of the multiple suites. Each individual suite was then spotlighted with fine art from Brad Jensen’s collection to complete the mood and style each suite owner desired. The fine art Brad creates using Faux Effects® products have become sought by galleries in the area and currently is on exhibit in Fort Worth.
Brad Jensen, born in Southern California, is now living in Fort Worth, TX. “I have been involved in art since early childhood. As an artist, I think art should inspire, encourage, provoke and give back. It’s not about me, but more about how art can make a difference. I want my art to be able to make an emotional connection with the viewer. My Style ... Realism with a twist ... Sometimes in art, you need to get out of the way and just let the art happen.”
DECORATIVE ART BY: BRAD JENSEN & CHERI STRIPLING
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: DANIEL McCARTHY
WRITTEN BY: NATALIE WOODWARD
Creating fascinating faux finishes from a small pallet of colors, Eva Gallant transforms walls and rooms into personalized masterpieces. Adding depth and warmth, people seeing for the first time are compelled to touch the wall expecting it to have a multi-dimensional surface.
In addition to her own unique collection, Eva has been trained in many of the popular Faux Effects® techniques.
As a member of the International Decorative Artisans League she has had the opportunity to receive instruction from George Zaffle and Pierre Finkelstein, acclaimed masters of their profession, as well as Gary Lord and Jacek Prowinski.
Her own unique line of walls was inspired by real life events, people and places. Whether it is the sunset in the Montana Mountains (Remains of the Day), the art deco interior of a famous restaurant in Paris (Bofinger), or the rainforest of South America (Mission, a dedication to her late father), Eva has found inspiration and been able to artfully extract fromthose places the impressions that she incorporates into her works.
As an American raised in Europe, Eva knew at a young age that she had a talent for expressing herself bringing color together in unique ways. Her art is a culmination of a lifetime of travel and experiences in Europe, North America, South America, North Africa, Australia and New Zealand. All have provided profound inspiration to her through both vistas as well as native peoples. These unique experiences can be seen in her finishes. In her spare time Eva enjoys working on her decorative pieces inspired by tribal art. While traveling she enjoys interacting with the native peoples and is a fierce fly fisherman.
Eva’s excitement in working with the transition of the Nokia Theater was immediate upon receiving the call from Faux Effects Dallas. After an initial meeting and discussion, Eva’s assignment proved more challenging than originally thought. The designer, Luis Carmona of IO-Metro, had a vision of a glossy black custom stencil on matte black wall that would tease the eye to the illusion of a pattern in the indirect lighting of the room. The decorative finish would be opposite the viewing area to the stage and be the back drop of the Clear Channel logo; a subtle yet inviting wall, understated and complex at the same time.
Faux Effects® custom cut four stencils for the project from the complicated and detailed stencil design Luis had created. The stencil paint needed to match the desired effect while also taking into account the application process and the life of the stencils. After many different variations were tested (LusterStone®, Pallet Deco™, Venetian Gem® Black Onyx) and seeking the advice of her IDAL colleagues the formulation was settled on a Venetian Gem® Clear Gloss custom tinted with FauxCreme Color™ Black. Eva started the project with a base of SetCoat® Black. The application of the stencil design was accomplished with a small foam roller after setting the stencil on the wall with a light spray of stencil glue.
The wall exceeded Luis’ expectations and Eva was grateful and delighted by the support she received by her IDAL family and wants to convey a special thanks to Nancy Jones, Jennifer Ferguson, Mindy Harrell, and Robyn Gailey.
DECORATIVE ART BY: EVA GALLANT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: EVA GALLANT
WRITTEN BY: EVA GALLANT
Robert Mann, a proficient FE Dallas student, produced exotic Zebra Wood cabinets using Metallic Bronze SetCoat® and Ebony, American Walnut and Natural Cherry Stain & Seal™, topcoated with C-500™. Robert is the founder and owner of One of a Kind Faux Finishing established in 2000 in Dallas, Texas. “I have enjoyed learning about and working with Faux Effects® products and showcasing my work in different venues,” explains Robert. “I have used Faux Effects® products with confidence, due to their superior quality and ease of use. I feel honored to have a small portion of my work included in [this] magazine, as well as in the Nokia Theater.”
DECORATIVE ART BY: ROBERT MANN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ROBERT MANN
WRITTEN BY: SANDRA TAYLOR
Design competitions come in all shapes and sizes, and this year D Home Magazine generated lots of buzz with its “Elite Luxury Suite” design competition for NOKIA Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. With its 6,350 indoor seating capacity this venue was conceived and designed to accommodate a wide range of stage productions, including pop rock, country, comedy, magic, Broadway, and family shows.The VIP luxury suites enjoy spacious seating, private entrances, upscale catering and now – a new theatrical look-and-feel thanks to the creativity of Dallas’ brightest designers and artisans.
D Home Magazine selected the winning designers based on their individual design concepts and how they matched the suite owners’ vision for entertaining. Niki Powel Samuel, interior designer, and Robin Gailey, faux finishing artist, were the winning design team selected to create a European sleek salon style Space for the Dallas Fort Worth Society’s suite. Ms. Gailey brought in her artistic associates, Lisa Allen and Deb Barton, to complete the design ensemble.
“I approach the design process architecturally from a cubist perspective,with the emphasis on line, shape and color” says Niki. “I use only the finest products in my projects.” One of my favorite surfaces to work with is the Olde World Venetian Wax™, used by Gailey in the NOKIA suite.”
“To achieve the cubism effect Niki was looking for, we needed to show solids and volumes in two-dimensional flat planes to suggest space and a sleek, modern design,” says Robin. Working with FE Dallas, Robin and her artisans created a stunning, lustrous style by pairing StucoLux™, troweled on and covered in Olde World Venetian Wax™. These patented techniques and products are only available to finishing professionals who have successfully completed a Faux Effects® Designer Wall Finishes™ Workshop, and are used by the most accomplished and successful faux finishing artisans today.
Faux Effects® and the Gailey Design team paired the luxurious color of chocolate brown (achieved by tinting Delta Brown to a dark, rich chocolate) with a white-white StucoLux™, over-glazed with a combination of Pearl Mica Glow™powder added to the Olde World Venetian Wax™.
“The pearlized finish completed the effect and gave the walls the iridescence and light-reflection I was looking for,” says Niki. “So many times inset panels are simply finished with a high gloss that fades over time. Using Faux Effects®, Robin and her team take faux finishing to an entirely new level.” The wax surface reflects the light and transforms the standard hard surface into a furniture quality, architecturally rich finish.
Participating design teams in the NOKIA suite redesign project donated their services and products. Both Niki and Robin agree, “We were thrilled to be selected by D Home Magazine for this exciting design challenge. We’ve given the Dallas - Ft.Worth Society an amazing suite where they can entertain guests for years to come.”
Robin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (in Design) degree from UMASS Dartmouth. She worked as a graphic design artist for more than 20 years before channeling her artistic skills in the direction of faux finishing. Her design team includes Lisa Allen, an interior decorator, and artist Deb Baron. Robin and her design team continue to advance their craftsmanship through the on-going education courses offered by Faux Effects®.
DECORATIVE ART BY: ROBIN GAILEY, LISA ALLEN & DEB BARTON (GAILEY DESIGN)
INTERIOR DESIGN BY NIKI POWELL SAMUEL (NPIDESIGN)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TROY WALKER
WRITTEN BY: PJ BATE
Bezali Artisans-Dallas, Texas husband and wife team, Cheri and Roderick Thomas, jumped at the chance to participate in the Nokia Theater VIP suite renovations with Faux Effects® products. It was these products that introduced them into the field of decorative finishing back in 2002. At the time, both Cheri, a high school art teacher and Roderick, a promotional event marketer lost their jobs due to cut backs in budgets during a stressed economy. Cheri took some savings, in spite of reservations from Roderick, to take a Faux Effects® workshop and the story begins ... She knew that she could make money in this profession and convinced her husband when she brought home her first project pay check. Roderick went out and bought his first ladder!
The two chuckle at how their craft has evolved. “Looking back at some of our first projects, we kind of laugh,” says Cheri, “they were not the greatest but the products (Faux Effects®) helped us look more professional.” Wow, has time changed things for Bezali Artisans. After numerous Faux Effects® workshops and hands on training over eight years, the two now work with some of the best designers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and have a top line client base that just amazes them. It’s a story of success!
“We love what we do!” says Cheri, and it shows. The Nokia VIP suite went from drab to modern contemporary with the use of Old World Texture Coat Florentine™ and StucoLux™ White-White. The high sheen finish was then highlighted with a waxed finish using Old World Venetian Wax™ and Mica Glow Powder™ Pearl.
DECORATIVE ART BY: CHERI & RODERICK THOMAS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CHERI & RODERICK THOMAS
WRITTEN BY: NATALIE WOODWARD
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