Transfauxmations

“Commercial Skin”

The Regina Garay firm was launched in New York City with one person in 1998 and has since grown into the Orlando, Florida-based Garay Artisans, one of the most respected and creative teams of faux finishing and Venetian plaster artists. In 2009, they won the national Grand Prize for American Painting Contractor’s Top Job Awards. They work in both residential and hospitality, with projects such as The Grand Bohemian Hotel (Asheville, NC), Orlando International Airport and the Hilton at Walt Disney World Resort. Their studio also creates hand-crafted wallpapers and ornamental mirrors that ship worldwide.

The architectural and design firm, The Evans Group, contracted Garay Artisans for the unique finishes to be added to a gorgeous clubhouse. The designers, Karen Guindi and A.J. Falbo, worked with the artisans previously and advised that the finishes would fall within an elegant, upscale western theme. A snakeskin finish was commissioned, and Garay Artisans set about making it truly spectacular with the help of Faux Effects® products.

This finish works best on a smooth and properly prepared surface. The recommended base paint is SetCoat® Woody Yellow, and once that dries over night, Venetian Gem Finish Coat™ is troweled through vinyl tulle (also called tulle netting) achieving full coverage. This layer creates the beautiful effect of the underlying snakeskin scales and is the key ingredient to take this finish from beautiful to “you-must-see-this-room!”

Once the product has dried, mix Rich Brown and Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal™ with AquaGlaze® and apply in a seamless vertical motion. The glaze should settle into the “scales” and create a beautiful color layer to work on. Let this layer dry completely and then follow with the application of the StencilFX™ snakeskin stencil pattern by overglazing the stencil using AquaGlaze® and FauxCreme Color™ Van Dyke Brown. If the area will receive a lot of sun or consistent traffic, the appropriate Faux Effects® topcoat is recommended.

Garay Artisans has been told that although this finish was incorporated into the men’s area, women have felt compelled to enter the space simply to see and feel the finish. Although it does take a bit of work with the various layers, the end result is incomparable and could not have been done without the beautiful products Faux Effects® produces.

DECORATIVE ART BY: REGINA GARAY

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: REGINA GARAY

WRITTEN BY: REGINA GARAY

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