A Familiar Path

One would never know by observing Rik Lazenby’s daily routine that he was a “retired” person. After having spent 32 years serving the Jefferson County School system in Hoover, Alabama, he has changed gears. Since 2000, Rik has been following a different yet very familiar path. Having a very strong art background with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Art education, he is now taking his natural and learned talents into the world of decorative finishing.

Rik continually strives to sharpen his skills by training with nationally recognized decorative artists, such as Martin Alan Hirsch and Gary Lord. Over a period of three years, Rik completed the advanced classes at Decorative Finishes Studio in Louisville, Kentucky and received certification in the Faux Effects® product lines. During this time he studied the application methods of a wide variety of Italian plasters. In 2004, Rik traveled to Verona, Italy to study and broaden his knowledge of Italian plasters and witness the “old world” methods.

Rik is a trained painter using oils and acrylics, but he has now added plasters and textures as a means of expression in his canvas work as well as in his decorative finishing projects. On the exterior columns shown, he liberally applied the dense texture AquaStone® to smooth barrels in order to give them dimension. They were finished with a metallic bronze paint and then sealed.

The warmth of the master bedroom/sitting room was brought about by Rik’s keen eye for color and texture. With the aide of his daughter, Jennifer, Rik was able to combine polished and natural Venetian plasters, canvas art, heavy “stone” textures and a mural together in the most pleasing way. Imagine waking up every morning to a perfect blue sky with cherubs dancing in the clouds. FauxColor™ and FauxCreme Color™ were used to create the whimsical ceiling mural in the bedroom. The surrounding walls were treated with Rich Cream StucoLux™ that was waxed and polished to a lustrous shine. Over the bed hangs a custom canvas piece entitled “Dancing Forest” that Rik created using combinations of Venetian Gem®, Palette Deco™ and FauxCreme Color™. A graceful three-arched “stone” wall divides the bedroom and sitting areas. AquaGlaze® tinted with Van Dyke Brown and Dark Brown FauxCreme Color™ was applied over the rough texture creating a neutral mid-tone that compliments both sides of this elegant space. The walls of the sitting area were finished with Olde World Marmorino® and then washed with a light umber glaze. The very earthy Venetian plaster finish is the perfect contrast to the softly reflective ceiling treatment, which began with Pearl Palette Deco™ followed by multiple layers of custom tinted MetalGlow® and then finished with a stenciled border embellished with crystal accents.

Ceiling finishes are like the exclamation point at the end of an excited statement. It ties everything together and adds a dimension otherwise lacking with straight paint. Rik uses many different materials to embellish the “fifth wall.” A particular blue-green ceiling finish was accomplished using a custom tinted StucoLux™ color, which was coated with Olde World Venetian Wax™ tinted with Gold MicaGlow Powder™and then polished to a lustrous shine. A golden, stenciled border embellished with clear crystals frames the soothing plaster effect. The adjacent ceiling areas and surrounding walls were lightly textured and then coated with layers of AquaWax™ tinted with Pearl and Gold MicaGlow Powder™. The lower level walls, as well as the fireplace surround that simulates limestone blocks, were glazed with Rich Brown Stain & Seal™ and highlighted using a custom MetalGlow® color. The wood portion of the fireplace and the window and crown moldings were all glazed using Rich Brown Stain & Seal™, then accented using composite gold leaf. Three of Rik’s unique canvas pieces lead you up the main foyer staircase to the second floor landing.

In this collage of ceiling finishes, you find a variety of effects ranging from soft and subtle to deep and highly reflective. The walls of the master bedroom suite began with custom tinted Venetian Gem®, then glazed with a mixture of AquaGlaze® and American Walnut Stain & Seal™ and coated with AquaWax™ tinted with Gold MicaGlow Powder™. The trey portions of the ceiling were first coated with Pirates Gold MetalGlow®. A heavy texture was randomly applied and then glazed with AquaCreme™ tinted with Antique Mahogany Faux Color™. The surrounding areas of the ceiling began with a custom tinted SetCoat® color, and then AquaGlaze® and American Walnut Stain & Seal™ was applied creating an understated neutral frame for the focal point trey.

An elegant twist was brought into an otherwise casual bedroom by the addition of a light and airy LusterStone® ceiling finish. Bright white molding was added to the ceiling area directly over the bed within which Frosted Denim and Queen Ann’s Lace LusterStone® were applied. The addition of a raised metallic border completed the look tying in the delicate golden details of the room’s accessories.

The ceiling finish in the formal dining room consists of Gold Palette Deco™ glazed using FauxCreme® Clear tinted with Antique Mahogany FauxColor™. A bronze MetalGlow® color was used through a Melanie Royals stencil to enhance the effect. The walls were treated with White onWhite Venetian Gem® coated with AquaWax™ tinted with Gold MicaGlow Powder™. In another room, Gold Palette Deco™ glazed with FauxCreme® Clear tinted with Antique Mahogany FauxColor™ was also used with different results. This darker version has quite a bit more movement and has the addition of an embossed stencil with embedded crystal accents to add to the dramatic effect.

The rich brown tones in the octagon-shaped foyer ceiling was completed using layers of Charred Olive, Charred Gold and Weathered Bronze LusterStone®. An embossed AquaStone® stencil design was added and then gilded with composite gold leaf.

The dramatic stone bath area is accentuated with a bold ceiling finish consisting of Bronze SetCoat® surrounding a luminous golden octagon trey over the tub, created by using A Coffee Bean MetalGlow® tinted glaze and then finished with a high gloss top coat.

The bedroom dome dons the look of distressed copper, which Rik created using Copper Palette Deco™ and then glazing it with Van Dyke Brown FauxCreme Color™ tinted AquaCreme™. Varnish Plus™ Satin was applied to downplay the reflective quality of the metallic finish. The final finish is an exquisite great room where the luminous walls of custom tinted Venetian Gem® coated with Pearl StucoLux™ sit below an opulent ceiling finish that began over Gold SetCoat®. The banding was first created with Coffee Bean MetalGlow® and then accentuated using a metallic gold color through a delicate stencil design. The crown molding was also detailed with a complimentary border stencil. Rik created a soft, mottled effect on the entire ceiling using AquaCreme™ and Antique Mahogany FauxColor™. The subtle look of “rays” beaming from the ceilings center were created by using a high gloss, clear sealer that enhanced the mottled glaze color. Ruby crystals were added to the stenciled areas to complete the look.

Rik’s eye for combining texture, color and sheen is unparalleled as proven with the kitchen and dining room finishes. The radiant, golden glow of the dining room walls was brought about by applying a mixture of Gold MicaGlow Powder™ and Olde World Venetian Wax™ over a custom tinted StucoLux™ color. The trim was lightly glazed with AquaCreme™ and American Walnut Stain & Seal™, and the crown molding was then highlighted with composite gold leaf. The color red is used in design as black is used in fashion. It’s timeless and extremely versatile. Deep red, low luster walls add tremendous contrast to the high shine of the kitchen cabinetry, which Rik created using Rich Brown and American Walnut Stain & Seal™. A high gloss topcoat was then applied to protect the finish as well as give the space a contemporary feel. Metallic Red Palette Deco™ was toned with Antique Mahogany FauxColor™ on the ceiling of this regal dining room. The effect was beautifully framed with a stenciled border using Gold Palette Deco™.

Updating cabinetry is a painstaking but rewarding venture when it’s done correctly. Rik takes pride in his work and it shows in this complete kitchen make-over. Rik took the existing, dated oak cabinets, applied two coats of Neutral White SetCoat®, distressed and then antiqued the surfaces using American Walnut Stain & Seal™. Varnish Plus™ was applied to seal and protect the finish for years to come.

The deep red walls and columns compliment rich wood floors and allow the eye to naturally move upwards to the crowning jewel ceiling finish in this casual yet cultivated dining room. Multiple glaze layers were applied to the walls using American Walnut and Rich Brown Stain & Seal™. Harvest Gold MetalGlow® glazed with Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal™ was applied to the ceiling trim, as well as to the column capitals and bases. White on White Venetian Gem® and custom tinted StucoLux™ was used thinly on the ceiling, whereas to create dimension on the column barrels, a heavier coat of the same was applied. The ceiling was treated with a final coat of AquaWax™ tinted with Gold Mica Glow Powder™.

Metallic Red Palette Deco™ was applied to the walls of this modern kitchen and was softened with black tinted AquaCreme™. The stone block frame around the doorway was “built” using AquaStone®.

Rik’s team applied a Rich Brown frottage finish on the walls of the bath area and Metallic Bronze SetCoat® highlighted with Coffee Bean MetalGlow™ on the ceiling where a high gloss top coat was added. The master bedroom fireplace surround was finished with American Walnut and VanDyke Brown Stain & Seal™. The decorative brackets were given a soft patina using Faux Effects® Verdigris™ system. The calming prayer room ceiling mural began when Rik applied Copper Pot MetalGlow® glazed with Antique Mahogany FauxColor™ to the trim. He then created a broken stone effect using 1/4-inch grout tape and AquaStone®. Rich Brown Stain & Seal™ was used to add color to the stone. Rik used SetCoat® and FauxCrème Color™ to create the sky and then used stencils to add cherubs and a crane, which he hand detailed.

The magnificent niche finishes began with El Dorado Gold MetalGlow® followed by the application of a raised stencil design. Rik then applied a heavy break-a-way texture leaving part of the background exposed. The entire niche was then glazed using Rich Brown Stain & Seal™. The final step was the hand coloring of the stencil design.

As his numerous awards, publications, clients and peers will attest to, Rik Lazenby is a genuine artist and a true professional. In addition to his work in the field, Rik once again can be found in the classroom teaching painting and decorative arts at Decorative Finishes Studio in Louisville, Kentucky.