Something Creative
For her entire life Susan Kolesar has been passionate about creating art using various mediums. Her first source of inspiration was her master craftsman father, Frank Maier. Through the years Susan honed her natural abilities by training with some of the most prominent and well-respected artists in the world. After apprenticing with internationally-known artist Nicola Vigini, Susan moved to Texas where she successfully earned numerous workshop certificates from Faux Effects International.
Susan’s professional life began in New York City working in office administration and management. Her strong organizational skills, work ethic and attention to detail allowed her to excel in the corporate world. These same assets, in conjunction with a deep understanding of the importance of communication, are equally beneficial in her chosen career path as a decorative finisher.
Susan and her company, Something Creative, take pride in developing the perfect environment by enhancing existing architecture, complimenting existing colors and making each space a reflection of her clients own unique style. One project entailed creating a faux marble finish over an oak base to match the existing genuine marble on a staircase being remodeled. “Even the marble contractor mistook the faux marble for real and almost polished it!” stated the designer.
In creating the faux marble finish, Susan used White on White Venetian Gem® to fill in the oak’s wood grain. After sanding it smooth, she applied White SetCoat® and let it dry. The intricate veining was accomplished using FauxCrème® Clear combined with Black and Antique Mahogany FauxColor™ as well as White FauxCreme Color™. The beautiful sheen of the marble was mimicked using Varnish Plus™ Satin.
Media rooms have become quite popular over the last several years. Themed décor and wall finishes are often found within these rooms, which, for the decorative artist, can be a welcome break from the understated finishes that generally grace the main living areas of a home. Movie theaters are typically quite dark in order to allow for optimum visual stimulation when watching movies. Susan brought the room to eternal darkness by creating a night sky scene on the ceiling. She applied AquaGlaze® tinted with a midnight blue acrylic latex paint over a White SetCoat® base. The glaze was manipulated with a stippler and softened using a badger brush. Black FauxColor™ was added to the blue glaze which was then applied with a sea sponge to enhance the contrast. The final step was to apply Mica Glow Flakes™ suspended within a thin coat of FauxCrème® Clear to simulate twinkling stars.
The existing knockdown texture on the walls was coated with Light Bronze Metallic SetCoat®. FauxCrème® Clear tinted with Ebony Stain & Seal™ was lightly rubbed into the crevices using a sponge to tone the metallic paint and accentuate the pattern of the texture. The dramatic movement of the walls and ceiling were brought together by adding a rich Faux Bois (faux wood grain) effect on the doors, cabinets and woodwork. Woody Yellow SetCoat® was used as the base followed by a mixture of FauxCreme® Clear and Ebony Stain & Seal™, applied in a striae pattern to simulate wood grain. The same elegant wood grain effect also led into the lobby area adjoining the media room. To compliment the media room, Susan created a lively finish for this space. She applied Metallic Copper SetCoat® to the smooth walls and ceiling, and when it was dry, she created a dense texture by skip-troweling two coats of Champagne Mist LusterStone®.
The final step was to tone the entire surface with a mixture of Metallic Bronze SetCoat® deepened with Black FauxCreme Color™. To complete the look Susan fashioned marble on the countertop using a diluted mixture of a variety of FauxCreme Color™, including Earth Brown, Ochre Yellow, Italian Sienna, Burnt Sienna, White and Dark Brown. The finish was then sealed with Dead Flat Varnish™.
Susan knows the value of first impressions in terms of business as well as design. Upon entering a home, one should be greeted with a “wow effect.” When Susan was given the task of turning an average entry foyer into something spectacular, she accomplished more than just “wow.”
Working from the old world look of the faux stone laminate, Susan formed the appearance of timeworn hammered copper over plain drywall. Using Metallic Copper Palette Deco™ and a FauxCreme® glaze of Dark Brown and Black FauxCreme Color™ and Antique Mahogany FauxColor™, Susan successfully transformed the hall into a cozy spot to relax with a book or view beautifully framed family portraits.
When it comes to re-doing powder rooms or bathrooms, updating the existing cabinetry and woodwork can ultimately change the appearance of the entire room.
Susan again created an old world atmosphere by using American Walnut Stain & Seal™ in FauxCreme® Clear to add warmth to an existing texture and raised Melanie Royals stencil pattern in a small powder bath. A final coat of Venetian Gem® Clear Gloss Coat was applied as a final protective sealer and to permit light reflection.
The kitchen has always been the most frequently used room in the American home. With so much of life happening within these walls, it made perfect sense to create a welcoming atmosphere through decorative finishing. The warmth and earthiness of the natural oak cabinetry and neutral granite countertops called for an equally warm yet subtle wall finish. Susan skip-troweled PlasterTex® to provide movement and texture and then accentuated the movement by applying AquaCreme® tinted with Dark Brown and Ochre Yellow FauxCreme Color™.
Old stone walls with plaster chipping away from years of weather was the effect that Susan brought into another kitchen and dining area. PlasterTex® was used to create the stones that were colored using various tones of Stain & Seal™. PlasterTex® again was used to coat the rest of the wall surrounding the stones and then glazed with FauxCreme® Clear tinted with Burnt Sienna, Ochre Yellow and a touch of VanDyke Brown FauxCreme® Color.
LusterStone® brings a sense of elegance and sophistication to any room. Even a smaller breakfast nook will feel like a formal dining room after being treated with LusterStone®. Susan used a combination of Brown Suede and Medallion Gold in her design for the walls and bar area and then added contrast within the chair rail by combining Brown Suede and Merlot. Finally Susan applied an embossed scroll design using Medallion Gold and Merlot through a stencil.
Sometimes the slightest alteration can make the biggest difference to the aesthetics of a surface. Earth Brown FauxCreme Color™ and FauxCreme® Clear were used to antique a plain white pre-fabricated fireplace. Varnish Plus™ was then applied to protect the finish as well as to leave a natural, low luster sheen.
Master artisan Gary Lord first instructed Susan on to how to apply his “Ketron” finish, which resembles textured leather. Metallic Bronze SetCoat®, White Palette Deco™, Designer Foil Size™, various Designer FoilFX™ colors, the AquaCrackle® system and Antique Mahogany Stain & Seal™ were all used in the development of this stately effect. Large upholstery brads were used to piece together the “leather” squares.
With the love and support of her family, her husband’s steadfast confidence and the unique wisdom received from her amazing mother, it is Susan Kolesar’s continued goal to enhance each and every client’s environment with timeless beauty.
DECORATIVE ART BY: SUSAN KOLESAR
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: KURT NELSON INNOVATIVE IMAGES & SUSAN KOLESAR
WRITTEN BY: CAT FAUST
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