The capacity crowd at our 3rd Annual Spring Fling was treated to a grand preview of the latest and greatest, soon to be released products from the Faux Effects laboratory. We were thrilled the weather permitted Raymond Sandor to fly in for the event, as he wowed the audience with the awesome new products he’s been working so hard on. We can’t wait to get our hands on the new metallics and textures that he brought along!

Many exciting new classes were unveiled, along with the latest four designs in the Loft101 stencil collection - all receiving the same rave reviews as the breakfast and desserts! (As promised, click here to download these yummy recipes.)

Thanks for another great event with opportunities to network with friends and professionals in the field!

Sheri Zeman unveiled her collection of decorative art to designers at the Arlington Design Center on February 25th. Each piece is suitable for canvas or surfaces and allows designers to customize each piece of artwork to suit their space. The luncheon and event, which was sponsored by Luxe Home + Interiors, featured Sheri's textural motifs that range from traditional to contemporary and ethnic in a variety of color palettes to accent or harmonize with just about any color scheme.

Kids’ rooms are a perpetual favorite when it comes to faux. You can embellish a girl’s room or create a fantasy motif. Check out the stencils in Sheri’s kids101 line and explore the limitless possibilities.

The 5,000 square foot Asian-themed restaurant features a number of very distinctive structures that were designed and carved by a local artist and accented with faux finishes. The Loft101 Calliope stencil gave further distinction to the classic gong, while the Imperial stencil provided the surround for the enormous Buddha that greets guests.

Our second annual Faux Into Fall celebration couldn’t have fallen on a better day. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect for making the outdoors our classroom for the day. With over 300 products in the Faux Effects line, we used this event as an opportunity to introduce our customers to not only new products but some overlooked ones that can be added to their repertoire.

Casey Carlson demonstrated versatile plaster finishes while he joined Melanie Synowiec to show the amazing distressing qualities that can be achieved through the use of Crème Activator. Guests were also treated to an easy two step aged lime finish using Lime Paint & Wash.

Sheri Zeman was joined by her other half, Joe, to show the eager crowd the new RockKote™ product. This epoxy, available in both high solids and water-based, is a great high polished coat for countertops and can also be used in wall applications. Joe used his expertise to show proper buffing techniques to get the maximum shine out of the product.

Attendees were the first to see the newest 2010 class line-up including a brand new Barbara Skivington Class Artisan Cabinets & Furniture Finishes which will be taught at Faux Design Studio May 10-13, 2010.

Many took advantage of class and product discounts as well as networking opportunities. With the economy on the minds of many, faux finishers were eager to hear how their peers were navigating through these challenging times. The group enjoyed a leisurely lunch outside swapping business and marketing success stories.

Sheri returned from the Daytime Emmy’s after mingling with stars from The Bold & The Beautiful's Jacqueline MacInnes Wood to Southfork’s Bobby Ewing. Chicago designer Christopher Michiels sought out Sheri to aid in the arduous challenge of set design disguised as room design in the legendary Orpheum Theatre. The concrete floored utility area had to be transformed into leisurely Hollywood Glam for presenters to work off their jitters. Sheri designed glamorous textural art panels to serve as the focal point and elevate this dismal space to one styled for celebrities of today and yesterday.

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood,
Star of The Bold and The Beautiful

Sheri was thrilled to be a part of The Merchandise Mart’s DreamHome 2009.
Faux finishes were designed by Sheri and applied by apprentices in the Painters District Council # 14 Joint Apprenticeship Program (PDCA). Check out some of the gorgeous low-key wall effects. Watch for the upcoming Faux Effects World Magazine for the full story.

DreamHome is open to the public until December 18
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
First Floor North Lobby of Chicago ’s Merchandise Mart.
$ 5.00 suggested donation benefits The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women ’s Board.

Be sure to check out the Faux Design Studio team in an upcoming episode of HGTV's "The Big Reveal," Episode Number HBRVL-127 airing on May 6 at 8:30 a.m. CST.

CINNAMON TWIST
Watch this Finish Come to Life!

Products:
Calliope Stencil from the LOFT101 Collection
Setcoat ® Brown
Venetian Gem™ Basecoat
MetalGlow® – Cinnamon

Tools:
Whiz Roller – medium nap roller
Japan Scraper
Foam Roller

Step 1. Using a whiz roller roll on two coats of Setcoat Brown.

Step 2. Apply MetalGlow Cinnamon using the whiz roller.

Step 3. When paint is dry, spray a light coat of low tack adhesive to the back of the stencil and affix.

Step 4. Using a japan scraper, trowel Venetian Gem Basecoat through the stencil openings.

Step 5. Once surface is 100% covered, roll through texture with sponge roller.

Step 6. Once dry, reapply the MetalGlow Cinnamon over the entire surface using whiz roller.

Sheri and the Faux Design Team celebrated the recent grand opening of Chicago Prime Steakhouse® in the metropolitan Schaumburg area outside Chicago. Sheri designed the finishes for the newly constructed 6,000 square foot upscale steakhouse.

To meet the owners’ vision of a sophisticated sensual look, Sheri punctuated the curved architectural elements with contemporary couture effects. The dramatic dropped tray ceiling was treated with a multi-layered Venetian Gem™ application using the LOFT101 URBAN stencil and a high-gloss sheen created with C-500™.

The tray ceiling displays multiple layers of custom tinted metallic Palette Deco™ over a Setcoat® base. The final finish was warmed with a rouged in custom Stain & Seal™ glaze.

The hostess area backdrop was graced with LusterStone® over a MetalGlow® base with the LOFT101 CALLIOPE stencil accenting the walls curvature. A red glazed wall finish was crafted using a custom Setcoat® and Faux Crème Color™ premix metallic gold followed by a double wet-on-wet application of two Stain & Seal™ glazes and a gloss C-500™ finish. A textured metallic strie was applied to the dining room areas with a Stain & Seal ™ overglaze. This luxurious culinary retreat is the perfect combination of elegance and drama.

Become a Featured Artist in Faux Effects World

Artists who use Faux Effects® products in their decorative projects are invited to become a "Bright Star" in the Artist's Gallery. Or, if you've accomplished a larger-scale project and wish to submit story ideas, Faux Effects would love to hear from you. Click here to download the Story Idea Form to learn more about how you can become a featured artist in Faux Effects World.

You can purchase the latest edition of Faux Effects World magazine by clicking here.

One of the New Spaces episodes featuring Faux Design Studio has now been incorporated into a new HGTV show.
The Big Reveal – episode HBRVL-127 aired on July 8th at 2pm (cst). Keep an eye on the HGTV site www.hgtv.com or on the Faux Design site for possible re-air dates.

Faux Effects International Products
Old World Standards, New World Technology

Faux Effects® water-based products were the first to bridge the gap between oil-based products and waterborne technology for professional use and results. With over 330 low-VOC products, the advanced chemistry maintains the workability of historical recipes without the health hazards associated with oil-based mediums.

The most extensive, compatible product line in the industry, Faux Effects® products are formulated with the finest selection of raw materials and designed to ensure lasting beauty for the creation of fine faux and decorative finishes.

VOC’s are Volatile Organic Compounds, a class of carbon-based chemicals that tend to evaporate rapidly, giving off harmful emissions as they do so. While traditional petroleum or oil-based products are very high in VOC’s while Faux Effects products are entirely water-based and are significantly better for our health.