Stained concrete floors- lessons learned.

These are two of the before shots from the master bedroom. The walls were painted from these dark and awful shades of green that didn't compliment each other. The nasty carpets from the 70's were torn out. Unfortunately the padding was matted to the floor. This door leads to the master bathroomThis door is entry to this master bedroom. Once again ugly floors, walls and popcorn ceilings. 

But today we are focusing on the stained concrete floors. The photo on the left is sample of the desire color- called hickory a natural acrylic stain. 

Here is a photo from what the floors currently looked like. Initially, we were really pleased with the result. This photo shows an area where we had some problems with the color curing properly. The concrete was sanded, stained and then sealed. The top coat sealer didn't dry in a few places. I had been assured that the sealant was durable enough for a garage but it clearly didn't perform.

The other problem we had was the concrete staining guy didn't plan on his stain spray going up the walls. So we had to have the painter come back in to touch up stuff.

House Front Yard Landscaping concept for Southern California Home. The front yard will use native and drought tolerant plantings. The modern, clean, cedar fence will be stained with variety of saturation of the same stain to get a variegated look to create more interest. The house address numbers are 2-3' in size and boldly claim the house.

House landscaping consults start at $200.

Birds on the wall

This painting was inspired by an image I had seen of a bird. As I was painting suddenly there were two birds and few stars painted off in the distance. Artwork has a surprising even the artist sometimes. This painting looks great with my lightly colored blue walls. This painting is for sale by myself, Vanessa V Hofmann for $1500

This piece has been reworked and has recently been admitted into a great art show in Balboa Park, with museum of the living man.....Super excited about this!

New art and art show

Recently I had the chance to have my art displayed at this fabulous woman owned bike shop, HERevolution, in San Diego, California specifically Solana Beach are really hip, artistic area. With this upcoming show, I had to create some new pieces of art work. I wanted to share a few recent additions and celebrate another sale of an art piece.

Here is one of the recent additions:
This one is called bright orange tricycle. It is a 12"x12" mixed media art piece on display at the bike shop. We are having a little one in mid March so that was the inspiration for this piece.

Another recent addition of artwork is this painting, and even better is that it sold yesterday. Yippee!  It's called green bike and the star fish. It is a 10"x10" piece on canvas and is also mixed media work. 

Mixed media means that it isn't solely one type of medium used (like just using only watercolor, acrylic or oil), but a mix. On my work I usually work in a few different tools. Mostly the painting is acrylic, with additions of pastel, oil bars, and charcoal.

Up next is solo show at the San Diego Art Department starting in February 16th more information to follow. Life seems to be happening in baby steps, but it feels quite appropriate right now.

Screening options inside and out

What are screens and how might we use them in design?

Here is an example of a modern visual screens:

If you want to add some interior detail to your home these are great. And they have a sale going on as well. I am trying to find some way to use them in my own home. The photo below shows a number of product that can add texture to your home or office space.

Office use of visual screen- screens are used to further define rooms in spaces. They work better than solid walls by allowing light to pass through. Thereby not making these smaller spaces feel to small, but feel comfortable. 

The other interesting space to add detail is in your backyard. Imagine a screen like this used around outdoor pergola to add additional screening options from the sun. Even more ideal is to put a screen like this on tracks kind of like doors so you can move them around.
Pergola

Here is a more modern pergola design.



An example of a screen integrated into the back porch of a home. Living in warmer climates like California you have the ability to enhance your outdoor spaces and your home by creating various outdoor rooms that are adaptable to the climate.
 
Here is the link to this company who is having the sale if you are interested.  I am not sure if their product can be used outside.

http://www.crestviewdoors.com/order/diy-kits-and-more/clearance.html

Here is an interview video from my friend Lee Mench. Take a look about how we work at Studio Plank on medical projects.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

A mixture of emotions- but mostly joy.

Today I sold another painting!!! Happy happy joy joy. Each time it happens I feel a mixture of emotions. I am elated to have someone interested in purchasing an art piece but a little sad to see the piece leave. Each art piece is marking a time and place in thought and process of where I was. My artwork on bicycles simply take me back to each joyful bike ride we took as a kids with no particular place to be. When we just enjoyed being able to travel and explore. You know the rides with the wind in your hair, as your riding down the road in a skirt and sunshine on your face. Watching the wheels go round and round taking you on an adventure.

Today's bike painting is called "Blue Bike 3- Racing Delight". It is a acrylic painting of a whimsical blue road bike with a orange ballon attached to its seat. This painting was sold to a fellow San Diego artist, Nancy Plank.

This woman, Nancy, paints in the same art building that I do in San Diego art department. She happened to be passing by my work one day as I was painting away. And little did she know my head was filled with doubtful about what I was doing and why I was painting bikes. She walks offer and simply said to me. "I really love your work." And even her letter she wrote that my paintings were magnificent and that I am gifted artist...... who doesn't like to hear such great things. Knowing that the artwork will be so appreciated and loved by someone else and to see the new owner's enthusiasm is absolutely contagious and immediately the sadness disappears and excitement takes way.  

Blue Bike 3- Racing Delight by Vanessa Hofmann

It is actually very good that this painting was sold. Since it gives me more room to hang other work in our recently remodeled home. In a future post- I will take about hanging artwork and our latest steps in designing our interiors.