Shades of Gray - My Newest Captivation

via this Ivy House

Gottmanshofen Maria Heimsuchung Grisaille

Grisaille Painting Capitol Cupola Fine Art Print Christiane Schulze

via Fleaing France

I realize there are legions of women that have recently become captivated by the book - 50 Shades of Gray.  If you thought you would be reading some comments and thoughts about the book - I hate to disappoint.  No Missy, this is about another type of seduction - my growing interest into the world of gray or grisaille.

Christies - Late Louis XV Commode

French Empire Lamps en Grisaille with Scenes From Robinson Crusoe

Grisaille Beadwork - Trinity Antiques on Ruby Lane

via Lecurieux.com

Source Unknown

My little odyssey began about 8 years ago, when we were house-hunting in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.  We came across a house that had a gorgeous lead-gray living room that I immediately fell in love with.  The memory of that stunning Living Room has stuck in my mind and greatly influenced my more recent renovation of my Kitchen/Family Room.

Antique French Enamel Lockets, Pendants & Watch - Sources Unknown

I recently came across some photos of gorgeous French enamel grisaille lockets and pendants which, of course, were already sold.  I was able to snag one that has yet to be made up, but the scarcity of this enamel technique got me thinking.  I have a growing collection of mourning lockets with glass on both sides that could make beautiful frames for hand-painted grisaille motifs.  The Elyse Locket is my first attempt at integrating the grisaille techinque into one of these mourning lockets.

Elyse Necklace - Emeralds, Green Onyx, Pyrite & Freshwater Pearls.
Recently Commissioned Grisaille Watercolor Putti in Edwardian Silver Paste Locket.

Back View of Elyse Necklace Features a Byzantine Gold Vermeil Cross
Floating in a Sea of 1.5cts. of Minuscule Emeralds

The necklace is composed of gorgeous emeralds and green onyx beads interspersed with gray pearls flanking bezel set pyrite accents stationed along the chain.  A precious hand-painted grisaille watercolor of a mischievous little Putti was recently commissioned to marry the charming folklore of it’s antique counterparts with a beautiful Edwardian double glazed silver paste locket.  This stunning locket, replete with a charming bow top, is a perfect frame to showcase the miniature art - which is a study in shades of gray.  However, there is a very unique surprise on the other side - a diminutive Byzantine cross in 24k gold vermeil, floating in a sea of minuscule emeralds. An emerald briolette capped with a profusion of textural gold vermeil rings, hangs delicately from the toggle clasp to make your exit just as dramatic as your entrance.

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Dreamy Elegance – Rose Quartz Nugget, Pink Topaz, Lemon Quartz & Aqua Chalcedony Necklace

It is rare that an interior designer has a client with such complete confidence in the designer’s ability that a sincere carte blanche is extended in the execution of the client’s home. Such is the case of a long time friend & client from the Boston area. We had a very long-standing relationship of over 10 years and collaborated together on several beautiful rooms in her stately & elegant home. It all began with the design of her daughter’s bedroom that was to be a surprise 16th birthday gift and evolved into the design of several other rooms within the home. My last area of the house to be completed before moving to Arizona was the design of the Master Suite.

As you can see from the photograph, it is a very elegant bedroom with a luscious color palette of creamy yellow, pale pinks & raspberry, soothing green and a touch of watery pale aqua. Confectionary colors that are regally juxtaposed within a sophisticated composition of sumptuous furniture. It is the type of bedroom that many women dream of but few obtain - a custom designed rug, custom Regency canopied bed, custom trims on furniture & silk draperies and a stunning portrait of the client and her daughters at the beach. No only was it a sanctuary for my client but a dreamy vision for HGTV to feature as well.

The delicate coloring of this room has long been one of my personal favorites as well and was the inspiration for a new necklace idea that has come to fruition. The Dreamy Elegance Necklace is anchored by the generous rose quartz nuggets surrounded by a frame of coiled wire and tiny little faceted gold vermeil beads. The cascading plume feature of rose quartz, aqua quartz, aqua chalcedony, lemon quartz and pink topaz reminds me of the cascading and flowing silk draperies in the bedroom. Just as the gentle colors of the room repeat in an organized and harmonious balance, the gemstones repeat the colors of the waterfall plume around the detailed rose quartz nuggets. Elegant and dreamy – just like the bedroom that inspired the design.

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