becoming a panelist

We did something we've never done before this week. I've been eyeing this Vendanges mural wallpaper for a while - the huge empty dining wall was calling out for something.

Virtually impossible to find a piece of art this big (84x65"), other than a tapestry which the kids would have pulled off the wall, so we created a wallpaper panel.

But not just a framed panel surround stuck directly to the wall - I wanted one that was dimensional and came out a little from the wall like a painting.

The adventure began with smooth, prepped birch plywood with a frame built behind it.

The mural by Isidore Leroy was pasted directly onto the prepped wood, and then the finished shadow-box-style frame was built around it (I hired someone to do this, wanted extreme precision)

We designed it so the frame can be removed and the scene changed out in the future.

I see this as an opportunity to have a revolving gallery show in the dining room, and I'm pumped about it.

Still getting used to it, any time you make a big change in your house, you need to live with it for a couple of days, but all things considered, I think it came out great.

I want to write more, but the guys are here installing and hopefully finishing the interior of the sauna today, and we just can't screw this up.

something i saw this week

​Blackrock Studio, which makes handmade tile, created these curved tiles so you can build sinks, benches, and tubs from a single material. Unbelievably cool, when we redo the bath in the basement, I want to do this.

This would go so well in a spa or locker room.