French Room Restoration

This room involved many levels of restoration. It was originally decorated in 1891 in the French style. At the onset of the project it had two windows boarded up with plywood and three other windows cider-block closed, a stolen and retrieved mantle piece, a missing over mantel mirror, a broken onyx hearth and firebox surround, and water damaged plaster.

My tasks included historical research, specifying the surface treatments, executing the painted finishes, and sourcing other vendors.

The demolition of the cider block and removal of old windows, installation of new windows, the woodwork restoration, new electrical work, and the mantle over mirror were coordinated in conjunction with the owner.

Then my work began, painting decorative treatments on the walls, moulding’s and ceiling that incorporated motifs used in the rooms original wood carvings, applying metal leaf to the cove cornice and border bands on the walls, a faux onyx finish on Corian to match what was left of the original onyx. I designed drapes and lace shears to match the original style of the 1891 design, these were fabricated by another vendor with fabrics, braids and tassels from Schumacher, and Waverly, finally an original light fixture from the property was restored and repositioned and the room was furnished with the owners antiques and grand piano.