Friday, November 9, 2007

Painting a 100 year old Mansion










This building is a Historical Home, over 100 years old. It is located on Orange Grove in Pasadena Ca. It use to be on the property of Ambassador University, it has since been sold. It was also on HGTV Homes across America...Homes of Pasadena episode.


Well, my part in all of this....I was commissioned to restore the painted fresco work that is all around the whole building. I had to cut in the background first then after painting and blending...I outlined the whole design. I used a cherry picker to get up and down. One of the fun moments was when Disney was making a movie in the mansion next door. I was invited to have lunch with the crew...boy did they ever serve great food. This is the corner I started on.
This is what it look like when I got the background in.this is cutting in the background.My cherry picker, It was had to get it to reach up and over that roof that is jutting out, they actually had to cut a couple branches.this was quite a reach to get into the corner. And there was a fountain that I had to maneuver the cherry picker around
The hardest part was the medallions that were up underneath...there were soooo many, I wish I would have counted them. I had to keep my head bent backwards and I had to get close to reach them...not fun.Here I am...guess it was a little hot that day, I remember the OJ trial was going on, so I listened to that none stop, it was fascinating. I made me a little cabinet to hold my paints so I could lock them up at night and have something to set them on while painting.Let me know what you think...I am quite proud of this...I remember being scared to death to commit to doing such a huge undertaking. It got recognized by the Pasadena Committee of Restoration of Historical Homes

19 comments:

Alison Gibbs said...

What a fabulous job you have done in restoring the painted fresco work. You should be soo.. proud of yourself. Your neck and shoulders must have been aching at the end of each day.
Alison

Natasha Burns said...

Oh my goodness Laurie, my chin is on the floor, excuse me a moment while I pick it up and put it back. YOu did all that????!!! It must have taken you months???? Incredible! You're one multi-talented woman!

Unknown said...

that's incredible! i have done murals in the past but to be a part of such a big project! wow ! you should feel proud.

LaurieStar said...

Laurie - your work is fantastic - you should be proud! Opening up your blog and seeing that house brought me back to my childhood. I grew up in Riverside, CA, and I remember all that architecture well. Great work you've done restoring it!

Miss Rhea said...

Wow Laurie, that is awesome !! You did a fantastic job !! Something we have in common, I was a faux finisher and had my own business until last year, then decided I was getting to old to be up on ladders and scaffolds. I admire that you did this, and so beautifully !! :) Hugs,
Rhea

The Urban Chic said...

Laurie, you have every reason to be proud---that is fantastick work. I love it when people restore things and retain history.

ScrapMomOf2 said...

What a HUGE project! That's amazing! You should be proud! WOW!

Glenda's Recipe Box said...

Wow...I know this home! I used to live in Sierra Madre and have been by this a million times. What a wonderful job you have done!

Lana Manis said...

oh my! your work is just gorgeous! You did a wonderful job!

Suzanne said...

Wow! What a huge undertaking! I used to have a small decorative painting business, and didn't like painting ceilings for all the reasons you mentioned! I can't imagine bending over (or under) on a cherry picker!
Beautiful work! And now your work will be part of history and treasured for another generation.

Sugar Bear said...

Wow! You go girl! I knew you were talented but restoring historic buildings?!
Karla

Chris@Cats On My Quilts said...

You are amazing and very talented. That is quite a project.

Unknown said...

You have done a FAB job on the restoring the painted fresco! WOW! You should really be proud...because I certainly am of you!

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie, OMG!! You are SO talented!! That is truly amazing!!! Well done to you!! We would love to have lunch with the Disney crew, how fab! Do you know what movie were they making? Congratulations Laurie, you are brilliant!! Talk soon! J & J xo

Julie said...

You should be very proud of yourself!!! Your work is beautiful.

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Good for you! It's just gorgeously impressive, WOW!!!!!

Anonymous said...

WOW...Your amazing. To have the talent to do such a big undertaking and to do it at that height just astounds me. I would have been shaking the whole time and I can't even imagine how tired you were each night.
Way to go on a job well done.
:) Have a great day. Bren

Betty said...

Laurie, I was in Pasadena yesterday. I wish I would have know and made a point of looking for that house. You are so talented. I love your pincushions and your painted items. I can't even imagine the scale of painting a house. All I can say is WOW!

Saucy said...

This is amazing. Fresco is such a lost art. What a huge job, a mammoth undertaking! Glad you took so many pictures to commemorate it!