COTE DE TEXAS: Segreto Finishes on the Skirted Roundtable

Segreto Finishes on the Skirted Roundtable

 

This week the Skirted Roundtable welcomes Leslie Sinclair, who owns Houston based Segreto Finishes.  Segreto specializes in paint finishes applied to walls, ceilings, and cabinets.  These finishes include a newly engineered stucco application, glazes, murals, and faux paint jobs.   Many houses I have shown in the past four years have been those where Segreto applied their magic.  And magical is exactly what their finishes are.  There is no way to adequately depict how beautiful Leslie’s finishes are in a photograph.  You almost have to experience them firsthand to truly understand their worth.   The finishes are subtle and textural – wrapping the room in a soft color while adding an air of sophistication. 

 

image

This beautiful  house with plaster wall treatment by Segreto is an example of the usually large, custom houses that they usually work on.

 

During the interview, we discussed what is trendy today in paint finishes and what is no longer in vogue.  Wall  treatments evolve with the times just as interiors do.    Born with an artistic eye, Leslie left the corporate world to start Segreto which today has over 25 employees.  Many of the more gorgeous houses in Houston have been painted by Segreto, for they truly are the best at what they do.   As if running her own company and house, being a mother and wife wasn’t enough on her plate, Leslie recently compiled her portfolio into a gorgeous book – one of the prettiest design books of the year.  Page after page shows these fabulous interiors, all with her wonderful glazes and stucco finishes. 

 

  image

This gorgeous kitchen by Kara Childress features the glazes that Segreto uses on cabinets. 

 

Since doing an entire house in a specialty finish is not exactly cheap – most of the houses are large and quite luxurious.  But, recently on her blog, HERE, Leslie showed a townhouse that is owned by a former employee of Segreto.  The townhouse is now for sale for $385,000 – and is located in the Rice Military Section.   The paint finishes in this townhouse are gorgeous – and one can truly see what a difference her touch can bring to house, no matter what size it.   Since this house is more affordable than many of the Segreto’s usual million-plus customs, one can look at these photographs and imagine how one’s own house might look if given the Segreto touch.   This difference is amazing to me. 

 

 

image

Now, take a look at this townhouse – owned by a former associate of Segreto. Three story, with 3 bathrooms, it is located in the Rice Military area. 

 

image

The townhouse was plain when it was bought by the current owner.  Filled with builder finishes, the nondescript townhouse had walls with a blown on finish as did the ceiling.  In the great room, Segreto applied plaster to the walls and ceilings which envelopes the room in the soft color.   I think this picture truly illustrates what a difference the plaster makes to a room.  This plaster is different from the plaster of years gone by – and is a finish that Segreto is known for.  Look how gorgeous the ceiling looks!   It is so luminous and rich looking.  It’s as if the entire room is wrapped in this warm, glorious glow. The stucco finish makes a space look very custom.    I just love the way this room looks now~!!

 

image

When the homeowner moved in, she had all her furniture slipcovered in neutral khaki and light blue fabrics.    French accents such as the candlesticks and trumeau give the room character.  The color of the plaster was chosen to blend in with the fireplace surround.  Also, it was chosen to match the molding. 

 

image

The plaster finish is my favorite one.  I really love the sophisticated look it gives to a space.    This townhouse completely illustrates what a difference this finish can make to a room.

 

image

Leslie helped the homeowner design the window treatments using a burlap fabric for the panels and the shades.  A cornice brings in the French blue found throughout the room.   I love that touch of blue.  Notice how the cabinet is also painted blue. 

 

image

The granite really stood out because the cabinets were painted white.  Segreto applied a taupe glaze to the island and a blue glaze to the kitchen cabinets pulling in the colors from the living room.  By applying the colored glazes, the granite becomes more sedate.  In the breakfast area, a matching burlap shade was installed. 

 

image

In the master bedroom – the walls were ragged in a soft blue.  Stencils were added to the ceiling.  Such a pretty room!

 

image

The walls in the master bedroom are painted in the same blue of the basecoat of the bedroom.

 

image

The guest bedroom is painted a soft neutral. 

 

image

The downstairs sitting room is painted all one color – walls, molding, and ceiling.  This creates that enveloping feel – soft and custom looking with no contrasting moldings.  This is a great way to update your look – it’s more “today” than a white ceiling with white moldings and darker walls.  Wall to wall seagrass is installed in all the bedrooms – which I love.  Darling room!

This townhouse is for sale at $385,000.  To contact the owner email her at lesliecarrigan@gmail.com

 

 

image

AND to order Leslie’s book, Segreto, go HERE.

 

Please be sure to listen to Leslie Sinclair’s interview on
The Skirted Roundtable – it’s a good one with lots of information to learn from
, HERE

 

psst.  Guess who is our next guest on The Skirted Roundtable?  He’s a Million Dollar Decorator, darling!!!

23 comments :

  1. I can't wait for this interview! I love Leslie! In fact, I need to fly her out here to do a finish on my kitchen cabinets now. Calacatta Oro was installed yesterday instead of the planned soapstone. It's a can of worms now. The cabinets need to be painted. Leslie to the rescue! haha! I will definitely tune in to this one! ~Delores

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leslie is incredibly gifted at what she does; and super nice to boot. I had emailed her for some paint advice and she was so warm and encouraging; truly a lovely person.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a beautiful finish...definitely upgrades a home.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We would all be lucky to have this talented designer's work in our homes. These rooms are gorgeous, Joni.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Teresa
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joni, I'm a huge fan of their work. I don't know how I found them, probably through you, a long time ago - but love their portfolio!

    xo,
    A

    P.S., I posted pics of the finished sunroom - hope you'll stop by and check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Already a fan of their work, sooo beautiful I always draw some kind of inspiration in seeing their beautiful finishes. I am very lucky to be working with a finishing genius in my book up here in NY, and I use Segreto all the time as an example as to why he should have a website!!! Beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This blog is my bible. Anything on it I adore. Just like this interiors featured here. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The finishes are stunning and I would gladly move into any of thesee places. Love that first room it's gorgeous!

    Enjoy your weekend!
    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  9. The finishes are stunning and I would gladly move into any of thesee places. Love that first room it's gorgeous!

    Enjoy your weekend!
    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  10. Joni,
    I think this townhouse really speaks to me. I rarely love everything in one room but this is just gorgeous! I love the wood with the blue and khaki colors. The plaster walls from Segreto make the townhouse! I love the window treatments. I think I may use her idea on the window treatments in my own home. If you remember I was the one who remodeled my kitchen after Sally Wheat's design and you posted my kitchen several times on your blog. You really do give me great ideas and I am so grateful. Keep up the great job!
    Thanks,
    Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  11. FABULOUS! I came across Segreto finishes some few months back and was totally enchanted with the goregous work they do. That townhouse is wonderful. I always learn from you Joni - thank-you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sure the interview with Leslie will be great but I DIE to think you are doing an interview with Martyn Lawrence-Bullard!! Love him!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you, Joni, for posting these photos. I'll return to them for inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love that book!! Never have I bought a book that I look at almost daily! Such inspiration. I met Leslie at Roundtop while she was doing a book signing. She is a doll and loves her work - and it shows. I wish her well. And I want her to work her magic in my kitchen and family room !! Beth

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've seen their work in Houston and it is gorgeous. What a lovely project and that plaster finish is just fabulous! It takes that property to a whole new level.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Paint finishes can really "finish" a room :)and the images show it very well. I am in love with the celing details in the bedroom.
    Joni...come visit Venice with me on my latest post at http://brillanteinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-invite-you-to-venice.html
    No need to take a plane!

    ReplyDelete
  17. The only Million Dollar Decorator who constantly used "darling" in every sentence was Martyn L-B.

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's really beautiful and I'll bet it's one of those things where it loks even better in person, when you can absorb the atmosphere. The kitchen countertops don't go at all but I do appreciate it when people use what they have.

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a difference ditching the builder-bland makes. Also loving the window treatments- how did they make burlap look luxe? (Linings, I'm sure- shapewear for curtains.) And yet again you've provided another photographic example to convince me...I need to get working on making myself a fabulous Houston bedskirt. Not that anyone here in upstate NY will appreciate it...but then again, we're not the type of couple that has to worry about too many people seeing our bed.

    EAC

    ReplyDelete
  20. So beautiful! I just caught up on her blog for the past half hour. Very inspiring work. I need that book!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Leslie certainly knows how to "finish" a room! I love her work, she creates wonderful walls which help to make each room. Headed to The Skirted Roundtable right now... Thanks, as always a great post! Have a great week, Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  22. Joni, I enjoyed seeing this. What talent! One of the things I've always enjoyed most is seeing decorative painting on walls and ceilings. I have a couple of friends who have had amazing work done in their homes by a person from Savannah (as I recall), and this is wonderful to see, too. Thanks for sharing. I'm crazy about the glaze on those cabinets!

    XO,

    Sheila

    ReplyDelete
  23. Outside doesn't reflect the inside at all!

    ReplyDelete