You might be surprised to learn that the woman who decorated rock legend Elton John’s kitchen lives on W. Burdick St.
Shay O’Connor, owner of Are You Finished?, has brought her faux finish and decorative painting business from Atlanta, Georgia to Oxford, Michigan.
Faux finishing is a painting technique used to create the illusion of texture on a wall. It’s developed into something of an art form, using simple tools like rags and sponges to produce effects that leave virutally no traces of the tools.
O’Connor, who moved to Oxford eight months ago with her husband Gerard, said faux finishes add “dimension, depth and visual interest” to a room.
“Rather than having flat painted walls, I can make them look like parchment paper, leather or suede,” O’Connor said.
She described decorative painting as “like having art on your walls rather than a piece of art hanging on your wall.”
Any detailed design the homeowner desires including a person’s initials, intricate patterns, birds, flowers, wine bottles or whole murals can be recreated on their home’s walls.
“Decorative painting can transform a non-descript bathroom into a slice of character,” she said.
O’Connor’s decorative paintings are a mixture of free-hand and stencils.
The decorator said she can create a “very broad spectrum” of styles including Old World, traditional, contemporary and “whimsical.”
“Doing custom work with random elements is a signature with me,” she said.
O’Connor began doing faux finishes and decorative painting in her own Atlanta six years ago.
“I really liked it,” she said. “I had a knack for it.”
She then began doing work for friends and decided to turn pro four years ago, after receiving formal training at a faux finishing school.
O’Connor’s work has been featured in Kitchen and Bath Magazine, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Marietta Daily Journal.
Last year, she created faux finishes for Elton John’s only home in the United States, which happens to be in Georgia. O’Connor decorated the walls and ceiling of the pop star’s kitchen and casual dining room.
Since arriving in the Great Lakes state, O’Connor has done both commercial and residential work in New Baltimore, Oxford, Lake Orion, Clarkston and Birmingham.
Those wishing to view samples of O’Connor’s work up close and in person will get their chance on Saturday, Aug. 23, when she opens her 28 W. Burdick St. home to visitors as part of the 4th Annual Oxford Historic Home Tour.
Many rooms in the couple’s 1909 Four Square Victorian-style home feature O’Connor’s unique faux finishes and stunning decorative paintings.
O’Connor said she plans to use her historic home as a showroom for her business.
For those interested in do-it-yourself faux finishing and decorative painting, this fall O’Connor will be teaching a series of workshops at the JoAnn’s Fabric stores in Auburn Hills and Shelby Township.
For more information about O’Connor’s work log on to www.Faux-Finders.com.
To contact her call (248) 408-7749 or e-mail her at Shaysfaux@aol.com.