- Published on
My display building services were challenged with a contradiction. Can you combine a masculine window and store trim theme with a female sentiment?
The concept of a mechanic, automotive theme combined with some positive affirmations was the winning idea my boutique client chose. Off and running, I had a great time rummaging, replicating and altering automotive parts and car related goods.....continued
- Published on
Digging through my old analog photos of kids room projects, I realized that I had photos of one project that had never been seen by the public. So, in retrospect here's a project where we built a bed for a boys room that looks like a truck. Circa 2005.
The one of a kind custom bed was for a young man named Zac. Both he and his sister had their Embellishments bedrooms featured in the 2005 Street of Dreams, Luxury home tour.
Despite looking like an actual vintage truck, the piece is completely hand made from scratch. It had to be, in order to fit in his bedroom. It measured 4.5 feet tall.
Each element was hand carved, primed and painted to mimic a old truck. The faux chrome emblem on the hood says "Embellishments" for fun.
Beyond being a show stopper for the luxury home tour, the truck bed and photographs of it topped HGTV's Rate my Space for the number one boy's room for multiple years, beating out its closest competitor by thousands of votes.
The truck bed was under construction before the home was completed. Despite blue prints and on site measurements along the way, the final door opening was 3/4's inch too small for the parts to be carried in. Therefore, we had to take out the second story boys room window, lean two extension ladders and push/pull the piece through the window. From a far, on lookers only saw two men pushing a truck up two ladders. It must have been quite a site.
The bed had enough room for Zac to play truck driver. The studio's faux garage door panels were to give the impression that the truck was in a garage.
In subsequent years, the studio created custom beds and play structures like a train car, princess carriage, tree houses and a pirate ship.
- Published on
I'm excited to share new additions to my vintage sports wall art line. These three new scoreboards round out my selection to include more color schemes and types of sports.
Vintage Football Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Lacrosse Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Basketball Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
The images are available as archival paper prints and stretched canvases. If you have a favorite sport that's not represented in my collection send me a message. I'm always happy to receive feedback and inspiration!
Vintage Basketball Nursery Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Lacrosse Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Football Boys Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Basketball Boys / Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
- Published on
Kids and Teen room designer Aaron Christensen offers his top bedding picks for sports enthusiasts.
I'm always on the hunt for new bedding styles and designs for my customers and I often get asked what bedding works with my sports wall art lines. So here are my picks for new and tried and true pieces from my favorite haunts. I rarely use themed bedding with sports graphics on it, for me it's usually too expected and often tacky. In contrast I applaud my friends over at Land of Nod have done a great job of offering up some very simple understated pieces, I've included below. The top picks include bedding from Restoration Hardware Teen, PBteen, Ralph Lauren via Nieman Marcus, Rejuvenation Hardware and Schoolhouse Electric.
Restoration Hardware Teen - Reed Plaid in Gray and Black
Rejuvenation Hardware - Dyed Linen Collection.
Rejuvenation Hardware - Dyed Linen
Nieman Marcus- Ralph Lauren 's Saranac Peak
Nieman Marcus- Ralph Lauren Saranac Peak
Land of Nod- Nod Basketball
Land of Nod- Nod Soccer
Land of Nod - Plaid University
School House Electric- Painterly Stripe
Pottery Barn Teen - MVP Stripe
Layla Grace- Pine Cone Hill's Hampton Stripe
Restoration Hardware Teen - Reed Plaid in Blue and Black.
Restoration Hardware Teen- Reed Plaid in Orange and Gray.
Rejuvenation Hardware - Dyed Linen
Rejuvenation Hardware - Dyed Linen
Restoration Hardware Teen - Vintage Crew Stripe in Charcoal.
School House Electric- Oxford Stripe
School House Electric - Diamond Ticking
Restoration Hardware Teen - Vintage Crew Stripe in Navy.
Layla Grace - Pom Pom at Home, Jackson Stripe
Having worked with several large retailers on the development and coordination
- Published on
Ideas are easy to come by, harder to realize. I sold my clothing boutique client on the idea of a dimensional cactus themed summer window and store display. I've been drawn to tissue art as of recently, and liked the concept of watercolor like tones of tissue combined with the harder cacti form. Figuring out how to bring the concept to life became the mystery. It was my mission to find a simple way to create cacti plants that are lightweight and life like in shape.
The fruition of my watercolor like cacti summer display trim concept.
After a stint of head scratching and store wandering, the idea came to me when I saw a display of foam fun noodles and little swimmer kick boards. I quickly grabbed a shopping cart and loaded up 20 noodles and 20 kick boards. In the checkout line I was asked by the cashier about my pool party. Still excited by the idea, I blurted out that I was going to turn them into cactus. Why I expected anything more than the half smirk and a random direction head nod from those around me, is beyond me. Huff! I guess my prickly pear making high was clearly a one man's journey.
If you can decoupage and cut shapes with scissors you can have a cactus garden! If you can climb over the fence and take your neighbors fun noodles and kick boards you can have a cactus garden for free, or the price of a misdemeanor. Relax, there is no need to pilfer. This time of year many big box and dollar stores have "polyethylene foam" swim noodles and boards for sale. Plastic suppliers like Tap often carry it in large rolls. It's used as a packing material and insulation, you will want 1/2 inch or thicker sheets.
- Published on
2017 marks the 20th anniversary for Willows boutique in Vancouver, Wa. The independent women's apparel, accessory and gift store has changed through the years, evolving to serve its clients and customers. Embellishments studio has been there from the beginning bringing their brands style to life.
Willows and Embellishments studio celebrate
Hundreds of partygoers helped Willows celebrate its 20th anniversary, with florals by Stem Floral Design and treats by Rosycakes to coordinate with my summer display. What may not be known to many in attendance is the origins of the boutique they love.
It was 1997 when I first met the first time shop owners Sandy McCloud and her business partner and daughter Janna Moats. Bright eyed and ambitious to realize their concept for a bedding, furniture and gift store we hit it off. Our task was to transform a rather plain and unassuming space tucked into a refurbished car dealership into something alluring and vibrant.
-
Willows storefront inside the Vancouver Marketplace. Yes, that is nursery bedding and baby goods you see. -
Willows opened as a bedding, furniture and gift store. The very first incarnation of a willow tree was painted on the column. Each store has had a version. -
When the first Willows expanded into the empty space next door, they began carrying apparel. Pictured is the first and only dressing room. -
Willows was known for their extensive array of holiday gifts and ornaments. Pictured is the first holiday tree Embellishments designed.
It wasn't too long and their success lead to their expanding into an empty retail space next door. The new area allowed them to expand their offerings to include some apparel, baby bedding and more gift merchandise. It is with the addition of this space that glimpses of the Willows style appeared.
-
Transforming the space required my faux finishing of a large plastic fluted column, the in-place pour of a concrete counter and suspending shelving fixtures down from the ceiling joists. -
Having no backroom for storage meant fixtures needed to have storage, like these custom tiered merchandisers. -
The roll up garage door facade was ahead of its time, circa 2001. -
I presented them with the challenge of keeping live plants alive as part of their facade treatment. Over 20 years, I've learned that they do not have green thumbs. Willows was proven to be the place where poinsettias drop their leaves and die...ha!
Committed to having the, mostly service oriented, marketplace provide a shopping experience to the downtown Vancouver scene, Sandy and Janna, in addition, opened Fresh Willow, a garden and gift store. I began my exploration of their interiors being modern with industrial and vintage accents. This would include creating elements and faux finishing them for both the interior and facade. Ingredients such as concrete, "rusted" metal and wood finishes will serve them well into their 20th year.
-
The best features of both Willows and Fresh Willow were inspiration for the new store. Raw steel, treated woods and glass adorn the fixtures. Willows' current logo made its debut. -
Despite being very limited on space, a petite window display area became a necessity to communicate Willow's style to pedestrians. -
The development of custom holiday decor became a staple to Willow's style. -
Despite the irritating placement of the buildings window frames we persisted on providing downtown with a mini department store quality window display. -
My style influences and the style I longed for Willows to have started its showing in their Ester Short Park corner location. Custom fixtures, window displays and holiday decor became a staple of Willow's style.
Despite their retailing success, the two Marketplace locations challenged the two owners with heavy schedules, separate merchandise buying trips and two vastly different goals within. The decision was made to merge the two and define "Willows" with a new location, street side in the newly revitalized Ester Short Park area. Here the merchandise assortment began the flip from home dec and gift, with some light apparel to apparel with some gift. Here's where the categories of garden, bedding and furniture were shed, a precursor to the boutique of today. The response from downtown Vancouver's apparel store starved women was amazing. Willows became the guiding light and a stellar example of a revitalized Vancouver success story. That forward momentum could not be sustained too long. With the onset of the economic recession bringing about a reversal of downtown Vancouver's revitalization and growth, Sandy and Janna made the tough, but exciting, decision to close their Ester Shore Park location and relocate to their current one in the Grand Central Marketplace. As a team, we decided to take the largest space yet further in expressing Willow's style and distill their offerings to be revolved around apparel, accessories and gifts.
-
Designed from the ground up I advocated for a large backroom and roomy dressing rooms. -
Defining Willows visually was my goal in the decisions I made for their 4th incarnation. Included in this was the creation of their signature reclaimed Willow tree. Every store has had a representation of a Willow tree.
It is their Grand Central location that would challenge me to create the Willows experience from scratch. This will be the first time I was given the freedom to develop a completly empty retail space. No more were there going to be stairs, low ceilings and a lack of storage. My first decision was to design them an actual working back room. This marks the first time in Willow's 15 years that they can process new merchandise off the sales floor. And I, as their merchandiser, display builder was eager to have a storage area for fixtures, tools and display goods.
To further build the brands reputation for eye catching eye candy and high end department store like treatment of visual display, I carved a niche out for a window display and purchased a ton of mannequins. The tradition of rearranging the store, adding new fixtures and displays with each season was born.
To further build the brands reputation for eye catching eye candy and high end department store like treatment of visual display, I carved a niche out for a window display and purchased a ton of mannequins. The tradition of rearranging the store, adding new fixtures and displays with each season was born.
-
Hundred of books, a custom chalkboard and hexagon merchandisers were created to herald in Fall 2012. Almost all the props used at Willows are created in my studio. -
Spring was ushered in with repurposed glass objects, live plants and a mason jar chandelier. -
Cream, crochet, a boho tent and dozens of studio made bohemian camp chairs add a light feeling to the store after Holiday was taken down. -
Shimmer and glow, words of summer adorn the displays. A custom lifeguard stand, umbrella and driftwood fixtures were made in my studio. Many times, I will sell the items I make once they come down. -
On trend, on the water! A nod to nautical brings summer to willows. Studio made sails, anchor marquis and super heavy concrete buoys set the scene. -
A mix of faux taxidermy, rustic burlap and artistically woven branches lend a sense of Fall to the store. Customers of the store were invited to a private sale of the taxidermy. -
Holiday 2014 went traditional with a Willows twist. The store's tree was lit with fourteen 25 foot strands of Christmas lights and adorned with fir boughs. The store was filled with handmade mini houses turned light fixtures, antiqued ornaments and fun colors. -
Studio made hanging holiday houses, marquee accents and faux antique ornaments adorned the store. Many of these pieces will be for sale Fall 2017, as we clear room for 2019's trim.
As if the planets aligned just for the ladies of Willows, the two spaces adjacent to the store became available. So without hesitation, the designing of the current, expanded Willows began. The additional space allowed us to accommodate more dressing rooms, increase the selling space, add a sale area and further indulge in the textures and elements that define Willows visually. And of course I got my wish of another window, an expanded back room and a central wrap desk that could hold four checkout stations!
-
The wall between the older space and the new space comes down to reveal the vastness of the new Willows and the scale of the new wrap desk area. -
Studio built and revised fixtures for display and merchandising fill the store. -
Vintage inspired looks and textures abound the surfaces of Willows. -
Metal pipe and metal hangers play part in establishing the store's character. -
Working with wood both raw and natural, we created fixtures for the store. -
Furthering the "Willow" tree idea, we made a faux bois table for merchandising on. It's all cement and rebar. -
Rough and textural finishes help define the Willow's style that's evolved over 20 years. -
Old is new and new is old. Dressing room are covered in vintage wall papers and faux vintage bulbs adorn industrial look fixtures we created to look old. -
A faux copper studded wall fools the eye and a variety of woods sport colors in a studio made merchandising table. -
The raw wood organic, randomized look of the store's Willows tree is contrasted by dimensional, sculptural patterns of painted wood. -
Studio created wall finishes, lettering and a custom barn door enliven the backroom photography and suppplier meeting area.
I'm proud to play part in this 20 year love affair with the Willows brand. The owners, Sandy and Janna are like family. We've watched each others families grow. We've watched our separate businesses grow. And, we will continue watching Willows grow further with our collaborative ways and unrelenting love for the store. I'm including some additional photos from my Willows displays below. Enjoy!- Aaron
-
Custom Holiday trim of coppers, golds and rose gold with birch, fur and a bit of glam by Embellishments Studio. -
Holiday 2016 decor Lux Lodge by Aaron Christensen. -
A huge led lit antler deer mount made from "birch". The birch is actually made of pipe coated in a faux treatment. -
Summer 2017 was inspired by watercolor landscape paintings of cacti and the desert southwest. -
Cacti which are made in my studio from pool floaties, noodles and tissue cascade down the cash wrap wall. -
Wheelbarrows of cacti set the mood in the store's windows. -
Fall 2016 explores objects, textures and surfaces found in an old farm yard. All of the items were custom, made in the studio. -
Fall 2016's Windmill, Birdhouse and 3 tier rolling "vintage floral cart" were made custom using scrapped reclaimed objects from Portland's Rebuilding Center.
- Published on
Okay Lax lovers, here we go... I proudly present my lacrosse wall art series collage. Available as a one piece, nine image design or you can pick and choose any of the nine as individual prints in canvas and on archival paper.
According to Thomas Vennum Jr., author of American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War "Apart from its recreational function, lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role in Indian culture. Its origins are rooted in legend, and the game continues to be used for curative purposes and surrounded with ceremony. Game equipment and players are still ritually prepared by conjurers, and team selection and victory are often considered supernaturally controlled. In the past, lacrosse also served to vent aggression, and territorial disputes between tribes were sometimes settled with a game, although not always amicably."
With it's rich history and evolution into one of the fastest growing sports here in the States, it's time to be wall proud and art up! I hope you enjoy them, I'd love to hear your feedback.
According to Thomas Vennum Jr., author of American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War "Apart from its recreational function, lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role in Indian culture. Its origins are rooted in legend, and the game continues to be used for curative purposes and surrounded with ceremony. Game equipment and players are still ritually prepared by conjurers, and team selection and victory are often considered supernaturally controlled. In the past, lacrosse also served to vent aggression, and territorial disputes between tribes were sometimes settled with a game, although not always amicably."
With it's rich history and evolution into one of the fastest growing sports here in the States, it's time to be wall proud and art up! I hope you enjoy them, I'd love to hear your feedback.
The nine image collage is available with a black or cream border in canvas and on archival paper.
You can also order any of the nine images as single prints or canvases. Use one or group several to express you inner laxitude.
Need some inspiration for your lax loving walls? Here are three style mood boards to give you ideas and inspire. Feel free to pin, post and print!
Lacrosse wall art and decor ideas for a sophisticated boys or teen room.
- Published on
Reproducing and selling my own artwork direct and no longer licensing it out was the greatest of decisions. One of the biggest rewards is the direct communication line to my customers. Never before have I had so many ways to meet and discuss my art with those who enjoy it. Within these live, phone, email and social media interactions I've heard a lot of feedback, requests and ideas that inspire.
As I hone my "to paint" list, I thought I'd put it out there that I'm open to suggestions or requests. Many of my pieces were fueled by a flurry of requests. So I'd love to hear from you if you have any sport, style or theme requests.
Here's what I currently offer
I've been painting sports art for 15 years. While many pieces are in private collections or are commissions, I enjoy selling my canvas and paper reproductions to the public. I've touched on many of the popular sports and decor themes. Some are more vintage some are more modern. Many of my sports wall hangings end up in boys rooms, teen spaces and areas of the home where sports fans gather. Given all of that, have you any requests? Do you have a particular decor style or color scheme you'd like to see? I'm painting now for my 2018 releases, I'd enjoy hearing from you.
- Published on
I love the opportunity to bring a clients vision to life. When my clients, whom home school their children, moved into their new place, they called looking for my help. You see, they had a huge room over their garage and wanted to convert it into a classroom for their kids and maybe other cooperative homeschoolers. Waving his arms around Micheal, the owner, asked how can we make it bigger than life, something the kids would go crazy over. Well... I was happy to oblige. Here are some first round photos. I need to go back with a wide angle lens to capture the entire room.
Creating a simple sketch to communicate ideas is a great start. Here is mine for this project.
This concept won their hearts. It's a pretty grand in scale so I broke it down into parts.
A glimpse of the mural depicting around a hundred years.
One thing that is not illustrated in my sketch is the stair well leading to the classroom. We decided on a mural starting at the base with the dawn of time, and winding up through the years as the stairs ascend. Here I picked out some notable events, interesting facts and persons to illustrate a time period. The video below captures most of it.
- Published on
If I were to identify whom might be my number one influence in my artistic endeavors, it most certainly would be Dr. Seuss aka Theodore Geisel. While Walt Disney the man, not the brand is close, Seuss was a bit more of a rags to literary wealth success story, which for me embodies the American dream. He single handidly changed the way in which young people learn to read and in turn see the world around them.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
On this special day acknowledging Mr. Geisel, please allow me to geek out for a bit and share some of my favorite Seuss and Seussisms.