Marilyn Phillips

Reshaping the Hearth
This fireplace began as a transformation of both form and finish. Using cement, I reshaped the existing structure, refining its architectural profile and creating a stronger presence within the room. The goal was to move beyond a conventional fireplace and create a feature that felt more sculptural and integrated into the overall design. Once the new form was established, I applied a custom plaster finish and enriched the surface with translucent watercolor washes. These layers introduced depth, movement, and subtle variations in tone, giving the fireplace the appearance of a surface that had evolved naturally over time. The result was a fireplace rich in character and artistry, where architecture, plaster, and color came together to create a focal point that was both elegant and timeless. The handcrafted finish added warmth and atmosphere, transforming the hearth into the visual heart of the room.

A Floral Commission
This commissioned floral painting was created for a valued client who wished to introduce a sense of elegance, color, and natural beauty into their home. Inspired by the timeless tradition of botanical and floral art, the composition was designed to be both expressive and refined, bringing a graceful presence to the surrounding interior. Through carefully layered color and delicate brushwork, the painting celebrates the beauty of flowers at their most vibrant and evocative. The arrangement was developed not merely as a decorative accessory, but as a work of art intended to enrich the atmosphere of the room and provide a lasting focal point. Commissions such as this are especially rewarding, allowing me to create something deeply personal for a client while continuing the enduring dialogue between fine art, architecture, and interior design.

A Floral Study in Expression
This view offers another glimpse of a floral expressionist painting commissioned by a valued client. Rather than focusing on precise botanical detail, the work explores the emotion, movement, and vitality of flowers through expressive brushwork, layered color, and an energetic composition. The painting was conceived as both a celebration of nature and an exploration of color itself. Rich hues and spontaneous gestures create a sense of rhythm and life, allowing the floral forms to emerge with both strength and delicacy. The result is a composition that feels dynamic and deeply personal, inviting the viewer to experience the painting as much through feeling as through observation. Commissions such as this provide the opportunity to create artwork that is uniquely connected to a client's vision while maintaining the freedom and spontaneity that make expressionist painting so engaging. The finished piece brings a vibrant sense of beauty, energy, and artistic presence to the home.

A Home United Through Plaster and Color
For this residence, we developed a custom plaster finish that became a defining element throughout the entire home. The process began with hand-applied plaster, creating a textured foundation rich with depth and character. To enhance the surface, we layered translucent watercolor washes over the plaster, allowing subtle variations in tone to emerge and settle naturally into the finish. These delicate washes softened the walls and created an atmosphere that felt both refined and timeless, while bringing warmth and continuity from room to room. By carrying the finish throughout the home, we established a cohesive visual language that tied the interiors together. The result was a series of spaces connected by texture, light, and craftsmanship, where every wall contributed to a sense of harmony, elegance, and enduring beauty.

A Virginia Home in Layers of Color and Craft
For this residence in Virginia, we developed a series of custom plaster finishes that became an integral part of the home's character. Each room was approached individually while maintaining a cohesive vision throughout, allowing the finishes to enhance the architecture and create a sense of warmth and continuity. The walls were enriched with handcrafted plaster surfaces and translucent watercolor washes, creating subtle variations in tone and depth that brought movement and atmosphere to every space. These layered finishes captured and reflected light beautifully, giving the interiors a soft, timeless elegance. In addition to the wall treatments, we created custom finishes for the wood cabinetry, carefully coordinating color and texture to complement the plaster work. The result was a harmonious blend of craftsmanship and design, where plaster, watercolor, and wood came together to create a home rich in character, sophistication, and enduring beauty.

A Home United Through Plaster and Color
For this residence, we developed a custom plaster finish that became a defining element throughout the entire home. The process began with hand-applied plaster, creating a textured foundation rich with depth and character. To enhance the surface, we layered translucent watercolor washes over the plaster, allowing subtle variations in tone to emerge and settle naturally into the finish. These delicate washes softened the walls and created an atmosphere that felt both refined and timeless, while bringing warmth and continuity from room to room.

A Virginia Home in Layers of Color and Craft
For this residence in Virginia, we developed a series of custom plaster finishes that became an integral part of the home's character. Each room was approached individually while maintaining a cohesive vision throughout, allowing the finishes to enhance the architecture and create a sense of warmth and continuity. The walls were enriched with handcrafted plaster surfaces and translucent watercolor washes, creating subtle variations in tone and depth that brought movement and atmosphere to every space. These layered finishes captured and reflected light beautifully, giving the interiors a soft, timeless elegance. In addition to the wall treatments, we created custom finishes for the wood cabinetry, carefully coordinating color and texture to complement the plaster work. The result was a harmonious blend of craftsmanship and design, where plaster, watercolor, and wood came together to create a home

The Heart of a Virginia Farmhouse
This living room was part of a Virginia farmhouse renovation where we were entrusted with creating a collection of custom plaster and specialty wood finishes throughout the home. The goal was to honor the character of the farmhouse while introducing a refined sense of artistry and craftsmanship. The walls were enriched with hand-applied plaster finishes that brought depth, texture, and warmth to the space. Complementing these surfaces were custom wood finishes designed to enhance the architectural details and create a sense of age, patina, and authenticity. As the central gathering space of the home, the living room embodies the spirit of the project. The interplay of plaster, wood, and natural light created an atmosphere that felt both elegant and welcoming, proving that thoughtful finishes can transform a room into a place of lasting comfort, beauty, and character.

A Houston Home Rich in Texture and Patina
For this Houston residence, we created a collection of custom finishes that brought warmth, character, and a sense of timeless craftsmanship to the home . Throughout the interior, the walls were treated with hand-applied plaster finishes and enhanced with delicate watercolor washes, creating layers of depth and subtle movement that responded beautifully to changing light. The watercolor glazes softened the plaster surfaces and introduced gentle variations in tone, giving the walls an atmospheric quality that felt both elegant and lived-in. Each room benefited from a finish that was uniquely expressive while remaining harmonious with the home's overall design. Even the front doors became part of the artistic vision. We created a custom distressed finish that imparted the appearance of age, patina, and history, establishing a memorable first impression before guests ever stepped inside. Together, the plastered walls, watercolor washes, and aged door finish created a home rich in texture, authenticity, and enduring beauty.

Layers of Color and Craftsmanship
This Houston residence provided the opportunity to create a complete decorative finishes program that unified the home through texture, color, and artistry. Throughout the interior, we applied custom plaster finishes that established a rich foundation of depth and character. Once the plaster surfaces were complete, we enhanced them with translucent watercolor washes, allowing subtle variations in tone to emerge across the walls. These layered finishes responded beautifully to natural light, creating an atmosphere that felt warm, elegant, and effortlessly timeless. To complete the vision, we developed custom finishes for the woodwork, carefully coordinating them with the plastered surfaces to create a seamless relationship between architecture and decoration. The result was a home where every element worked in harmony, blending handcrafted plaster, watercolor glazes, and refined wood finishes into a cohesive expression of beauty, comfort, and enduring craftsmanship.

A Continuation of Soft Color and Texture
OThis fireplace wall was part of the same Houston residence, where we carried the home's signature palette of plaster and watercolor finishes into every major architectural element. The wall was finished with hand-applied plaster, creating a rich yet understated surface that complemented the surrounding rooms. To maintain continuity throughout the home, we layered soft watercolor washes over the plaster, introducing subtle variations in tone and depth. These translucent washes softened the surface and allowed the fireplace to feel integrated into the overall design, rather than standing apart from it. The result was a fireplace feature that radiated warmth and quiet elegance. Through the interplay of plaster, color, and light, the wall became a natural focal point, reinforcing the home's atmosphere of timeless comfort, artistry, and refinement.

A Continuation of Soft Color and Texture
This Houston residence holds a special place in my career as one of the homes where I developed some of my earliest distressed woodwork finishes. At the time, I was exploring ways to bring the character and patina of age to newly crafted architectural surfaces, creating finishes that felt as though they had evolved gracefully over generations. Through layers of paint, glaze, and carefully controlled distressing techniques, the woodwork acquired a richness and authenticity that complemented the home's architecture. The finishes softened the formality of the millwork while adding warmth, depth, and a sense of history to the interiors. Looking back, projects such as this were instrumental in shaping my approach to decorative finishes. They demonstrated how artistry and craftsmanship could transform ordinary woodwork into surfaces with personality, character, and a timeless connection to the traditions of the past.

The Beginnings of a Signature Finish
Another view of the same kitchen reveals some of the earliest custom woodwork finishes I developed, marking an important chapter in my exploration of decorative finishing. These initial treatments were created to bring depth, character, and a sense of age to newly crafted cabinetry and architectural details. Through carefully layered colors, glazes, and distressing techniques, the woodwork acquired a rich patina that softened the formality of the space and gave it the appearance of having evolved naturally over time. The finishes were designed to complement the architecture while adding warmth and authenticity throughout the kitchen. Looking back, these early wood finishes helped establish many of the techniques and principles that would shape my work for years to come. The result was a kitchen filled with texture, craftsmanship, and timeless character, where every surface contributed to the home's unique story.