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American Lung Association Showhouse in Florida

Bob reviews how building or renovating a house can sometimes be an unhealthy proposition. Asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems can often be attributed to manmade chemicals in the home. In West Palm Beach, Florida, the American Lung Association has sponsored a designer showhouse that highlights a healthy home. Bob reviews the rooms in the house, each of which is designed by selected interior designers and artists.

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Clip Transcript For:

American Lung Association Showhouse in Florida

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Building or remodeling a house can be a dusty and sometimes uncomfortable and even unhealthy proposition. Some of the materials that are used in house construction today man made chemical products that are not necessarily good for your house. I think there's a direct link to asthma and allergies and other respiratory problems and this is something that we're looking at here in West Palm Beach at the American lung association's designer show house a 1926 Mediterranean revival house that has been totally redone by local interior designers we're gonna go inside and take a closer look at one of the things that we're interested in is the health of the inside of the house. This 1920s Mediterranean house has been done up in high style from top to bottom by some of the area's most sought after interior designers. There's a formal living room done by Joann Munro with twin arched French doors leading to a tropical scenic view of Providencia park at the edge of the intra coastal waterway and Palm Beach. The fireplace is the focus faux painted to look like a solid piece of coral stone known as Patina Tina with a faux walk picky cypress mantel. 100% natural Italian limestone plaster coats the walls giving it a Stucco texture in old world golds and neutrals. The kitchen done by Carol Knapp and Brandon Moore has some uniquely furniture styled walnut cabinetry unique mosaic wall tile and I azule macauba my -- countertops along with an aged -- faux-bois pecky cypress -- mantel the spectacular sunroom Vivian Rios gives us 1930s Hollywood in silver gold blue mother of pearl and mirrors. The rear wing of the house is connected to the kitchen by a passageway that's faux finished to look like ostrich leather by a local artist -- rita stankus this. . powder room by -- Sid DelMar Leach -- Leach has some truly original tile work made from antique English molds and brass tacks. In the elegant Moroccan room by the pool. Maureen Suarez has devised a really clever treatment that disguises a rather insignificant little window and centers the room. The guest bedroom by Joseph who Pubillones this is a 1930s bachelor's den with a truly amazing bathroom a stencil Moroccan design in Venetian plaster finished to look like mother pearl. The ceilings done in. A in jade decor. of cloth fiber mica and metallic threads. At threads. center of many of these themes is ecodecor the design firm of Bernadette Upton. She did the nursery which is the room we're really here to say let's go meter."

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Wall Stenciling

Decorator Leslie Curtis joins Bob in the project house's parlor to discuss the room's wall treatments. In lieu of wallpaper, stencils are used to add a decorative touch to the interior walls�a decorating solution borrowed directly from early 19th century America. Artist Ken Forcier is on location to demonstrate the stenciling process, showing how the stencil patterns are laid out and applied to the wall before paint is brushed on. Bob takes a turn at the brush, applying paint to one of the laser-cut Mylar stencils supplied by MB Historic D�cor.

Wall Stenciling and Decorative Striping

Bob talks with artist Margo Datz about decorative striping and stenciling in the Victorian Cottage master bedroom. She uses a template to insure the lines are the same distance from the ceiling along the wall. Margo provides a tip when using painter�s tape. She seals the tape to the wall with adhesive matt medium to prevent the paint from bleeding under the tape. She shows Bob how to add a stencil pattern to the painted wall trim.

Wall Stenciling Continued

Work continues on the parlor's wall stencils. Bob and Ken Forcier are applying the second "layer" of the stencil�an ochre hue to complement the first shade of blue. To aid in the vertical alignment of the stencil patterns, Vila crafts a makeshift plumb bob using a washer tied to the end of a thread and secures it to the wall with painter's tape. Another tip: Adding a small dog ear to a corner of the stencil makes it easier to peel the stencil from the wall after the paint has been applied.

Shaker-Style Mural Painting

Bob checks in with artist Polly Forcier from MB Historic Decor to get an update on some of the home's decorative painting. Forcier is working on a Colonial-style mural inspired by the work of Rufus Porter, an itinerant painter from the 19th century. Forcier has chosen the dining area just outside the sunroom as the location for her mural. The natural sunlight pouring through the windows serves as a reference point for the highlights in her mural. She uses charcoal to outline the mural's design and then begins painting. For the details, such as the scene's houses and trees, Forcier uses a series of nine stencil overlays. To apply the paint, Polly uses a special stenciling brush employing a rotating stroke rather than stippling the paint on.