Janet Setterland is not sure where in the pantheon of fine arts and crafts her new decorative-painting enterprise belongs. Her work could be characterized as trompe l’oeil for furniture and features a Mediterranean theme that is very popular.
A painter and furniture restoration enthusiast, Setterland was awestruck after entering the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, in 2005 and gazing at the frescoed walls. On the flight home she decided to quit her office job and start a business painting and decorating furniture by hand.
The daughter of a furniture store owner in Canada, Setterland studied art and design and refurbished several homes in Southern California with her husband, Chuck, an engineer.
Five years ago, she made the prototype of her line. She needed a small table for a kitchen nook and made one from a metal base and wooden top Chuck built for her. She painted it and told her husband, “I think we can market this thing someday.”
She now offers the bistro table (shown above, $1,200) as the centrepiece of her J Setterland Designs line. It comes in either black and cream or red and mustard.
The Uffizi frescoes inspired her to design a series of decorative panels (shown below, right) featuring urns, leaves, ribbons and fruits on wood with metal frames. They come in two sizes, for $500 and $600, and can be hung as singles or in a series.
Setterland, who works out of her home in Healdsburg, also turns out single pieces when she gets hold of an antique with potential (wine cabinet, directly right; $1,900).
She paints in acrylic and applies glazes for richness and sheen. “I like to use metallics as well,” she said. “I love to take old furniture and transform it.”
Her work is feature on her Web site, but she is always interested in doing custom projects.
Find J Setterland Designs at Le Jardinet in Danville, Season of the Vineyard and Rued Winery in Healdsburg, and Winterbranch Gallery in San Francisco, and at www.jsetterlanddesigns.com.
Information from: www.sfgate.com
