Welcome to Cook Varkony Studios.

Our full service finishing company specializes in the decorative arts and works with builders, interior designers and homeowners alike. 

The IDEA: 

You may have one,  you may not.  Our consultation services can offer limited to full range surface design, depending on your needs.  This process discusses surface, color, texture, mood and practicality of use.  We'll provide you with samples and upfront estimates.  We spend time with you and get to understand your needs. 

The PREPARATION:  

 Many artisan finishers require an almost perfect substrate for their finishes.  Some, but not all, may be able to do their own base paint.  Cook Varkony Studios will prepare surfaces for you, saving you the time and money of hiring two contractors to complete one job.  We offer drywall repair, carpentry repair, spackling and skimcoating.  You can be assured that we'll prepare it right, the first time.   Hiring one contractor instead of two will save you time and money at the bottom line. 

The EXECUTION:  

Cook Varkony Studios executes every finish to a level of craftmanship often unparalled in today's market.  Our artists are collegiately trained in design and fine art and continue to hone techniques through on-going tradesman training.  We also screen every employee for skill, friendliness, cleanliness, security and safety.

The PEACE OF MIND: 

Cook Varkony Studios is fully insured and a licensed  home improvement contractor.  Great care is taken to provide a safe, clean work environment that is also ecologically sound.

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING

Not every wall needs a texture, not everyone wants faux, and few people care to paint a house... the right way.

Our painters take great care in surface preparation and repair.

We use only the best paints with the maximum coverage available, intense color saturation, and the widest range of colors we could find on the market.  In addition, custom tinting is available and for truly artisan painted walls, our expert colorists can hand mix something unique and special for you. 

Each coat of paint is hand sanded to a level of perfection that would certainly be time consuming and difficult for the average homeowner. 

EUROPEAN AND EARLY AMERICAN PLASTER

Faux Italian Rennaisance Column

From Old World Charm, Tuscan Villas, Grecian Ruins, to the most fantastic of the Avant Garde, our artists transform the ordinary into extraordinary.  Our plasterers can recreate adobe, marble, stone, stucco, and restoration plasters  to suit your needs.  A wide range of durable protective coatings and custom colored and metallic overcoatings are available. Enhance the beauty and increase the value of your investment.

FAUX BOIS

Faux Oak Grain on Bar

French for "fake wood",  faux bois is an art that is hundreds of years old.  It has transformed the finest of structures over the years with an affordable and environmentally conservative approach to decorating with wood. 

In many instances, the finest of woods are not available, are too expensive, or you may require such small mouldings and fittings that the real wood would be impractical. In these cases artisans are commissioned to faux bois libraries, entranceways, ceiling beams and mouldings of the finest estates, palaces and municipal structures or the smallest of picture frames. 

We will match to existing wood on the property or design something completely new for you.

 FAUX MARBRE, GRANITE, STONES & OTHER NATURALS

Just as wood was costly and hard to get so was/is marbles and high end granites.  Fireplaces, columns, mouldings, floors and even whole bathrooms or foyers make perfect specimen for faux finishing.

STENCILING  

Stenciling is probably not what you thought it was!  The art of stenciling has developed far from the adorable bunnies and hearts and flowers that many of us associate the word with.  Yes, the traditional country motifs are still available today, but look beyond that and you'll find a world of richness and beauty never before dreamed of.

Our stencil artists can use laser stencils of your choice or design one for you.  Ours are hand cut and hand applied to create an original work of art.   Ceiling medallions, murals, faux wallpaper, faux crown mouldings, embossed leathers, old world damasks... WOW! the possibilities are endless.

GLAZING & BROKEN COLOR TECHNIQUES

Stippling Creates an Aged Effect

There are many techniques that fall under this category.  Most people call this "faux painting".  Though some of these paint techniques indeed mimic the look of a more expensive wall treatment, many of these techniques are not faking anything at all. Yet the finishes are nevertheless gorgeous, and they can be very cost effective when treating large expanses.           

RESTORATION HARDWARE  

Whether its existing hardware you need aged or it's time to replace "new" with old, The Studio can custom match and age your hardware to add the final touch.  From iron hinges to crystal doorknobs, don't let your new room forget to accesorize! Rust, veridgris and other patinas finish your new look with perfect flair.

So don't forget mirrors, picture frames, doors, ceiling medallions and other trimmings.  These can really add luster to your new environment.

CUSTOM MOULDING AND TRIM 

Custom Carerra Crown above Tuscan Broken Color

Let our expert craftsmen finish your walls with beautiful crown mouldings, baseboards and trim.  Custom matched to your home and personal taste these additions can be guilded, marbled, patinized, aged or distressed to add intrigue and the final statement to your design.  Adding a chair rail can completly rejuvenate a bland wall or add crown moulding to "raise" the look of the ceiling and add that perfect touch of elegance.

 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN FURNITURE FINISHES

How many times do you find "just the right piece", and then realize the "if only". 

 "If only" it were a different color,

"If only" it were a different sheen,

"If only" it had some gold accents. 

Cook Varkony Studios repairs that little "If only" to "That's exactly what I wanted!"

Right down to the smallest detail, a color change with a hand-rubbed finish coat may be just what is in order to restore elegance to an existing piece.

Milk Paints                                           Hand Rubbed

Hand Stenciling                                    French Polish

Refinishing                                           Restoration

Refurbishing                                         Lacquer Finishes

Re-coloring                                          Inlays

Antiquing                                             Color Matching

 GILDING AND VARIOUS METAL LEAF

Flame-Fired Gold Guilding Stenciled with Hand-Rubbed Bronze

The art of applying thin layers of metal to surfaces for decroation is thousands of years old. Gold, silver, copper are most commenly used.  Metal leaf on ceilings is our passion!

 PATINATION & AGING EFFECTS

Once garrish, this picture frame was guilded, then aged to reflect an authenticity only achieved by time or by artisan finishers.

 CUSTOM CANVASES & MURALS

A Picture Within a Picture.  Authentic Japanese Framed Artistry Transposed Onto Wall to Create a Magnificent Backdrop.

Contact us:  Service@CookVarkonyStudios.com