the winner:
Random.org picked Kristen Hasbrouck as the winner of an original shutter headboard by Linen Flower Studios. Kristen, ENJOY your one-of-a-kind creation!! (Jealous…just a tad.) And thank you, Linen Flower Studios, for a fabulous giveaway!
the goods:
Win this simply incredible handmade shutter piece {shown left} by Linen Flower Studios. Valued at $300, it can be used as a headboard for a full-sized bed, hung behind a sofa for some architectural drama, or used in a mudroom or kitchen to hang photos or reminders. We. Are. In. Love!!!
the giveaway:
To enter to win this beauty for your home, simply:
1. Visit Linen Flower Studio’s website: www.linenflowerstudios.com.
2. Comment below, telling us either your favorite Linen Flower piece - or- what piece of yours you’d love to have refinished by Linen Flower Studios. {We love the monogrammed firescreens–oh my!!}
But before you jet, you just have to meet the fabulous artist behind this piece. Her life is simply looooovely!
The lovely Martha Alberti
the artist:
We’d like to introduce you to Martha Alberti, the talented artiste behind Linen Flower Studios, whose gorgeous furnishings and home accessories can be found in local shops, including Ivy and Twine and The Magnolia Room in Marietta. Here’s a bit more about Martha– a truly inspiring lady with a romantic French past (and talented French husband to boot).
LBD|LRW: What inspired the name of your company, Linen Flower Studios?
Martha: Why would I name my furniture-painting business something better suited to an enterprise selling towels and sheets? The reason is a bit sentimental: I spent many happy years living in a cottage in the heart of Normandy surrounded by fields awash in the ephemeral blue flower that linen produces in late spring.
Linen fields in bloom.
The name also reflects my favorite palettes of Paris gray, taupe and French blue which go so well with antique linens and the natural interiors that are so much in fashion these days.
LBD|LRW: Tell us a bit more about your life in France. It sounds romantically perfect!
Martha: My husband Fabrice is French, and altogether amazing. We lived in France together for 15 years, raising our children in Normandy. There, we worked as artists, learning and mastering high-end decor techniques. Now, we live back in America, in Marietta, where we are still both pursuing artist careers: me through Linen Flower Studios, and my husband through a career as a set painter and artist for the TV and movie industry in Atlanta. He currently paints sets and commissioned portraits for The Vampire Diaries.
Linen Flower Studios' monogrammed firescreen
LBD|LRW: Do you miss France, or are you glad to be back in America?
Martha: Although I have precious memories of my past in France, I live by the motto: “Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.” Marietta is a community that believes in itself and supports its local businesses. This is where I am…and what a lovely place to use what I have and do what I can!
LBD|LRW: Your technique for repurposing furniture is dimensional and just, well, fabulous! There’s so much depth to your finishes, above and beyond typical paint-distress-done pieces. What’s your secret?
Martha: My paint finishes are designed to have depth and patina using a combination of technique, paint and hand tinted waxes. Slight or pronounced imperfections and distressing add to the charm of my artisan finishes.
LBD|LRW: And you apply these artisan finishes on everything from someone’s existing furniture to old shutters! What other creative goodies do you offer?
Linen Flower Studios' lovely antiqued finish
Martha: I make monogrammed headboards, which are an original design, handmade and painted right in Marietta, by myself. I can also repurpose used louvered doors or shutters by fashioning them into adorable headboards, room screens or decorative panels, and I design and create monogrammed firescreens, and wall sconces. Many more items are also in production!
I paint almost anything, really, from lamps and chandeliers to wall units for housing big screen TVs. {I just don’t do kitchens because I don’t work “off site.”}
I also do gilding and can repair antique frames. In some cases, paintings are in dire need of restoration. I refer those to my husband, Fabrice, who is a professional artist and highly experienced.
LBD|LRW: The crazy thing to us, really, is your pricing. We’d honestly expect to pay at least double what you charge for your work.
Linen Flower's refinished iron daybed
Martha: I cater toward the young housewife who wants lovely things but is on a budget. That’s who I want to own my pieces. All my prices can be found on my website, but repainting a 5-piece dining room table and chairs is around $200 to $250. Refinishing small occasional tables are as little as $45 depending on the details.
LBD|LRW: Martha, we are so happy to know you! Thank you for sharing your amazing talents with us!
the guide:
Linen Flower Studios www.linenflowerstudios.com
Call Martha at 678-354-5028 (before 7:30 p.m. please 
E-mail Martha a picture of your furniture for a quote to refinish: cmlart@aol.com
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Thanks-a-mundo for the article post.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
Over the moon excited!!! Thank you sooo much LBD/LRW and Linen Flower Studios!!!
LOVE the shuttered headboard! BEAUTIFUL work! I would be honored to have such a gorgeous piece in my home.
I’m just not saying this but the shutter headboards are my favorite!! They are soooo unique..Their beautiful!! You, indeed, have a wonderful life!!
I would love to have my table and chairs refinished and would love a monogrammed fireplace screen.
The designs are so elegant. I envy your sense to take something simple and create something magical.
I’m smitten with those rocking chairs on her website! Makes me crave sweet tea and a warm summer breeze just looking at them!
I would love to have several chests redone by Linen. Beautiful work!
Wow!! This stuff is gorgeous! To echo everyone else, I love the headboards and fireplace screen…BEAUTIFUL!!!
So glad to know about this! I love the fire screens, too! They really seem to “class” up a room.
Beautiful stuff! I especially am in awe of your painting talent. Love the headboard – what a fabulous place to display family artwork and pictures!
Oh my! I think I have died and gone on a mini vacay! (then I hear the kids yell). I must say the romantic pictures of blooming lavender were my fav but in the shopping department, the twin shutter headboard with a monogrammed “P” would be a dreamy addition to my little girls cottage collection bedroom.
Thanks for the giveaway and for sharing!
So beautiful, I love the sconces and the headboards!
Love the monogrammed headboard!! I love the persona; touch to a piece so special!
You do such a wonderful job!!!! I happen to love it all especially those side tables and headboards. I would love to have one of your gorgeous pieces in my home.
Beautiful!!! I love the headboards and would love to win this for a friend of mine who has been looking for this exact item!!!!
WOOO beautiful stuff – just my “style”. She does beautiful work! Would love to have some!!
I love the shutter screen! It would be fabulous to use as my daughter’s headboard in our new house. As for things I would love to have refinished by Linen Flower Studios… I have a dresser that I would love to have Martha refinish. Her work is just beautiful.
I shudder to think of my room without the shutter headboard – so lovely!
I adore the monogrammed fireplace screen. But my favorite is the shuttered headboard. It is truely gorgeous!
All of Martha’s creations are absolutely beautiful! I love the shutter headboard … it would go perfectly in my guest bedroom. Fingers crossed … I would be a happy girl if I won the headboard!
I love the monogrammed headboard! It would fit perfectly in my daughter’s shabby chic bedroom! I would use the shutter piece there as well, or in my kitchen
I love it all! The monogrammed headboards are so unique.
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I have an old dresser that is of great size, but it’s the only storage I have for my thousands of family photos. The room it resides in used to be my Mom’s room when she visited from St. Louis. She passed away, and it would be GREAT to have it refurbished into a pastel color. I want to create a beautiful space in her memory, as I have such fond memories of sitting in that room with her. And photos were so important to her.
BTW – the headboard is fabulous. That would look great in that room also.
Beautiful work! I love the monogrammed headboard!
I LOVE the monogrammed and shutter headboards. They would look awesome in my daughter’s big girl room!
Love the shuttered headboad, it’s gorgeous! However I think I would LOVE to have my father’s antique baby chair refinished by
Linen Flower Studios. They would make it look so amazing!
Love the shutter headboard and the idea it can be used in multiple areas , but also love the monogrammed headboard too !
I absolutely love Martha’s monogrammed headboards. Her artistic ability is beautiful.
I love both the shutter and the monogrammed headboards! She is so talented! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I love the monogrammed headboard at the top of the page on her website. Colors are beautiful!
I absolutely love the monogrammed headboards. Martha’s designs are out of this world,gorgeous!
Ok. Now I am not sure I can live w/o that fireplace screen. I was fine w/o it a few minutes ago, but now, it is at the top of my list. How does that happen??!!
Would love to refresh my king cherry 4 poster bed and high boy! It’s beautiful with great details, but the shiny cherry finish and brass hardware are dated!
It really is a toss-up between the monogrammed or shuttered headboard. But, I do love the monogrammed fireplace screen as well. Aahhhh! Her stuff is gorgeous!