Artisan of the Month
Mendy Dunigan and Tara Jones
Faux Maison
Flowery Branch, Georgia

Faux Maison is the product of the partnership of Mendy Dunigan and Tara Jones.  They are each the perfect complement to the other’s talents.  With Mendy handling the creative end, and Tara working on the management portion of the business, they are unstoppable. 

Mendy had an interest in art at an early age, and later studied at the Portfolio Center in Atlanta.  There Mendy completed her degree in graphic design, but quickly realized that she wanted to work hands on with her art not sit behind a computer.  Mendy’s mother is an interior designer and helped to introduce her to faux finishing.  They were visiting a home on the “Street of Dreams” together admiring some walls, when her mother said “Mendy you can do this”.  Her mother helped set up her first few jobs, and the rest is history.  After getting a taste of faux finishing, Mendy decided to give it a go and started Dunigan Designs on a part time basis in 1992.  It was during this time that Mendy met Tara, as the two were working together at Home Depot.  As word got out about Mendy’s work, the demand grew, and she made Dunigan Designs her full-time job in 1996.

Tara Jones received her business degree from Boston University.  Following graduation she worked in retail management at Home Depot 10 years.  From there Tara was recruited by Circuit City where she spent 4 years as a District Manager. It was during her years at these Fortune 500 companies that Tara honed the business skills necessary to make Faux Maison a success.  After being laid off from Circuit City she went to work for Mendy.  At first, she started off as an assistant, but Tara quickly became the other half that Mendy was looking for to help her run her business.  The two soon went on to open Faux Maison.  Tara says of their partnership “we compliment each other.  We both have our own roles in the business.  Our communication with one another and honesty make our business run smoothly.”

The pair now operates Faux Maison in Flowery Branch, Georgia.  Faux Maison serves as a store for faux supplies, a school where artisans can catch up on some of the latest finishes, and a provider of faux finishing services for commercial and residential customers.  In their capacity as faux finishers, Mendy has a hand- picked team of artists she personally trained on their jobs.  As the creative partner, Mendy personally creates and evaluates the finishes to be used, and goes on to supervise the completion of the job.  Tara role as managing partner insures the job runs smoothly from scheduling, inventory and billing.  The most important role they do is taking care of their customers and making sure they are 100% satisfied with their project.

Some of Mendy’s favorite products to work with are Glass Beads from Golden, and Portifino metallic plaster from Perfetto.  Mendy comments that she “loves experimenting with new products and coming up with her own custom finishes.  I also like to add 3-D elements to my finishes.”

Mendy names ostrich skin as one of her favorite mainstream techniques, but explains that she mostly creates her own techniques.  A new technique that she is currently working on is a waterfall effect with metallic glazes.  She also enjoys working with metal effects with patinas and rusted metal.  She says of her area that “Georgia is still really into Old World finishes, but I am trying to bring in some of the more current finishes to the area.”

When asked about her favorite job she said that she has many favorites, but specifically noted a job in the Chateau Elan Country Club where her client let her have complete control over the project.  She finished the entire 15,000 square foot home.  The bathroom suite included a lap pool in an octagonal room with pillars that she finished with patina.  On another job, she created a wine tasting room for her client and at the entryway to the room she created a facade using old wine barrels that she had ordered to give the look of barrels being aged in a cellar at a winery.  Her team added an awning complete with cedar shingles then she personalized the wine barrels with the owner’s name.  Another job that she enjoyed working on was for a client in The River Club subdivision in Northeast Atlanta.  The client had a niche that needed to be finished.  Instead of suggesting a more standard treatment, such as a mural, Mendy suggested that she finish it to look like an old carriage door with rusted metal to give it texture and make it unique.   Mendy’s goal is to provide each of her clients with a piece of art, not just a wall finish.  She wants people to have to touch it to see if it is painted.

Mendy believes that continuing education is very important for artisans.   She takes classes as often as her schedule permits.  When not taking classes, she continues to build her portfolio by creating her own techniques. 

Recently Kathy Carroll spent three days at Faux Maison with Tara and Mendy.  During that time, she spent two days prepping with the partners and getting to know them.  Her final day was spent demonstrating some of her products that Faux Maison was beginning to carry.  Mendy says of Kathy “I respect her as an artist.  She is well traveled, and has a plethora of information to share.”  Faux Maison is happy to have such a good working relationship with Kathy, and are proud to offer her products in their store.

For more information about Faux Maison, Tara and Mendy can be contacted at info@fauxmaison.com, or by phone at 770-965-6955.

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