Artisan of the Month
Terry Gavigan

Terry Gavigan was the owner of two boutiques that she had artfully decorated with her unique sense of style.  The incredible atmosphere created by the custom faux finishes done on the walls resulted in Terry’s clients asking if she could do that to their homes as well.  Terry decided to leave the fashion business to embark on a new career.  In 1999, she successfully launched her decorative painting business Tag Design Group in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and has not looked back since!

Already having a flair for design and creativity, Terry jumped right in with her “no fear attitude.”  Although she was “basically self-taught”, she rounded off her education with classes in decorative painting taught around the country.  As far as education goes, she did not stop there.  Terry believes strongly in continuing education and says, “Once you stop you tend to lose it.  You need to keep the juices flowing.  Everyone needs to take a class here and there as well as attend an occasional convention.”  The techniques that Terry loves to work with the most are trowels and wood graining.  Terry finds wood graining to be very calming and relaxing.  When asked what surfaces she works with she replied, “Anything as long as it is not moving!  I have worked on all types of surfaces, walls, ceilings, floors, cabinetry, furniture and stairwells to name a few.”

Keeping up with her education, Terry was attending a SALI Convention, now known as IDAL, where she met Kathy Carroll.  From that point on, Terry began ordering “everything and anything from her.”  When asked about her favorite products she orders from Kathy, Terry says, “I order whatever I think is going to give me the best color at that time.”  Terry senses a kindred spirit in Kathy.  “What I admire about Kathy is she does not always use one particular brand.  She uses whatever flows from her fingertips.  She lets her mind flow and really great things come out of it.”

When asked about her favorite jobs Terry talks about an amazing project she did in the Concept House.  “It was sponsored by NBC 10 and there was only one designer and faux finisher.  The owner said she did not know what she wanted so just do anything you want.  I used Luster Stone.  It was Tone on Tone and 25% bigger than what it originally was.  It turned out gorgeous.  As the house was being shown people kept going through and touching the walls and asking questioning about the wallpaper, thinking it was wallpaper when it was all plaster.”

A repeat client of Terry’s, one who she knows well, had a huge challenge in store for Terry.  The house was under construction and everyone was trying to get the job done for the client which resulted in working incredibly long hours from 7am to midnight.  “I was working in the front stairwell.  It was all marble stairs and the walls were 40 feet high.  The look I was creating was a Luster Chateau in a soft blue that looked like a watercolor, it was so pretty.  It was a soft, smooth look; very unexpected.  In the back, the client wanted something understated.  She has kids and a dog.  There was a big challenge here.  I was building thin layers on top of one another.  There was a feel of knowing it was there but not screaming at you.  It created an understated look but there at the same time.”  Her client was very happy with the transformation of her home.

Terry finds fulfillment with her career from the remarkable differences that make each client unique and the individual challenges each one gives.  “It is wonderful to be able to create something different for everyone; literally updating their house.  For example, a client who is scared to buy a can of paint now has a house that I have worked on that is turned into a home.  They don’t own a house anymore, they own a home.”  Terry continues to find a sense of achievement with the satisfaction her clients receive after she completes their homes.  As Terry’s business thrives she stays focused to her clients, “I plan to continue to grow and bring more happiness to the client’s that I serve.”

To learn more about Terry Gavigan and Tag Design Group please call 484.571.4763 or visit www.tagdesigngroup.com