Creating “Perk”olating Ambiance:
Meet Artist Sharon Daggers

Antique glass door knobs.

For some people, they evoke cherished memories of Grandma’s house, or a historic tour of homes. For others, they seem old-fashioned, dated, a thing of the past. Then, there’s the artist’s view. Antique glass door knobs are treasured items discovered long ago and lovingly packaged for safe keeping. They are moved from place to place, even though there’s never a right fit. Suddenly, like magic, there’s a perfect space. They transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. They make a bathroom vanity “perk.”

Bath with door to water closet closed	Close up of glass door knob used on bath vanity

“Perk” is how Sharon Daggers, a Triad-area faux finish and mural artist for commercial and residential environments, describes knowing when something is just right. It’s an inner feeling that is like a coffee perking in a percolator, or “perk”olating. It’s a befitting description for the ambiance she’s creating in an abandoned 1880s mill house at the former Glencoe Mill in Burlington.

Sharon discovered the former mill town during an afternoon outing. She and a friend went to the mill to catch a glimpse of North Carolina’s history. The abandoned mill houses kept calling her back. Finally, she purchased one, and now a long renovation process is nearly complete. “Found objects, glass door knobs, rocks from different rivers, branches from different states, and things I picked up along the way” is how Sharon describes her process for creating “a place that is more like a little art creation.”

Daggers with mural at Bliss & Co. Salon and Day Spa. photo courtesy Ron Hayden

Sharon’s brilliant artistic gift shines through as she breathes life into her client’s vision for a just-right environment. She sees her role as a cocreator, helping clients create environments with “feeling.” When Sharon asked Cara Lentz and Heather Grayson, Owners of Bliss & Co. Salon and Day Spa in High Point, what feeling they wanted to create in their spa’s massage treatment room, they described a feeling of water, trees, nature; outside, but not detailed. The mural design is like a gentle, babbling brook in a forest.

Hand-painted murals at Greensboro’s M’Coul’s restaurant. photo courtesy Ron Hayden

Two life-size murals in downtown Greensboro’s M’Coul’s restaurant are demonstrations of Sharon’s ability to create intimacy in commercial space. She and fellow artist Tara Blomquiest designed the murals, which have become the restaurant patrons’ favorite background for photos of times shared with family and friends.

From the Bernhardt Showroom, International Home Furnishing Market; T his particular project was achieved by painting the circles and squares with latex gloss paint on a flat latex base wall, of the same color. The light from the lamps reflect the gloss paint, illuminating the design. Artwork photographed by Emily Richardson.

Furniture Market exhibitors, like Bernhardt and North Carolina-based Charleston Forge, also turn to Sharon to create environments that evoke special feelings for thousands of visitors that come to the annual Spring and Fall Markets. There’s a glint in Sharon’s eyes when she describes the joy, challenge and satisfaction she experiences when working with Market designers. “You really have to be on your toes to please the designers because they are under a limited amount of time to get in there and get it done. They come up with ideas that are on the spot and you don’t have a lot of time to make samples and plan it out.”

Whether fulfilling rapid-fire requests for Market designers, or implementing room-by-room design plans for residential clients, Sharon’s joy comes from seeing people really excited about what’s been done.

“I cannot leave a job and feel good about it, feel that joy,
until I can feel it from them.”

Do you want help in redecorating your lifestyle? Here are Sharon’s tips for getting in touch with your own internal “perk:”

"Mystic Garden" Water color, size 60hx45w The wild flowers were expressed by the fluid, transparent nature of water color.	"From My Lawnchair" Acrylic, 60hx40w Inspired by a restful view from Dagger's own backyard.
Artwork photographed by Emily Richardson.

· Surround yourself with positive people that you feel the best around, the ones that you KNOW want to see you grow into your full potential.

· Create an enthusiasm notebook. Put pictures, advertisements, etc. of anything that excites you: a dessert, a hair style, clothing, colors, rooms, a piece of furniture. Over time, you’ll see a style emerge, one that is you.

· Keep a notebook around to jot things down. Ask yourself questions, e.g., Where do I want to live? What do I want in life? What do I want to be? Who do I want to be around? What kind of environment? Write whatever comes up for you when you ask the question.

Sharon is an artist extraordinaire who believes it’s important to be who you are, no matter where you are. For inquiries on Sharon's work and inspiration contact here at (336) 267-1146.