Sylvia Thompson-Dias, Master Artisan and Owner of Sylvia T. Designs
Sylvia has been a decorative artist for 25 years. With her wealth of experience, Sylvia has fashioned creative techniques in her finishes producing depth and dimension to the walls, ceilings, and floors on which she and her team of talented artists work. She regularly attends workshops to learn the latest finish techniques and products continuously enhancing what Sylvia T Designs offers to clients.
The breadth of what Sylvia T. Designs offers – plaster restoration, decorative plaster finishes, functional plaster finishes, faux finishes, cabinetry & furniture finishes, murals, custom signage, color consultation, and more – will bring your project to life!
Much of Sylvia T. Designs’ work in the greater New Orleans area has involved projects in historic properties. With care and dedication, we can expertly restore flat wall and ceiling lime plaster, medallions, and crown molding. We area also the region’s experts in restoring and refinishing furniture and cabinetry.
Sylvia T. Designs is committed to working with designers and owners to gain an understanding of their concepts and needs. With that information, we delve into the creative process to produce exciting decorative finishes bringing their vision to fruition. We deliver this top caliber work within budget and on time.
We work both residential and commercial projects, small and large-scale, historic and new construction. With our extensive experience, we’re able to effectively manage projects from the initial planning and design phase through execution and completion.
“I have been drawn to the arts since I was a young child. As a teenager, I began taking classes from a local artist where I learned about color and painting techniques. At Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, I studied design and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. After an internship in the field, I went back to my first love – art. And, with this love of the arts and training, I started my decorative arts business.” ~ Sylvia T.
Sylvia Thompson-Dias was recognized as the 2022 “Design Master” for the decorative arts by New Orleans Homes Magazine.
Contact Sylvia T. Designs for your next project and “make your space a work of art!”
Anna Putnam, Artisan Apprentice
Anna joined our team in January of 2023 after we met them at an event with our friends at BuildStrong Academy. With a life-long interest in the arts, Anna centered on photography and studied that at Bard College in Upstate New York. Their father encouraged Anna to attend a liberal arts school because, as he said, “all great artists had to think deeply about the work they produced.” Good one, dad!
As part of Anna’s experience at Bard, they participated in a service program called the “Children’s Expressive Art Project” that brought them to New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina. The program offered support and provided deeply needed and under-offered mental health services in the aftermath of the storm. “I quickly fell in love with the essence and chaos and richness of New Orleans and became deeply curious about the quickly changing politics of the New Orleans public school system,” said Anna.
Bard allowed Anna to pursue a degree in Human Rights that focused on the evolving education system in NOLA. This led to repeated trips to the city and deepened their connection to it. During one foray down here, Anna even had the opportunity to participate in the rebuild of the iconic “Mother-in-Law Lounge” working alongside the widow of Ernie K-Doe (the lounge’s founder and legendary musician), Antoinette K-Doe. This experience stirred something up in Anna. “I didn’t know that learning to put up sheetrock, tiling floors, and building a stage would be something that I would return to later in life.”
After graduation, Anna moved to the city they loved and continued their path in education, working in Special Education with high need students. Their work also emphasized arts therapy and encouraging the ongoing integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the school’s policies. As with many people, the pandemic had a profound effect on Anna and teaching through it, even more so. After spending a lot of time working on their newly purchased house, Anna firmly decided to change career paths and attend the BuildStrong Academy in the fall of 2022. In short, this terrific 12-week program teaches students from all walks of life the skills needed to work successfully in the construction industry.
We, here at Sylvia T Designs, were fortunate to meet Anna when we gave a talk to the Academy on our work. Anna was inspired to see what the decorative arts could mean for a career connecting their various skills, talents, and interests. They are particularly drawn to decorative plaster (including tadelakt), mural work, and much more. “I feel incredibly honored to have been chosen to work with Sylvia and this team of amazing people! I immediately felt like I was part of the family,” said Anna.
We’re honored to have Anna as part of our team/family, too! Anna was promoted to Artisan Apprentice in August of 2023 and continues to shine in everything they do for us!
Contact Sylvia T. Designs for your next project and “make your space a work of art!”
Eilise Gancarz-Davies, Artisan Apprentice
Eilise came on-board Sylvia T Designs in February of 2023. Originally hailing from New Orleans, they grew up here and developed an active interest in organic farms and gardens. Eilise worked in this realm in numerous capacities for 10 years. As agriculture can be unpredictable, this experience taught them the ability to adaptability and comfort with change – both of which are useful and needed in the decorative arts and on project sites!
Moving on with their education, Eilise went to Goucher College in Baltimore and completed a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies along with minors in Psychology and Spanish. Their degree strengthened their listening abilities and increased their reflection and critical thinking skills. All of this is also very valuable working in the decorative arts as part of a team and in a dynamic, changing landscape. Spanish skills certainly don’t hurt on the jobsite, as well!
Eilise then moved into education teaching fourth graders Earth Science with “T.R.E.E.” in Jean Lafitte National Park. They also worked in a bakery making and decorating pastries. Anyone who has baked as well as worked with plaster realizes the necessary connection between the precision of measurements and timing that lead to the desired result! “Working in education taught me invaluable lessons in organizing tasks for everyone’s success, having realistic goals and expectations, and how to think quickly under pressure, as well as lots of practice with communication,” they said.
With schools shutting down during the pandemic, Eilise investigated a new career path – construction and natural building. They took an internship in Moab, Utah with Community Rebuilds working on new homes and developing skills in straw bale construction, plastering, framing, drywall, and more. They were particularly inspired by earthen and lime plasters and utilizing local materials to construct home environments. “The sculptural and storytelling aspects of plaster captivated my imagination and allowed me to explore the artistic side of building more deeply,” said Eilise.
Eilise also gained experience in roofing, carpentry, repair work, and stormwater management. As you can tell, Eilise brings some terrific broad-based and specific experiences to the table here at Sylvia T Designs. These experiences and joining our team/family has opened their eyes how important plaster and the decorative arts are to New Orleans and the regions where we work. Eilise was promoted to Artisan Apprentice in October 2023 and continues to shine with us!
“I gravitate towards planet and people-loving work and work cultures,” said Eilise. “I am very excited to be a part of Sylvia T Designs and to continue to explore plaster and the decorative arts back here in Louisiana with an incredible team of talented artists!”
Contact Sylvia T. Designs for your next project and “make your space a work of art!”
Sylvia T Designs is proud to be a firm dedicated to building careers for females in the decorative arts! New team members start as an “Artisan Assistant.” Then, after demonstrating certain skills, knowledge, and consistent quality of work, they are eligible for promotion to “Artisan Apprentice.” From there, after continued success, increased product knowledge, expanded technique, and jobsite management ability, team members can achieve the title of full “Artisan.” This process is important in building confidence and competent, talented artisans. It is also a firm nod to the time-honored trades that built New Orleans and so many other areas around our region. Sylvia T Designs is always “Honoring Tradition and Progress” on every project, every day!
Contact Sylvia T. Designs for your next project and “make your space a work of art!”
Our all-female artisan applicator team at Sylvia T Designs (from left) – Sylvia Thompson-Dias, Master Artisan and Owner, Tess Riehlmann, Artisan, and Jess Pottker, Lead Artisan.
Pictured above from left – our amazing artisan team at Sylvia T Designs and Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans – Sylvia Thompson-Dias, Owner and Master Artisan, Jess Pottker, Lead Artisan, Eilise Gancarz-Davies, Artisan Assistant, Tess Riehlmann, Artisan, and Anna Putnam, Artisan Apprentice.