I recently had the opportunity to do an old world, textured plaster finish in a gorgeous, new construction home in Winchester. This stunning mahogany library needed something special; plain paint just wasn’t going to do. I was commissioned by the builder (whose home I had previously done work in) to do a faux finish that was warm and complimented the marble fireplace. Several finishes were considered including a linen glaze, but the designer and builder ultimately decided to go with the old world, textured, plaster. Preparation is key to doing any finish, especially when taping the trim and ceiling. Because the molding is so detailed, I needed to be very careful while taping the walls so that there were not any gaps. Several layers of a custom tinted, weathered plaster were applied. I used a plastic trowel to “knock down” the third coat which added the most texture to the walls. A tobacco pigment “wash” brought out the texture and added depth and color. A coat of satin varnish was added to protect the finish and give the walls a soft sheen which brought out the pattern even more. The result is a rich, warm finish that compliments the beautiful, dark mahogany built-ins, the ceiling and trim.
