Talking
Walls
Volume 2, Issue 2 February
2003
A regular look at decorative
wall finishes.
How to
Choose a Decorative Artisan
By this issue, we hope that
this newsletter has sold you on using decorative plaster finishes on your
projects, due to the beauty, dimension and authenticity.The next step would
be to choose someone to do these finishes for you. We are glad to make
that easy for you - call Molto Bene!
Here's some reasons why you
should choose us (and things we recommend you look for when hiring any
decorative artisan):
* Years of
Experience. There are many classes and
instructors out there who are teaching painters & artists how to apply
plaster finishes. Classes are great, but nothing can take the place
of on the job experience. Working with the material over large
expanses of wall can have a whole different set of creative challenges
than creating a finish on a sample board in a studio. You want
to choose someone who has successfully dealt with those challenges,
including how to get back to square one on a finish that has gone in the
wrong direction.
* Understanding of
Color. Even slightly changing a color can create a dramatic
difference on a wall. Just as most of you are experts in color, you need
to choose a decorative artisan who is expert in color. A complete understanding
of how to use the color wheel is essential. As much as we would like it if
a room was based around the color of our finishes, the truth of the matter is it
is much more common for the wall finish to have to tie into and complement a
variety of different colors. Adjusting colors in a finish is a matter of
some skill - be sure and find someone who can be effective at this.
*Professionalism. Molto Bene is licensed, insured
and bonded. Here is where details add up to a very important whole:
proper and clear contracts, change orders when needed, sample boards prepared
for approval and the job executed in accordance with the sample board. Good
communication and coordination with you & other tradespeople or contractors
is vital. Schedules clearly laid out are essential as
well. Can the artisan do prep work if necessary? (Some artists
in this field may not have sufficient background in wall prep). Most
important is a 100 % commitment to the satisfaction of the client and to the
overall success of the project. On most projects, there is no room for
"prima donnas".
*Excellent
References. It is important to talk to past clients and where
practical see the projects. How was the artisan to work with? Who
actually does the work? How did he/she impact schedules? Most importantly,
how well did the artisan understand what was wanted and was the client thrilled
with the work?
*This is our Specialty.
There is something to be said for having one artisan for
all finishes - faux, stenciling, plaster finishes, etc. Practically
speaking, it may be easier to find artisans who specialize in a few areas, if
quality of the product is a key consideration. If you prefer to work
with specialists, Molto Bene is the right choice for decorative plaster
finishes. This is what we do day in and day out, and this is what we
take great pride in doing. Each job is an original creation. We have worked
hard to be able to do this well, and it shows in the final product.
Finish of the Month -
Serra Intonaco 
This project (pictured above in both
pictures) was done at an estate in Atherton. Many years ago, the
client added on this conservatory as a showcase for her husband's large
collection of authentic Grecian statuary and urns. It is a
space that gets used extensively for both entertaining and
relaxing. The conservatory was designed by a local architect who
specified a unique structure that is fabricated and shipped in
from England. She had a plaster finish done on the walls at the time.
Over the years, a drainage problem surfaced. Ground water was seeping into
the walls which were not sealed properly. The custom plaster finish had
deteriorated quite a bit. We were called in to redo the
finish. The job presented a number of challenges. Before we started
work, we made sure the drainage problem had been solved and the
water that existed in the walls had dried out, otherwise the moisture would have
continued to seep through ruining any new finish. We then started by
removing all the damaged plaster and patching those
areas with concrete patch. Next, we coated the entire
wall surface with a thin layer of concrete patch to create a very hard
surface to build on, followed by a water seal on the whole surface to
create a moisture barrier. Only at this point were we ready to apply the
actual plaster finish. After our scratch coat, we had to work very closely with
the client. She didn't want anything that looked "fauxy" - she wanted an
aged plaster finish without swirls in it that made it look faux, and she
wanted a color that worked better with the colors in the tile of the
floor. We created a very smooth marmarino finish, to which we then
embedded color into the surface with a layer of lime solution and
colorant. The client was thrilled with the result and we were pleased with
the fact that not only did we produce a beautiful plaster finish, we had enough
savvy to do the correct in-depth preparatory actions to ensure that finish would
stay there for a long time.
Please Answer a Short Survey on
Color
We would like to get a better idea
of color trends in the Bay Area and the rest of
California. Please email back the answers to these questions, and we
will share the results in a future newsletter:
1. What colors are your
clients currently expressing a preference for?
2. What colors do you
personally like to use?
3. What colors are appropriate
for walls?
4. Where do you think people
want to use metallics or iridescent colors?
Thanks!
If you have any projects
you would like to use plaster finishes on, call us at 408-448-1683 or
866-631-7495 toll free for an appointment.
Next month:
Dramatic Walls
venetian plaster * marmarino *
stucco veneziano * eco friendly wall finishes
Molto Bene License No.
739710
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