Molto Bene. We Do Walls.
Getting Started
The initial consultation is free. First we meet so I can get a feel for the home and client as well as look over the area where a special finish is needed. Next, we review Molto Bene sample boards showing the different colors and textures we can use as a starting point for determining what we should create for the area. You will then receive a detailed bid and once you accept the bid, we proceed with the project. At that point, custom sample boards are made until we come up with just the right look. Then we proceed to do the work, with the end result of a very happy client joining our long list of very happy clients.
What a Molto Bene Wall Finish Is and What It Is Not
This is an art form.
What I am using is not paint. I work with what is commonly called venetian plaster or stucco veneziano. I apply different plasters and textural material to walls with results that range from extremely smooth polished looks to very rough and rustic to very high concept dimensional looks. These are applied with trowels, spatulas and other implements to create a new wall surface. This requires a high skill level, familiarity with the materials and many man hours.
These finishes can be applied over existing surfaces that have been prepared properly. Care is taken with choosing what type of material works best for each surface. These finishes can be applied in almost any room in the house. The materials are typically very strong and light and often are applied in multiple layers. The materials go over existing walls and new drywall, meaning we aren't building walls or structures as you see in traditional plaster.
Molto Bene finishes have been done in residences as well as commercial interiors. I work well directly with homeowners, but I also like to work for architects, designers and contractors.
Things You Need to Know About Molto Bene Wall Finishes
- I don't do stencils, murals or fine art. If you need someone for these services, I will try to refer you to someone.
- I don't do exteriors, stucco or traditional plaster (building up from lath or wire).
- I don't do any construction.
- I have done wall finishes for everything from powder rooms to complete homes. If price is a concern, start by targetting a few areas that will give the biggest bang for the buck, such as a dining room, master bedroom or great room.
- I use about a dozen different plasters and textures and most of these finishes are very durable and washable. If there is any question about heavy traffic or water exposure, we can apply a clear sealer.
- The ease with which these finishes can be repaired depends on the complexity of the finish. A finish with multiple layers and colors is more difficult to repair than a simpler look. The majority of these finishes repair easily, and I always leave extra material at the job site.
- If you have textured walls already, the surfaces need to skimmed smooth and sealed before I start on my finish work. Otherwise the old textures will telegraph through the new finish. It is usually more efficient and inexpensive to bring in a drywall man, painter or handyman to do this prep work. If the walls are fairly smooth, I can usually seal them and get going.
- Whether or not you need to apply a finish to the ceilings depends on the room. For instance, crown molding creates a border so you don't necessarily have to plaster the ceilings. However, in smaller rooms like powder rooms, I almost always do the ceiling. The real issue is how the wall finish will look in the room with or without the ceiling being done as well. This is a point we will go over carefully before we start the project. Ceilings can add a fair bit to the cost of the job. There are options I can offer to tie the ceiling and trim colors into the finish without applying plaster.
- There are only six customer sample boards factored into each bid. The time and materials to do sample boards can be quite expensive. I will work with you closely to zero in on the type of plaster and colors before we start making sample boards, but sample board making only starts after a signed contract. If a client wants more samples made, there is an additional charge for each board.
- Some clients rely on friends and family when making decisions. This is best done at the start when looking at portfolios or coming up with ideas, rather than after sample board making has started, otherwise samples can become costly and time consuming.
- Often a client will have a picture or know of a place with a finish they would like to replicate which helps a lot in narrowing down what the final finish will be.
- One thing to keep in mind. This is NOT science. This is art, which makes it very subjective. There is no pass or fail on this. What one person may love, another could hate and yet another could be completely ambivalent about. The bottom line is it is YOUR home, so . . .
- Make sure the finish is something you like, not just for today, but for many years to come. To help you do this, you will be supplied with large size samples to tape up in the room where the finish will be done in. Look at the samples at different times of the day and in different lighting to make sure it is exactly the way you want it.
- These finishes can be covered over at a later date if you decide to redecorate or sell the house.
- These finishes are very durable. I have never had a client call back and tell me the finish did not hold up, and I have had many clients who have used Molto Bene more than once over the years.
The best way to verify all the information here is by checking with Molto Bene clients. I can provide you with a very full list. Feel free to call or email them, and if you come across anyone who is not still totally thrilled with Molto Bene, I would like to know.