Create a fake Venetian plaster look
Plaster was common for covering walls in the 19th century, but with the advent of drywall, plaster fell out of favor as it was more expensive and took longer to apply. However, with many homeowners looking to recreate the look of plaster walls, the art of creating faux Venetian plaster finishes is growing in popularity.
You can buy fake Venetian plaster or hire a trained professional to finish your walls with real Venetian plaster. Some decorative painters are trained in Italy, but many take classes in the United States.
To create that look yourself, you’ll find plenty of help on the Internet or in a growing number of books. Do your initial experimentation on a test panel and not on your walls. That way, you can make mistakes without having to correct them and start over.
Start by using a textured paint with a slightly thinner consistency than joint compound. It is available at most good hardware centers as it is commonly used to hide blemishes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
Holding a trowel like those used to apply cement to curved pool surfaces, apply the textured paint. The larger the trowel, the more surface area you can cover with each pass. It distributes the paint fairly evenly. You can come back later to get the texture you are looking for. Hold the trowel at about 45 degrees for the first pass, then flatten it out a bit to create more texture.
Let the layer dry for about twenty-four hours before moving on to the second step, which is to apply paint to the textured surface. A satin finish works best.
Let the coat dry for at least an hour before applying the top coat, a water-based glaze liquid, with a medium nap roller. An icing medium, tinted to your desired color, works better than thinned paint, because it will come back right after you’re done and take most of it off again, and you won’t be able to. with diluted paint. It dries too fast.
Once the icing liquid has been applied, use a rag towel to begin removing it, using a circular motion. Go over the surface, allowing the polish to build up in the low spots of the textured paint, until you no longer see any skid marks. don’t press too hard and ruin your textured surface, and don’t worry about mistakes, because you’re making them BEFORE you tackle the walls.
Let the surface dry for about a week. It will have the look and feel of plaster, adding class and warmth to your room, at a fraction of the cost of actual drywall work.
