10 things you need to know…. venetian plaster

Written by

Studio Luxicon

21 July 2022

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2 min read

1. This plaster goes by many different names - polished plaster, polished render, in Morocco a similar finish is called tadelakt, when mixed with marble, it is called Marmorino.

Marmorino via Architectural Digest- Marmorino has a reflective surface and is highly polished.

Designer leigh Herzig Tadelakt bathroom. Tadelakt is a traditional Moroccan wall surfacing technique composed of lime plaster and black soap made from olives. When the ingredients are combined, a chemical reaction between the two creates a waterproof mem

2. This type of plaster finish has been around for thousands of years

3. It’s typically made of crushed stone (limestone and marble in particular) and when burnished and waxed is waterproof.

4. It can be coloured with pigments- but I think natural tones are usually the best.

5. Venetian plaster generally has no aggregates mixed in. It is limestone mixed with cement which forms a putty. When it is dry and exposed to carbon dioxide it turns back into limestone. Real Venetian plaster contains genuine marble dust, thus adding to the unique beauty of the finish. Traditional Venetian plaster, on the other hand, is made up using lime or gypsum.

6. Because of its handmade nature it is more expensive than paint but possibly less expensive than a medium-range tile.

7. It is generally low maintenance, scuffs can be removed with a damp cloth. However, some plasters with more aggregate mixed in can be higher maintenance- with deep scratches needed more care.

8. Lime plaster is non-toxic and emits low VOCs

9. It takes longer to apply than paint as it is made of many thin layers that take some time to dry.

10. It gives a beautiful handmade appearance- its texture is subtle but highly luxurious.

For her Malibu home, interior designer Vanessa Alexander commissioned Kamp Studios to cover nearly all of the walls in a plaster finish. via Architectural Digest

In one of my new projects we will use Marmorina to create texture and reflectivity to hallway and give a beautiful backdrop to artwork that will be placed as the first thing that you see when you enter.

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