One of our recent Venetian plastering class graduates is doing some really creative and impressive work with Stucco Italiano.
Grant Johnson, AKA Mud Man, tells us, “I thought I would send you a couple samples of something I am having fun with. I produce these small clay balls, and apply the marmorino and polish with small stones to get various effects. . . been able to get some great marbling effects.”
Click on the thumbnails to see all the beautiful details– great work, Mud Man!
Marmorino all over my Chanel suit: We’ve found that, when using a natural lime based plaster such as Marmorino Carrara, if you wash your clothes the day of or day after getting plaster on them they will wash right off, unlike latex paint. In a pinch you could probably throw them in a bucket of Downey.
Why stay clean: 10 years ago when I went from being primarily a faux painter to doing much more Venetian plaster I noticed something. Plaster professionals are really fussy about the cleanliness of their tools and their buckets. Want to know why? Because a couple of little pieces of dried up plaster – AKA “hitchhikers”- on your hawk or in your bucket will ruin your morning when applying Marmorino or other smooth polished plasters. And they can also ruin a bucket of expensive lime based material. So be clean and neat and you will reap the benefits. Customers will absolutely love that about their decorative plastering contractors too.…
Stucco Italiano Certifified applicator and talented artisan Mariella Russo sent us some great pics of her recent projects…
In the first one she used Marmorino Carrara on the walls and Golden metallic paints and powder pigments on the ceiling. She also painted the designs in the middle.
And here is a distressed Carrara finish…
A lovely Marmorino Classic finish…
Here is a table before Mariella started…
and after a Carrara finish…
Click on the thumbnails to see more photos of Mariella’s work:
Working on a Tadelakt project and need some inspiration?
Lars of Handcrafted Finishes made a series of videos showing his process applying Tadelakt in a modern home in Denver.
Take a look:
Intonachino has proven to be one of our most popular finishes for exteriors. Its naturally mold-resistant nature makes it perfect for the outdoors, even up here in the rainy northwest.
A while ago, I briefly mentioned a project Tom Williams is working on in Ballard using Intonachino Extra Fine and Medium. It’s worth taking another look. Click on the picture below to see more photos.
Of course, mold-resistance is great for optimal indoor air health as well, so intonachino and other lime plasters are also ideal for interiors. Quoting from this excellent article on lime plaster’s natural mold resistance; “the short answer as to why Venetian plaster is truly mold-resistant is that mold can only grow in an acidic and wet or damp environment. Venetian plasters breathe and do not retain moisture. Molds also require a food source and an acidic environment in which to multiply.”
For both health- and earth-conscious reasons, Venetian style Italian lime plasters are the way to go……
Stucco Italiano is a member of the US Green Building Council. Naturally high in pH, lime finishes act as an anti-bacterial surface, neutralizing the development of organic substances such as mold and fungus.
Non-toxic and green, our lime plasters are ideal for interiors or exteriors. A breathable system, our lime plasters allow water vapor to permeate freely so moisture evaporates quickly, unlike acrylic finishes which can trap moisture inside the wall.
