Custom Finishes & Specialty Coatings

Specialty finishes are the fastest-growing segment of high-end interior decorating in North America and the most-botched. The materials are unforgiving, the substrate prep is critical, and the application requires hours of training that the typical painter has not done. We invested in formal certification five years ago and we treat this as a separate service line with its own crew, separate from our standard painting division.

Venetian plaster (true polished plaster, not the textured paint sold under the same name) is a multi-layer lime-based finish that produces depth, subtle movement and a hand-burnished sheen that no paint can replicate. We apply Meoded Marmorino Veneziano and Marmorino Tools Grassello in 3 to 6 layers depending on the desired depth. A typical accent wall takes 2 to 3 days of application plus a 7-day cure before final wax.

Limewash is a more rustic, matte cousin of Venetian plaster. It produces a soft, cloudy finish with natural variation and is well-suited to bedrooms, dining rooms and exterior masonry. We use Romabio and Bauwerk and apply with a specialty masonry brush in two coats. Limewash is breathable, mineral-based and zero-VOC, which makes it a strong choice for clients with chemical sensitivities.

Microcement is a polymer-modified cement that produces a continuous, joint-free surface suitable for floors, walls, showers and countertops. We apply Topciment Microbase and Microdeck systems in 4 to 6 layers with mesh reinforcement, sealed with a two-component polyurethane. A microcement bathroom typically takes 7 working days from substrate prep to final seal.

Hand-applied glazes, metallic finishes and decorative paint techniques (strié, ragging, colour wash) round out the service line. These are quoted by the square foot after an on-site sample is approved, because the labour content is highly variable and we will not quote a finish we haven't sampled in your light.