Palm Beach Estate Venetian Plaster

The Challenge

The estate — built in 1925 and renovated several times over the decades — had been scheduled for a complete interior refresh. The homeowners wanted to return the interiors to their original character while upgrading materials to modern performance standards.

The main formal rooms — the living room, dining room, and grand entryway — had been finished in various materials over the years, including flat paint, wallpaper, and faux finishes. The homeowners wanted a cohesive finish that would read as authentic to the home’s Mediterranean Revival architecture.

Given the value of the property, the finish had to be exceptional — no shortcuts, no compromises.

The Solution

We proposed Venetian plaster in Grassello di Calce — the highest-grade Italian lime finish — for the main formal rooms. The Grassello finish offers a higher marble content and a more luminous high-gloss sheen than standard Venetian plaster.

The pigment was a warm ivory with subtle stone undertones, custom mixed to match the original paint colors we identified under several layers of later finishes.

The Process

Days 1–2 — Substrate Assessment and Repair. We removed wallpaper and assessed the underlying walls. Several areas required repair where previous finishes had failed. All repairs were made using lime-compatible materials.

Day 3 — Priming. An alkali-resistant primer suitable for lime was applied throughout.

Days 4–6 — Base Coats. Three base coats of lime putty were applied, each troweled thinly and allowed to cure. Extra coats were used to ensure a perfect substrate for the high-gloss finish.

Days 7–10 — Finish Coats. Multiple thin layers of pigmented Grassello di Calce were applied, each burnished extensively to create the high-gloss finish. Grassello finishes require significantly more burnishing than standard Venetian plaster — this is what creates the mirror-like sheen.

Days 11–12 — Sealing and Inspection. A breathable sealer was applied. The finish was reviewed with the homeowner, designer, and estate manager under the estate’s lighting.

The Result

The Venetian plaster completely transformed the main formal rooms. The high-gloss finish reflects light from the estate’s chandeliers and windows, creating a luminous, jewel-like effect that reads as both historic and luxurious.

The homeowner’s comment: “It looks like the house it was always supposed to be.”

The finish has held up exceptionally well. Two years later, the walls show no signs of wear, no fading, and no surface issues.

Project Details