Our Specialisms
Venetian Plaster London
A hand-finished lime surface with depth, movement and a polish that changes as the light moves across it. We make samples before the specification is fixed, so colour and sheen can be judged in the room.
A finish, understood in context
Venetian plaster is a family of decorative lime finishes. Lime putty and finely ground marble dust are applied in thin coats, then compressed and burnished to create depth, movement and, where specified, a reflective polish. Each pass contributes to the surface, so the hand-worked character remains visible rather than reading as a printed or painted effect.
Choice Finishes selects the material, sheen and colour around the architecture, light and use of each London interior.
Explore our wider approach to polished plaster in London, including how different finishes can work across a project.
Choice Finishes
Not sure which finish suits the space?
We can compare samples, textures and levels of sheen against the room and its lighting.
Understanding the finish
Lucido, grassello and Marmorino
Lucido is the high-polish expression: fine coats are tightly burnished for a smooth, reflective surface. Its gloss makes preparation and light direction especially important.
Grassello di calce, a lime-putty finish, can be mirror-polished or more restrained; Lancaster Gate has grassello mirror-finish ceilings. Marmorino is a related lime-and-marble finish, often matt, satin or textured. Samples clarify these overlapping names.
Colour and samples
Decide in the room, not on a screen
Colour, aggregate and burnishing affect the result. We prepare samples against the flooring, joinery and lighting; a reference can guide a bespoke colour match. Judge the sample in the intended room, where light and scale change its appearance. If the finish sits beside stone, metal or fabric, we compare those materials directly rather than relying on a screen image.
Sampling also sets the movement, from a soft, even glow to visible clouding and trowel marks. The approved sample guides the site work. If more than one finish is being considered, we can compare them side by side so the differences in reflection and texture are clear.
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Choice Finishes
Rooms and performance
A finish shaped around its setting
Venetian plaster suits living rooms, hallways, feature walls and ceilings, as well as restaurant interiors and hotel lobbies. High polish can anchor a focal area; a softer sheen may suit a broad wall or busy circulation space.
Waxed Venetian plaster can be used on bathroom walls away from direct water; wax improves wipeability but is not waterproofing. We do not recommend it inside showers. Tadelakt is a better-suited seamless shower finish.
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Choice Finishes
Care and repair
A surface to live with
Dust with a soft cloth; clean marks gently with a damp, non-abrasive cloth. Solvents and scouring pads can dull the polish or disturb wax. Follow care advice for the specified finish.
Repairs are often possible, but a patch may differ in tone, sheen or movement. We assess the damage and sample, then advise whether to repair locally or refinish a larger area. Where the original finish or approved sample is available, it helps guide the repair; even then, hand-worked surfaces can show a transition.
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Choice Finishes
A considered specification
How the work is priced
We do not price Venetian plaster from a per-square-metre guess: access, background, preparation, finish, details and protection all affect the work. A highly polished finish may require more exacting preparation than a softer, more textured surface.
After a site visit and sampling, we can price the agreed colour, sheen and coverage accurately. This lets the quotation reflect the actual condition and scope, rather than an assumption made before seeing the room.
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Choice Finishes
From background to final polish
Preparation and an agreed sample set the direction before the first coat.
Prepare
Make the background sound and even for the specified finish.
Sample
Agree colour, texture and sheen in the project light.
Apply
Build the surface in thin, controlled coats.
Burnish & wax
Compress to the agreed sheen; wax where specified.
In the right setting
Where Venetian Plaster Works
Living rooms, hallways, ceilings, restaurant interiors and hotel lobbies all suit the finish; choose polish or softer sheen to fit the area.
Waxed bathroom walls can work outside direct water. For showers, consider Tadelakt.
Selected project work
The finish in context
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions we hear from clients, architects, and designers.
Venetian plaster is one family of polished plaster; the wider term also includes Marmorino and grassello di calce.
Yes. We assess background and access, then agree sheen with a sample in the room's light. Grassello is one finish used for polished ceilings.
Waxed walls outside direct water can work. It is not a shower lining; Tadelakt is more suitable inside showers.
Timing depends on area, preparation, access, finish and drying between coats. We advise after a site review.
Often, though a patch may differ in sheen or movement. We advise whether local repair or a larger area is appropriate.
Related Specialisms
Get in Touch
Discuss a Venetian plaster finish
Tell us about the room and finish. We can advise on a suitable sample and specification.
Request a Consultation