Scandalous Wall Talk

Check out Fauxology's Dining Room Week

2012-01-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

There are lots of great blogs out there, but a limited subset that really get into wall finishes. Fauxology is definitely near the top of that group. That is why we were honored to ask to contribute to Fauxology's Dining Room Week. Go on over and see what they have going on! (jump here) -- mbwife

Smart and Good Looking

2012-01-07T12:42:00.001-05:00

Wepride ourselves in the fact that we offer many different plaster andtextured wall finishes (including Venetian), to fit many differentneeds and wants. So we are constantly looking into new (and old) wallfinishes we can add to our repertoire. Lusterstone is one of these finishes.

Lusterstone is one of our most popular plaster finishes and has been sincewe were first introduced to it. It’s one of the most user friendlyplasters, tints easily, can be applied and manipulated in many ways,dries quickly, easy clean up and is easy to repair.

Kindof like meeting a girl who’s pretty, real smart and a great cook– kind of like Molto Bene wife – (in case she’s listening)what’s not to like?

Besidesthe above benefits is that it has properties in it that give it aniridescent look, which has allowed us to use it with just about anydécor you could think of, from Old World, to contemporary, Art Deco,Indian, Asian, European, you name it.

We’veincluded some pictures of different jobs we’ve done as well as somebasic colors. Truthfully the pictures don’t give it justice. Looksgreat in dining rooms, family rooms powder rooms, meeting rooms,even as just an accent wall –

IfI had only one material I could use on a job, it would be Lusterstone. (I have it in my own house).

Havea project in mind – gives us a shout and we’ll be glad to take alook (and show you some luster stone samples!)

Ciao, Kevin

color of the year

2012-01-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

Check out the "tangerine tango" accent wall!
From one of our first venetian plaster projects. -- mbwife

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

2011-12-13T09:21:00.001-05:00

A molto bene wall finish makes a great chrismas present, don't you think? -- mbwife

We opened up an etsy shop

2011-12-01T08:38:00.001-05:00

Just in time for the holidays! :) Check it out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/moltobenestudio

-the moltobene wife

VENETIAN PLASTER'S EASTERN BROTHER

2011-11-17T20:07:00.001-05:00

We are always been looking for new and different wall finishes, and by wall finishes, we don't mean using a brush, sponge or paint, we mean plaster and textural finishes. Venetian plaster is the obvious one many people know about, many guys have learned some basic venetian plaster techniques and you see it used in many applications, some that apply, some that don't.

The bottom line is that when we are looking for new finishes, what we really come up with are old finishes and ways to apply them in a modern setting. This brings us to our "newest" finish from Shikoku, Japan, Eco De Vita. This Japanese plaster recreates the look found in Japanese homes, temples and tea houses. While it has many of the ecofriendly qualities of a Venetian plaster, it has a completely different look and feel, which lends itself to applications in contemporary homes where a traditional Venetian might not work. Here are a few pictures of some of the applications. The product has a very sandy texture which creates very interesting looking spaces.

If you have a more contemporary looking space, this might be something up your alley. We have samples and can come do a consultation so you can see this product in person -- Ciao, Kevin

Venetian Plaster New York Style

2011-11-09T19:24:00.000-05:00

One thing about working as an artisan is that you have a great appreciation for the work done by other artisans. Case in point, we recently became acquainted with an artisan here in Florida who transplanted from New York, Guy Mizrahi. Guy is a retired police officer from New York. While there, he was introduced to Venetian plaster and got hooked. To advance his skills, he worked with a seasoned Venetian plaster artisan which allowed him to learn many techniques, finishes and uses for Venetian plaster. He achieved a high skill level, evidenced by some of his samples pictured here. Guy is working out of the Clearwater, Florida area. So in other words, if you are in the Clearwater area, looking for traditional Venetian, he's your Guy.

Periodically, we will be showing work from other artisans that catch our fancy. Ciao, Kevin

Our Latest Discovery

2011-10-30T19:47:00.004-04:00

In the wall finish business, we are constantly looking for new talent, plaster wise.

Here is our newest star in the making. Created over thirty years ago in Europe, this well-kept secret is now available in the US. This amazing new wall finish product is called Ja Decor. Some brilliant Europeans researched and patented a combination of cotton fibers and minerals in a high density composition. Hard to believe something sounding like that could make such an amazing plaster product, but it does!

Here's some close-up pictures of the product:

Here's what has been said about this product at their website:

"The most innovative wallcovering introduced in this country in the last 50 years JaDecor combines elegance, sophistication, and versatility not found in any other wall treatment or covering. JaDecor Wallcovering has been certified by the renowned Institute for Baubiologe in Rosenheim Germany. The IBR is considered the Gold standard for testing safe and healthy building products."

Some of the benefits:

Natural materials
Sound absorption
Insulates from heat and cold
Not affected by humidity
Easily repairable
Class A fire rating
Eligible for LEED points
Unlimited color palette

This product is ideal for home theaters, master bedrooms, dining rooms to name a few. With this material, we can customize the finish to complement any decor - we can even use it in bathrooms and powder rooms.

This can only be applied by certified applicators. We are very excited about this, look for pictures from our latest projects coming up. We are doing bids on this on both coasts, so contact us through email or our website. - Kevin

Accent on Accent Walls

2011-10-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

Our newest finish for accent walls --- Giudecca!

Accent walls are something that designers and homeowners have been doing for many years. These are usually done to change the dimension of the room, make it more interesting, etc., particularly in contemporary homes. Accent walls are usually done using a deep or mid-tone paint color, with mixed results. Many times we are called in and asked to do accent walls, and sometimes this is difficult when using high-end plasters and textures since these finishes didn't fit well with ordinary drywall knockdown texture patterns. Color washes and over-glazes on just one wall sometimes look cheap or dis-related.

What we needed was a plaster and finishes that had the intense amount of dimension to create that pop and interest you really need for an accent wall.

So it was back to school for Molto Bene! Firenze Enterprises, a distributor for a line of imported plasters from Italy, had just released their latest plaster product called 24/7 Venezia. These lime-based plasters, each one named after a different neighborhood in Venice, were specifically created to achieve the kind of depth and dimension that would allow one to really push the envelope on creating contemporary finishes.

I attended a special class on these new plasters hosted by Giancarlo Sagasti, the lead master artisan for Firenze. Guest instructor, Gian Luca Dal Moro, was flown in from Bassano Del Grappa, Italy, to teach the class.

Molto Bene at the Class

Gian Luca

GianCarlo Sagasti

The instruction was terrific, they were very knowledgeable and experienced crafstmen, so could answer my exacting questions. These plasters are amazing and allow me to create finishes with the kind of depth and dimension that I needed and wanted to create amazing accent walls. Above, they are holding a few of my new creations.

So what does this mean for you? Well, say you have a contemporary home. Large walls, standard drywall texture. Doing a complete plaster job is not in the budget. Paint (yawn) isn't doing it for you. An accent wall with this kind of finish can't help but pop and completely change the dynamic of the room without having to do a complete makeover.

Now that's an accent wall that really accents!

Ciao, Kevin

Going West and Sneak Peek

2011-10-09T14:09:00.000-04:00

sneak peek of a new finish and new product Kev is trying out ...
We are going to California! Kev will be doing bids in Northern California October 11, 12 and 13. Call/email if you are in that area and want to get on the list -- mbwife

more venetian plaster over at desire to inspire

2011-09-27T09:28:00.000-04:00

Desire to Inspire is one of my personal favorites as a blog. To me, it is a good snapshot/summary of the current global/rustic/modern trend. I have seen a lot of design enthusiasts struggle with a descriptive term for this style, but honestly no term anyone has coined yet really captures the look. So that leaves blogs like DtoI as a visual description.
Venetian plaster and other decorative wall finishes fit really well into the trend. The texture and hand-applied nature of a wall finish like that softens the stark edges of modern furniture and art, and further there is a quality to the color you can get from a plaster wall (sort of toned down, as the variations in the finish break up the light) that goes well with rustic or distressed wood.
Today's post at Desire to Inspire showcases w+b photography, whose portfolio of design work really epitomizes the "look" I am talking about. Going through their entire portfolio here, there are amazing textural walls from plaster to logs to concrete.
Check out both links for some really gorgeous eye candy -- mbwife

Global design influence for kitchens and baths

2011-09-16T11:51:00.000-04:00

Since one of the most intriguing features of Tadelakt is the fact it is waterproof, that makes this finish a very compelling option for a globally influenced kitchen or bath. While this material was traditionally used for everything (including the kitchen sink!) it also is very effective to utilize it on walls so you can still incorporate modern fixtures -- the mbwife

Photography Simon Upton featured in Elle Decor

From the Moroccan White House featured on Home Interior Design Themes

Moroccan White House again

Riyad El Mezouar

Below are some examples of tadelakt on walls in kitchen and baths.

Sejour Riad Marrakech

Dar Dharma more tadelakt

2011-09-08T09:04:00.000-04:00

those stripes on the tadelakt walls!!!!! Boutique Hotel Dar Darma go here to book a reservation (or call us to create a similar ambiance in your home) -- mbwife

Contest for Residents of Manatee and Sarasota Counties

2011-08-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

Ciao!

After many years of providing our beautiful and unique wall finishes to upscale homeowners in Northern California, we have returned to our roots on the East Coast.

Looking at our blog, virtual tour and website will give you some concept of what we do.

So as part of getting to know us we will be giving away a free accent wall to a lucky resident from one of the counties we will be starting out offering our services in. If you have an interest in redesigning your home or even one special room in your home, then feel free to fill out this form at our website which enters you in the contest for a free accent wall. You will be able to pick one finish from three of our most popular finishes, in a color of your choice. The accent wall finish will cover a maximum of 200 square feet of wall. We will use a random number generator to pick the winning entry on September 30th. There is no purchase required although you will receive a free bid and consultation on wall finishes in your home, even if it’s not something you plan on doing in the near future. This will give us a chance to see what you’d like to do, show you what we can offer and give you a chance to win a free accent wall of one of our finishes. Pretty much a win win situation.

This work has always been a labor of love for us, as it is aesthetically pleasing and we consider all our clients family.

We look forward to hearing from you and good luck! -- Kevin

link to entry form here

Coming up later

2011-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

Traditional Home Click here for resources

A contest! With an amazing prize! -- mbwife

look back at a large project

2011-08-17T23:52:00.000-04:00

Here’s a link to a virtual tour of one of our more favorite projects (our clients recently sold their home). Here’s the background. Our client did extensive traveling in Europe and Asia, with a love of art and a desire for walls that made an appropriate backdrop for his collection. His 8,000SF home had the standard off-white orange-peel-textured walls found in most new construction (snore). What he wanted was for us to create plaster wall finishes that made it genuinely look like they had been there for a very long time. It is quite a trick to create aged, cracked looking walls that look authentic but also adhere well to the wall. The majority of the rooms were done in this manner. Photos don’t really do justice to the finish, but you can get the concept of what a dramatic makeover this was and how it completely changed the look and feel of this home -- Kevin
click here to see the virtual tour

crushing on tadelakt

2011-08-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

Spent some time watching Million Dollar Decorators through Itunes. (We vote for Martyn Lawrence Bullard as our favorite - both for how he handled his clients and his designs.) There was definitely a recurring Moroccan theme throughout many of the design projects featured - not just his. Plasters work so well in interiors like that. Made me think of Tadelakt again -- it would be an expensive option, application is extremely labor intensive. But hey, if you can do a million dollar table, Martyn, you can do Tadelakt!

Found this book -- looks like one worth getting - there is a google book preview at the link, so you can see several chapters of the book, including pictures -- I hadn't really been able to check that out before, so useful with this sort of book:

-- the mbwife

One special room

2011-08-03T20:43:00.000-04:00

For years we put out a newsletter called Talking Walls, where we would talk about projects, different types of wall finishes we had created and related subjects.

In one of these newsletters we talked about why people would bother using us. In other words, why not put some drywall texture up, throw some paint on there and call it a day? Well it all comes down to what people feel is valuable to them. Some people appreciate fine dining - others might prefer to spend their time hunting and fishing. It’s all a matter of individual taste, value and aesthetic.

However what has been clear is why our clients ultimately commission us to do work on the walls in their homes.

The vast majority of our clients are professionals, have beautiful homes, have traveled and have a high regard for art and all things aesthetic. We have often been asked to create spaces that remind our clients of some place they had visited or vacationed in. Others have pictures of a specific look or feel they want to give to a space. Whatever the request, we know that we are looking to help create a space that’s special. Using textures and plasters and color we create a finish with depth and dimension that transforms the look and feel of the space completely. Often, we would focus on one special room that the client wanted to transform – a dining room or space for entertaining.

Have one room in your home you’d like to make special – that will make all the other rooms jealous? Go to our website and view our gallery, and if you like what you see, contact us for a consultation -- Kevin

Online magazines

2011-06-28T09:42:00.000-04:00

I am a big fan of online magazines. Heavy on content and interesting ads, light on pages you flip through to get to what you want. Pittura, a decorative painting magazine (found via the Fauxology blog) follows the formula and has some great pictures and features.-the mbwife

Tadelakt

2011-06-20T21:23:00.000-04:00

Tadelakt is an ancient waterproof plaster that is used extensively in Morocco. It is a lime-based plaster that is polished smooth using stones. Ancient artisans created beautiful finishes with this product going back to the Roman bathhouse. The finished product can be created in a spectrum of different colors and dries to an extremely hard, durable finish with a smooth silky feel to it. Its waterproof nature allows it to be used in bathrooms,sinks, counter tops and pottery as well as wall applications. This is a new product we will be adding to our portfolio. We’ll keep you posted on this, if you have any interest in seeing samples let us know. -- Kevin

Featured In Architectural Digest, Photography above by Marina Faust

Dhar Rhizlane Hotel in Marrakesh (more photos showing tadelakt from their website)

one of our favorite projects

2011-06-15T20:46:00.000-04:00

recently heard from Bill Taylor out in the San Francisco Bay area. He is now offering real estate services as well as general construction. He sent along some pictures of a great house in Atherton he was the General Contractor on, we did a great, very subtle venetian plaster finish on the walls throughout the house.

Update from Kevin Introducing Molto Bene Studios

2011-06-07T20:12:00.000-04:00

Ciao,

Well it’s been quite a while since you’ve heard from me. So I figured it was time to give an update on what Molto Bene has been up to and some of the many things in the works. Since this covers quite a few topics, I will be doing a series of posts which will include a survey on each topic so I can get your feedback.

Molto Bene Studios.Since moving to Florida, we have begun expanding the type of services and products that we offer. To encompass this, we’ve changed the name from Molto Bene Designer Wall Finishes to Molto Bene Studios. You will see the changes in our promotion, website etc. shortly.

Fall Projects; The fall is only three months away. and historically fall has always been a busy time for us. For some reason it’s also a time we get most of our requests for out of town projects. Last year even though I had set up operations here in the Tampa Bay area, I was still receiving quite a few requests for work from California in the fall. Since we were established there for many years we still have many friends and ties to the area. So I have decided to be ahead of the game and just plan for the fall being the time once again to schedule out of town projects. I will be concentrating on filling any request from Northern California first, so we can get these all down around the same time to keep it logistically sound.

So if you have any wall finish projects you’d like me to consider now is the time to get in touch with me, get ideas, samples, pricing etc.

Survey: Do you have have projects you are considering doing in the fall? let me hear in the comments below! --- Kevin

go on over to Desire to Inspire today to see some really nice plaster walls

2011-06-07T08:23:00.000-04:00

Brie Williams is the photographer, her work is great, but obviously whoever(s) did these walls (bunch more photos at desiretoinspire.net) can wield a mean trowel . . . mbwife

Elle Decor Concept Show House in Chelsea

2011-05-23T09:54:00.001-04:00

Not our work, but amazing nonetheless. Another show house making the rounds of the blogoverse. I believe that these amazing venetian plaster walls and/or at least the paintings on the top of the venetian plaster walls were done by Judy Mulligan. -- the moltobenewife

Wall Finishes at the Kips Bay Showhouse

2011-05-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

The Kips Bay Decorator Showcase is a huge source of inspiration every year for many things, including and perhaps especially wall finishes. Most media are sourcing the decorators and they of course deserve great credit for their visions. But I thought I would focus on the artists who created these amazing walls. These shots are from the Kips Bay Facebook Page. -- mbwife

Dedar Milano's Artwork Wall Upholstery

An installation of electric tape as wall art by Aakash Nihalini

An amazing "fifth wall." so often overlooked. These are verre eglomise glass panels by Miriam Ellner.

Houzz

2011-03-23T11:17:00.000-04:00

We have been posting pictures of our projects on Houzz. Great resource for all professionals and design enthusiasts. I love their featured idea books -- mbwife

Molto Bene Designer Wall Finishes

Featured On

just finishes

2011-03-13T11:40:00.000-04:00

a closer look at some plaster finishes we have done over the years click on the picture to see more detail-- the mb wife

Browse our Portfolio to see COLOR

2011-02-22T16:49:00.000-05:00

When we designed the new website, we included pictures of a lot of our projects. Each one of the five galleries in our portfolio has about 3-4 major projects - there are over 200 pictures total. Flipping through them is a good way to see a lot of different ways you can use a plaster finish in your home or next project.

It is also a good way to see homes where people have been brave enough to use a lot of color. Yellows, greens, reds, coppers -- there is a lot to see! -- the mb wife

Sneak peek

2011-02-14T15:35:00.000-05:00

Some point soon, we will be showing detailed shots of the last project Kevin completed. In the meantime, here is a small peek. In my completely biased opinion, these may be the most beautiful walls in the entire universe --- mb wife

Here's How to Upgrade your Hidden Litter Box

2011-02-04T09:06:00.000-05:00

We bought two Hidden Litter Boxes from Amazon. The idea was they were supposed to look like plant containers/big jars.

We used materials from Faux Effects, but you could substitute other venetian plaster type products.
SetCoat (or a good oilbased primer)
SandStone
AquaGlaze

First we applied a sealer/primer material that would adhere well to the plastic and give you a base to work from. While we used SetCoat, an oil primer would work.

We then used sandstone, thinned way down, and applied it with a brush, knife and roller. We pounced off the excess with a terry towel and played with it until we had a stony effect.

Next we used a glaze with some colorants added. Glaze and colorants you can get at any paint store, but we prefer Faux Effects.

You could use a sealer. We would recommend a flat sealer. Modern Masters puts out a dead flat varnish (clear acylic water based).

(If you are not up for doing all the above, we could do it for you. email us at molto@earthlink.net)

Is this the next big thing?

2011-01-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is what you think it is.

Front view

We have two Molto Bene Cats that have heartily approved our "bathroom remodel" for them. So, yes this is a litter box. We bought several of the "fake plant" plastic litter boxes you can get from Amazon, but needless to say, they look pretty much like what they are. Enter Molto Bene. Kev trowelled on layers of some of his more textural plasters, and then used glazes. The final product has left all plastic behind (except in the inside of course). It seperates into two pieces so you can clean out the inside. With the opening turned to the wall, which our boys prefer for privacy, no one has been able to tell what these "jars" are.

What's the verdict? Is this going to be wildly popular? (Check out the fabulous wall in the back, too -- nice huh?) == the molto bene wife

Modern Marin County Remodel

2011-01-18T11:16:00.000-05:00

I thought I had lost all the pictures of this remodel, which was really bumming me out. The homeowners here came up with a very nice contemporary look for a major remodel. There was a lot of great finishing touches done, including our venetian plaster finishes. Molto Bene did the walls in the bathroom, office, master bedroom, dining room and some columns in the great room. I still can't find all the pictures, but here is the great room, the columns had a great texture -- the molto bene wife

Furniture finish

2011-01-17T10:06:00.001-05:00

Once we started with this furniture finish (See post below for details) we just kept going!

Molto Bene Accessorizes

2011-01-14T09:33:00.000-05:00

Looking for furniture to go with your wall? Recently we have had fun experimenting with new techniques on furniture pieces. This was an old beat up trunk made out of MDF. Flat, no grain left, blue. The Molto Bene Brain Trust got busy and this is what we came up with!

A fun project

2011-01-06T17:34:00.000-05:00

Looking around on the internet today, found Bill Taylor a very talented custom home builder we worked with. Looks like he is doing other things as well now, has a new website. Molto Bene worked with him on the above project - a custom home in Atherton. We did almost all the walls. The above shots were from his website. Below are some different shots of the finish we did -- the molto bene wife

Molto Bene 2011

2011-01-03T14:40:00.000-05:00

Ciao! And Happy New Year!

It's been a very busy and exciting year including changing our base of operations from Northern California to Florida. Just to make it clear we still will be doing projects out of state including California, just as we always have.

Different areas of the country express themselves differently when it comes to color, design etc. So along with the many finishes we have created over the years for our clients we are starting to create new contemporary customized finishes that complement and enhance the homes we are in. Above is a quick snap of a recently done space using an iridescent plaster in a snowflake white color, which creates the perfect backdrop to enhance the colorful artwork , furniture etc.

As the economy is starting to pick up, there's been a noticeable difference in people starting to create their homes again. We've always encouraged our clients to pick one room or area in their home to create in first and make it something special, be it an office, dining room, master bedroom etc. On a personal note I was able to create numerous custom plaster finishes for my own home here in Florida specifically in the two home offices we have. One for my wife and one for myself. This was a lot of fun and very creative. More info and photos to come.

So in brief we are pleased and excited for the coming year in terms of the new projects we will be doing locally, as well as California or other areas (fall & winter seems to be the times we get our California projects and summer for the other out of state projects).

At any rate here's wishing a colorful and creative 2011.

Kevin Connetta
Molto Bene

Latest projects

2010-08-24T09:38:00.000-04:00

With the move, we had a home to transform. So Kevin has been doingwalls

furniture
and something necessary but ugly that needed a transformation.

Can venetian plaster work with mid century modern?

New Studio in Florida

2010-06-06T17:09:00.000-04:00

We have relocated to the Tampa Bay Area, though Kevin will still travel for special projects.

-- the molto bene wife

More about our most recent project

2010-02-27T10:34:00.000-05:00

One of the wonderful things about working with clients who aren’t afraid of color is being able to be very creative with color and textures. Such is the case with our most recent project. Our client loves lots of art and color and gravitates more toward a modern/eclectic look.

And the wonderful thing about using a Venetian Plaster is that if you are a very good artisan, you can create finishes that strikingly add to a modern theme. A lot of people get the idea that Venetian Plaster is used just for a Tuscan look or theme but in fact using Venetian in a vibrant color allows you to create an additional dimensional quality to a more modern space .

Here we started with a modern home that had textured walls, lots of light and dramatic furniture, We had to come up with a color and look that was going to pull everything together that was bold and rich enough, without absorbing all the light. The finish also had to extend through the dining room/living room entrance and up to the second floor, and also harmonize with other finishes that had previously been done in the house.

Using Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna tints in our plaster we create a rusty orange glaze color that warmed the space,created a beautiful backdrop and made the artwork pop off the wall. Applying multiple thin layers of true Venetian allows us to create a dimensional look and finish that is also very smooth and polished and easy to maintain. Bellissimo.

The whole house has taken on a new feel and as usual our client is thrilled!

Kevin

Pictures that didn't make it to our website

2010-02-25T12:16:00.000-05:00

Kevin and I have been spending every spare moment over the last week designing a new website. I am so excited, the current website was pretty cutting edge when I did it in 2002, but lately it just makes me cringe. So we are almost there, but in the meantime, I thought I would post some of the photos that DIDN'T make it to the website (mainly because we were running out of room, Kevin has done so many projects over the years!).

Guiseppe, our amazing artisan in training:

A different view of the staircase and a closeup of one of the wall finishes on the last project Kevin completed. Venetian plaster, highly polished. You can see more of this in Gallery Two on our new website. (Coming soon!) -- the molto bene wife

Coming Soon: New Projects, New Website, New Location

2010-02-22T15:36:00.000-05:00

Lots of new things coming!
Here's a preview of an incredible project Kevin finished not too long ago -- more shots to come - the molto bene wife

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

New year, new things happening for Molto Bene! Stay tuned!

Modern home, modern media room

2009-08-28T11:24:00.001-04:00

A very modern media room in a home where the walls are almost all venetian plaster.

Subtle shifts in tone demarc architectural details.

This shows how effective a light colored venetian plaster can be in humanizing modernism. Stark white walls would have made this home oppressive.

This home is for sale here and you can see a lot more pictures in greater detail!

-- the moltobene wife

Albert Hadley & Harry Heissmann

2009-08-26T11:16:00.000-04:00

I am a big Albert Hadley fan. Mainly I think I admire the years of knowing and working his craft. Here, Harry Heissmann, a designer in his firm at the time, carried on the tradition with Mr. Hadley, and thankfully for me and my interests, this home had a lot of venetian plaster finishes. I am sorry that the bedroom shot didn't show more of the wall -- here is Mr. Heissmann's description of the finish from House Beautiful: "The master bedroom walls were covered in the most amazing Venetian plaster in beige, then mottled with iridescent layers of soft blues and green. I call the finish 'fairy wing' for its translucent quality." -- the molto bene wife

For your viewing pleasure

2009-08-21T11:18:00.000-04:00

An assortment of plaster covered walls in private spaces ---- the moltobene wife (sourced from Architectural Digest

one more notable bedroom wall finish

2009-08-20T12:16:00.001-04:00

Photos by Scott Francis. This is B Five Studio's work, (found via Desire to Inspire) they have a really interesting and organic design philosophy. This bedroom, with its fabulous green plaster wall, particularly in the context of the rest of the house, shown below, really makes a bold color work! - the molto bene wife

Some bedroom inspiration

2009-08-20T10:58:00.001-04:00

If the title of my post led you to expect something else, let me remind you it's the walls we talk about here people! In any case, here are just a few shots of bedrooms with plaster walls. Above are a couple of Molto Bene projects, all using Lustrestone. They all happen to be personal favorites of mine. Below are a few bedrooms with plaster walls from Living Etc., a UK mag. The first one has very pale pink plaster walls, the other is done mainly with glazes. -- the molto bene wife

Florida Custom Finish Walls

2009-08-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Did a run through House Beautiful and found a bunch of really pretty custom finish/plaster walls, almost all from Florida dining rooms. Just love how the one on top is described by the designer Michael Whaley - "a highly polished venetian plaster, a shiny rich pink like the interior of a conch shell". And the last one I probably posted before. HB put it in a series of favorite dining rooms, and what can I say, its one of my favorites too. We could definitely do anything like you see here --- the molto bene wife

South Florida Art Backdrop

2009-08-13T00:33:00.000-04:00

Worldly Objects Find Their Place in South Florida
Interior Design by Cecil Hayes Text by Penelope Rowlands/Photography by Kim Sargent Published December 2005 AD

This designer, Cecil Hayes, was very clever in his use of a soft glaze type finish as a backdrop in a home devoted to art. My opinion would be he felt that stark painted walls would get too clinical looking. Kevin has a plaster in mind he would use to take that same idea up a notch, keeping the background subtle and effective to frame the art while integrating the surfaces more- the molto bene wife

More Florida inspiration

2009-08-12T00:10:00.000-04:00

From D'Asign Source's portfolio (Key West based Design Firm) Lots of plaster. Again, the whole lush, romantic look keyed off of plaster finished walls. I am particularly interested in the media room, and how they brought a Moorish look to the room. I am assuming that the fabric on the walls (in between the lovely plaster walls) covers the home theater speakers. Also the ceiling is impressive - Kevin has done ceilings like that, we love clients brave enough to go there. And I can't help it I just love those door handles! -- the molto bene wife

Feeling Florida

2009-08-10T23:26:00.001-04:00

Architecture by Bender & Associates/Interior Design by T W Black Inc/Landscape Architecture by Craig Reynolds Text by John Loring/Photography by Ken Hayden Architectural Digest March 2009

This week, we are going to do Florida inspiration, starting with a Key West interior that has an enormous amount of pop and a very cool wall finish (okay, okay, the ceiling rocks too.) The Moorish influence here is so lush and dramatic. There is a special moorish wall finish that is supposed to stand up to speeding bullets, but truthfully here I am more interested in the mood that was created with the soft walls and exotic colors - the molto bene wife

San Francisco Show House in House Beautiful

2009-08-06T11:28:00.001-04:00

House Beautiful has a slide show of the San Francisco Show House up now. Here is a great shot of the venetian plaster bathroom, but I must admit others have posted about the showhouse back in June -- Faith Sheridan and Katie DID and probably many other notables. Its just such great plaster work it deserves another look! Design by Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt. Don't know who did the plaster in the room? - the molto bene wife

Houzz

2009-08-04T23:01:00.001-04:00

an "artisan plaster" wall - love it

A wabi sabi kitchen - love the plaster walls

Followed sfgirlbybay over to Houzz today and really was intrigued with what I found! Professionals are posting their work (architects, remodel, interior designers, etc.) and there are tons of pictures. Naturally, went looking for venetian plaster and found some -- not as much as I wanted but enough to keep me coming back. I like the way they have the search features organized. Check it out! - the molto bene wife

More modern inspiration

2009-08-04T11:36:00.000-04:00

I keep seeing these modern spaces using venetian plaster finishes, when I am looking for something more classic. This is from architectural digest too. The lighting is really well done here -- the molto bene wife

Rustic inspiration

2009-08-03T15:37:00.000-04:00

Picture above is a plaster project of Kevin's in Berkeley,

This picture is a a room from Architectural Digest editor favorites

Another editor's favorite room from Architectural Digest. Walls are venetian plaster.

A venetian plaster project Kevin did in Park City, Utah

When I was looking for different inspiration shots for a current client of Kevin's, I kept coming across really beautiful rooms with venetian plaster type finishes that strongly reminded me of projects he had done elsewhere. These pictures weren't the original inspiration for the finishes he did, honest. Anyway, it's spectacular work all the way around -- the molto bene wife

More Inspiration from OSKA

2009-08-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

More amazing inspiration from these award winning Northwest architects, Olson Sundberg, Kundig Allen. I'm posting these pictures mainly for inspiration for our current client, so I have focused on their work using integral colored plaster/venetian plaster, but their whole portfolio is jawdropping. I see a strong use of simple geometric shapes to define their incredible spaces, made more human and approachable by using plasters ( I think these spaces would be far too stark if they were all done in white drywall for instance) -- the molto bene wife

AD 100 Inspiration

2009-08-02T16:34:00.001-04:00

The Inspiration Is Ancient in a House on the South China Sea
Architecture and Interior Design by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Text by Therese Bissell/Photography by Benjamin Benschneider Published August 2009 in Architectural Digest

Here's an incredible home in Hong Kong, built by a really incredible architectural firm. The artisans who did these walls did a great job, and I think this is a stellar example of integrating venetian plaster into a more modern space -- the molto bene wife

Evidence of Craft

2009-07-26T10:38:00.000-04:00

At Molto Bene we specialize in walls. Why? Well as we have said many times we can create depth and dimension for a space with color and texture creating a mood and feel, which could not be achieved otherwise. Like the backdrop in a movie or the effect of surround sound - it adds another dimension.

What makes us very special even amongst our peers is this – duplication and understanding. We establish good communication with our clients, get the concept of what they are trying to accomplish (whether it be duplicating a place they’ve been to, a space seen in a magazine, or allowing them to experience different samplings to zero in on the colors and textures that work for them). We also adjust and take into careful consideration, the purposes of the space, the lighting, the existing furniture, carpeting, drapes, etc. All the while keeping in good communication with the client.

The results are invariably the same. Having a high skill level, along with the willingness to duplicate what the client wants we always end up with very happy clients and spaces that seem to fit well, are aesthetic, and very pleasing to be in.

An example of our work is the above 2 pictures - one from the Machiavelli Villa in Italy (bottom picture); the top picture is of a recreated finish we did for a client in Northern California. Hard to tell which is an authentic space and which is our reproduction, isn’t it? That’s evidence of craft. High skill level, along with duplication. You could rent the villa this room is in, or have us recreate these wall finishes in your home, duplicating the mood and feel and thereby have it as long as you like. We do this sort of work on a consistent basis.

We love to do challenging projects; the only limits are your imagination. Call or email me about any project you are thinking of - I enjoy helping people along an aesthetic line in a practical way - Kevin Connetta

Fireplaces

2009-07-16T12:16:00.001-04:00

Kevin is going to do a post on finishes for fireplaces soon. He did some really nice fireplace work in conjunction with the Bella Muro wall finish. The above is a project he did a little bit earlier - the molto bene wife

Villa Machiavelli

2009-07-09T08:22:00.000-04:00

This place is just too amazing. They say it was the home of the Machiavelli family (and really he was maligned, he was simply chronicling the times). It also says that this villa somehow bears the hand of Michaelangelo and Vasari, though I am not sure what hand did what. It makes me wonder what it would take to create a new Renaissance. I wonder what if anything from today will survive into the future as these artists and luminaries have -- the molto bene wife

stalking italian villas for inspiration

2009-07-07T11:54:00.000-04:00

It's very hot and windy where I live. I would rather be here, with these fabulous plaster finished walls -- the molto bene wife

Even More views of Bella Muro

2009-07-02T11:19:00.000-04:00

I really love this finish and its ability to transform a space. I know different people obsess about different things when it comes to decorating, my particular thing is wall texture. The normal finishes that you find in most Western homes just plain bug me -- whether it is "orange peel" (those little pebbly bumps) or skip trowel (more aggressive texturing.). There you are with endless expanses of that texture. A different paint color doesn't make it go away -- some paint colors make the texture and all the imperfections in the wall stand out glaringly. That is why I think Bella Muro is so genius, whether you have a traditional space, transitional space, or you are looking for the rustic modern look. You can get a different - essentially custom -- look for a noncustom price. --- the molto bene wife

Amazing plaster walls

2009-07-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

I love this room, but I have forgotten where I found it. Also, if you want to see more amazing plaster walls go check out this post at katiedid's blog from the San Franciso show house ("lime and marble aggregate" gray walls - I applaud the designer for finding a fresh way to talk about venetian plaster type finishes) -- the molto bene wife

More traditional ways to use Bella Muro

2009-06-30T10:09:00.000-04:00

I've been looking through Italian villas for decorating inspiration for Bella Muro. This is a villa near Venice, and gives you a slightly more traditional take on using plaster finish walls-- the molto bene wife

Il Podere

2009-06-29T09:53:00.000-04:00

more rustic modern inspiration. This is Il Podere, in Tuscany -- the molto bene wife.

More rustic modern inspiration from the source

2009-06-25T21:28:00.000-04:00

"Bella Muro" the name of our new wall finish means "Beautiful Walls". (Bella also happens to be the name of our client's cute little terrier). In any case, it made sense to look for more inspiration photos for ways to use our new finish from the Source (Italy). I expected something different, I guess more traditional when I looked at Italian villas, but I am sure you agree the above is as good or better an example of rustic modern as any I have shown yet. Maybe a bolder use of color. I love the primary colors here. (if you want to see this villa Campassole in person, you can -- go here to book a stay ) -- the molto bene wife

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more modern rustic inspiration

2009-06-25T09:17:00.000-04:00

From Notebook magazine, via decorology's photostream at Flickr. If you don't happen to be living in an older home with those fantastic aged plaster walls, you can get the wall look with Bella Muro - the molto bene wife

Ways to Use Bella Muro

2009-06-23T19:03:00.000-04:00

Just got the West Elm catalog in and I was struck by the rustic modern vibe that they styled their most recent catalog with. Bella Muro would be the perfect wall finish for a look like that. This is a realistic, cost effective way to get that very Italian look of fabulous modern furniture against aged, rustic walls. Remember, you can do Bella Muro in any color, including whites. What it does is get rid of that jarring sprayed on ordinary looking texture that the typical drywall contractor uses and gives you that soft, lovely dappled look that comes from letting the glazes sink into the plaster product Kevin uses -- the molto bene wife

A closer view of Bella Muro

2009-06-22T10:08:00.000-04:00

More views of Bella Muro

2009-06-18T09:25:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about a custom plaster finish is how it reflects light in different ways, as these pictures show. These pictures all show the same finish (Bella Muro) in the same custom color. -- the molto bene wife

Bella Muro -- New Finish, New Project!

2009-06-16T23:11:00.000-04:00

We continually create new finishes using different plasters and textures. Recently I wanted to address the need for a textured finish that would transform the typical large contemporary textured walls (“orange peel” conveying a lower quality look) into authentic looking old world walls at a price point less than a custom plaster finish. This had to be durable and look good in large and small spaces. So we got to work creating new samples, experimenting with different materials and application methods.

We ended up using one of our high end plasters, but developed an application method that saved enough time and material to enable us to offer this at less than half the price of a normal custom plaster finish.

Our most recent project gave us the chance to try out this new finish. The home was large with very nice old world furnishings and look but a contemporary drywall texture under the painted walls that was detracting from the overall look our clients wanted to achieve. We had a lot of area to cover -- the finish had to run through the family room, kitchen and halls. The color took a lot of customization -we did a lot of playing and tweaking on this to get the earth tones right so they would work with the furniture and flooring, as well as factoring in the lighting since this side of the home gets a lot of light. Below are before and after pictures of this project. -- Kevin

Lime Wash from Down Under

2009-05-13T12:04:00.000-04:00

More inspiration for lime wash walls. This is a New Zealand product. - the molto bene wife

LIme Wash Inspiration from a Villa in France

2009-05-12T09:50:00.001-04:00

A villa for hire, near the village of Parisot. Lovely limewashed walls.

Limewash Inspiration from a Castle

2009-05-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

Some inspiration from Architectural Digest. Artisans carefully restored a castle using limewashes to match some of the original frescoes -- the molto bene wife

Photography by Gilles de Chabaneix and Christopher Simon Sykes

Limewash on wood

2009-05-03T16:54:00.001-04:00

Architectural Digest shows another good option for limewash. In fact, the ceiling is a great place to use this material. If you have funky old beams, you can apply limewash for a look like this

Architecture by Luboš Krácmar/Interior Design by Grant Whiite /Photography by Tim Beddow.

Pros and cons of limewash? Definitely things to consider on both sides. There is a great study that was done by the National Center for Preservation and Training that includes a downloadable booklet on limewash here. We highly recommend it! -- the molto bene wife

Custom Lime Finishes - The Perfect Solution for the Textured Wall

2009-04-29T10:50:00.000-04:00

For a long time California homes, whether custom built or tract, have been constructed with drywall covered with a textured finish (usually a "knock-down" or "orange-peel" effect). These textured finishes are fairly uniform with little variation. While it sounds okay, when it comes to decorating the home, what makes the three million dollar home stand out from an apartment with the same textured walls?

If the texture of the walls just isn't working, there are a number of solutions for handling this.

Paint - Certainly gives the wall color, but you are stuck with the same textured look.
Faux - Better, but usually looks contrived or odd going over the top of a contemporary texture.
Plaster - Best. By first skimming the wall flat, you can now apply layers of plaster and create any effect. Only downside might be cost.
Custom lime finishes.

Lime paint and washes have been around for a very long time. Lime is a very green product, mold and mildew resistant and is actually a component part of most plaster finishes. By carefully tinting it with multiple colors and applying it in multiple layers, you can create very subtle looks and finishes. The high lime content gives a soft, weathered look, and by manipulating the wash, you can obscure the existing texture on your drywall. The beauty of it is that it goes right over the existing wall texture, making it considerably less labor intensive and thus less costly than a high end plaster finish. However, this product can retain the subtlety of a plaster finish. Just like high end plaster finishes, you can create old world looks or contemporary looks. Lime washes can be tinted an almost limitless number of colors.

It is true that application of lime washes takes some skill. For the most basic application, you can buy stock colors in lime and apply a couple coats in a cross hatch pattern. But the real artisan can create very aesthetic and pleasing looks by careful layering of colors and varying application. These different applications can transform walls and give them a new life. -- Kevin

Limey limewashes

2009-04-28T17:53:00.000-04:00

Kevin is working on some sample boards for a new client

Art Deco

2009-04-20T20:54:00.000-04:00

Like Art Deco? I am a huge fan, as is Kevin. The 30s and the 40s in particular capture my imagination.

I think that plaster finishes work really well in an Art Deco space. These are shots from a project we did in Chicago, featured many times before. Here is why I think this finish worked so well there --

a) unified the space and warmed it

b) there was a lot of glitter and shine (mirrored furniture, glass, etc.) and having Lusterstone on the walls complemented that while adding even more texture

c) made the space glow at night -- and this was really an "at night" kind of space

When I think of Art Deco, I think of rounded shapes, luxurious "Movie Star" textures, mirrors, glass, soaring lines. Could someone in a silk bias cut gown or top hat and tails be at home in a space like this? I think so.

-- the molto bene wife

Photos and wall finishes by Molto Bene

last bathroom for a while

2009-04-17T19:27:00.000-04:00

I found this beautiful bathroom on Desire to Inspire, a favorite design blog. This is from the portfolio of an Italian designer, Barbara Frua De Angeli. For those interested in inspiration on doing venetian plaster finishes in a modern way, you have to go through this woman's portfolio.

Here in Northern California, there are so many Tuscan styled homes at many different price points. I think decorating these homes can be challenging - how can you break out of the traditional look? This portfolio really gives some spectacular ideas -- the molto bene wife

Photo from Barbara Frua De Angeli via Desire to Inspire

More Bathroom Ideas

2009-04-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

We say all the time that Venetian plaster and other such plasters work in any decor. These examples of plaster walls come from Country Living Magazine -- the molto bene wife

photo credit first photo - Simmons, second photo Gridley and Graves

Lusterstone

2009-04-14T12:20:00.000-04:00

Lusterstone in a powder room we did. This is a finish that throws around light in a really interesting way. It works very well in powder rooms for that reason.

Are bowl sinks no longer a fad? I still like them, but I don't swoon like I used to . . . the molto bene wife

finish and photography Molto Bene.

powder room

2009-04-12T18:45:00.000-04:00

I have been reading in some other blogs how carefully interior design shots are staged before you take them. Angles, lighting, what is left in or out of the picture. This is something we have to learn a whole lot more about. It is always frustrating to me how beautiful these spaces are in person, and how well they work for the home and the client, and how poorly our shots reflect it.

Oh well. Use your imagination, if you can. This is like a gold red foil, very rich and sumptuous. Molto Bene finish and photography.

the molto bene wife

Detour to Accent Walls

2009-04-09T10:33:00.001-04:00

Venetian plaster accent walls can be tricky. Kevin did a newsletter about it recently. You have to pay attention to how the textures work with the other walls. Here is a place I think they did the venetian plaster accent walls right -- the molto bene wife

Architecture by Rhodes Architecture and Light

a traditional venetian plaster in a not so traditional bath

2009-04-09T10:16:00.000-04:00

love this master bath Molto Bene did in Marin. The wall finish is a traditional polished Venetian Plaster, which we don't do a whole lot of. Love the pale green, love their tile, just love the room -- the molto bene wife

finish and photo moltobene

Amber colored master bath

2009-04-07T21:06:00.000-04:00

Well, we're not powdering this week, we are mastering. This room was on HGTV's Designer's Challenge a while ago, and I found it on a remodelling site. I like it though, it looks warm and elegant, with its amber colored venetian plaster walls. -- the molto bene wife
Room by Faith Sheridan

Southwest powder/bathroom

2009-04-05T20:29:00.000-04:00

Okay, bit more than a powder room. But this is a pretty room with a pretty wall finish -- molto bene wall finish and photos --
the molto bene wife

Powder Room

2009-04-03T11:20:00.001-04:00

Well, I can't say it any better than Mark Cutler over at Point Click Home -- so go see what he says about how to do powder rooms and then come back this week to see Molto Bene powder rooms!

(first powder room from Point Click Home)

-- the molto bene wife

Totally Random Post

2009-04-01T19:28:00.000-04:00

OK, so this isn't about venetian plaster, but my son-in-law is in Columbia, and went to this incredible place where miners made a cathedral out of a salt mine. Unbelievable! So beautiful! The salt is part of these walls.
-- the molto bene wife

Heart of the Home

2009-03-31T19:27:00.000-04:00

Kitchens. I think we must all be eating home more. As I noted the shelter magazines fallout increasing I noted new cooking magazines appearing to take their place. Well, I say a good plaster finish is essential for peace of mind in today's kitchen. You should be able to throw food on the wall with abandon and wipe it up when done. You should have something nice to look at as you are struggling through the ten steps to make really fancy soup with a really fancy name. Plaster your kitchen!

-- the moltobene wife

Stinson Beach Hallway

2009-03-31T11:26:00.000-04:00

Kevin worked a long time on the color of this plaster wall finish to make it perfect -- there were a lot of disparate elements in the room, and he wanted to use this to tie them all together.

-- photo and plaster finish by Molto Bene

-- themoltobenewife

Glowing Hallway

2009-03-26T15:04:00.000-04:00

One of our first projects. The application method for the plaster on this was really interesting. but SECRET. The walls just glowed in this home -- like they were lit from within the moltobene wife

Hallway/Entryway

2009-03-26T13:57:00.000-04:00

moltobene finish.

One of the things I think Kevin does really well is tie different finishes together. This is a very dramatic entry way/hallway that leads to some other dramatic spaces. I wish I had enough skill with a camera to really show the effect.

-- the molto bene wife

Another beautiful hallway/entryway

2009-03-25T23:19:00.000-04:00

The windows are great, but the walls are better! (we think). Walls and photographs are by molto bene.
-- the molto bene wife

hallways

2009-03-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

Going to post molto bene hallways for a while. Here is the first, from Chicago --

molto bene wife

finish and photography by molto bene

Green

2009-03-19T12:45:00.000-04:00

We live in Northern California and we are at the time of year where the "golden hills" are green -- new growth, new grass, before the sun bakes it all. Green is a color of hope and renewal -- the molto bene wife

More glorious color

2009-03-17T19:59:00.000-04:00

A molto bene dining room, with lots of color!!!!!-- the molto bene wife

accent posts accent colors

2009-03-16T11:15:00.000-04:00

There are other colors that we use, I promise. But I liked this project very much, and among other things we did for this client, we did a colorful plaster finish on the posts -- the molto bene wife

More Color

2009-03-13T11:23:00.000-04:00

During construction shots. The cabinets (which we didn't do) were a very dark green. The walls of course we did -- the molto bene wife

We're doing Color

2009-03-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

In celebration of Holi, we'll be posting Molto Bene projects where we used lots of glorious color - the molto bene wife

Holi Festival of Colors - Happy Holi

2009-03-11T14:28:00.000-04:00

Today is the start of Holi Festival of Colors. A post on design sponge reminded me of this festival, Kevin and I had watched a great movie not long ago about India and we were thinking this was a holiday worth celebrating! -- the molto bene wife