Custom Lime Finishes - The Perfect Solution for the Textured Wall

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