What is Faux Painting ?

Faux finishing has been used for millennia, from cave painting to Ancient Egypt, but what we generally think of as faux finishing in decorative arts began with Plaster and Stucco Finishes in Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago.

Faux became hugely popular in Classical times in the forms of faux Marble, faux Wood, and Trompe l'oeil Murals.

In modern day faux finishing, there are two major materials/processes used.Glaze work involves using a translucent mixture of paint and glaze applied with a brush, roller, rag, or sponge, and often mimics textures, but it always smooth to the touch. Plaster work can be done with tinted plasters, or washed over with earth pigments, and is generally applied with a trowel or spatula. The finished result can be either flat to the touch or textured.

• Marbleizing or faux marbling is used to make walls and furniture look like real marble. This can be done using either plaster or glaze techniques.
• Graining, wood graining, or faux bois (French for "fake wood") is often used to imitate exotic or hard-to-find wood varieties.
• Trompe l'oeil, "trick the eye" in French, is a realistic painting technique often used in murals, and to create architectural details.
• Venetian plaster is a smooth and often shiny plaster design that appears textured but is smooth to the touch. Venetian plaster is one of the most popular and traditional plaster decorations.
• Color wash is a free-form finish that creates subtle variations of color using multiple hues of glaze blended together with a paint brush.
• Strie, from the French word meaning "stripe" or "streak", is a glazing technique that creates soft thin streaks of color using a paint brush. It is a technique often used to simulate fabrics such as linen and denim.
• Rag painting or ragging is a glazing technique using twisted or bunched up rags to create a textural pattern.

Why should I choose Faux Finish instead of Wallpaper ?

• Wallpaper has a repeating pattern
• Usually visible seems, which will start to peel over time
• Over the years most wallpaper will absorb moisture like a sponge   and cause mold between the drywall and the backing of the paper,  especially in bathrooms. We’ve stripped 100’s of rooms and have seen the damage wallpaper can do to your walls.
• Faux finish can easily be painted over
• If you choose to go with quality wallpaper, in most cases it will cost the same or more than a custom finish

Will you travel ?

Yes we do. Even though our company is based in Florida, we’ve had customers in Europe, Martha’s Vinyard, North Carolina, etc. We love to travel, please don’t hesitate to ask.

 

How durable are your products ?

All of our products are very durable, especially our stone & plaster finish, which is perfect for kitchen & bathrooms. If areas are outside or exposed to direct sunlight, we apply an extra topcoat, which is UV, fade & water resistant.

 

How much will my project cost ?

Every project is different, the cost depends on the following:

• Depending on the finish you choose, labor, cost of material, etc.
• If the room/walls or ceiling is ready for faux. Some finishes require a flat, satin or even semi gloss  ( for metallics ) sheen. In most cases, the areas being faux finished need to be base painted, primed or smoothed.
• How much furniture is in the room & needs to be moved

The best thing to do is meet with you on sight, so we can discuss options and pricing.

 

Will you work with my designer ?

We can certainly work with your designer or consultant for your project.

 

Are you licensed & insured ?

Absolutely, we are licensed & carry general liability insurance up to $ 1 000.000. We recommend for you to check with all contractors, who you’d consider hiring, and the state, if there are any complaints, lawsuits, etc. Over the years we’ve seen and heard all kinds of stories on unprofessional contractors , so please do your homework, which will save you allot of hassle, time & money.

We also provide you with a list of previous customers & their contact info.

 

What do I have to do before you start ?

• Move any valuables (china dishes, statues, paintings, jewelry, etc.) out of   the work area.
• Make sure that your animals & small children are not able to get into the work area.
• To keep most supplies, paint, ladders, etc. out of your house, we prefer a small “setup” space in the garage.