The Venetian Plaster Master

by Roberta Murphy

Venetian Plaster by Greg Sieminski
Venetian Plaster by Greg Sieminski

When I first entered this newer San Diego luxury home, I was amazed by its wall and ceiling finishes. Walking slowly from room to room, I ran my fingers over the cool burnished walls and the gray stone door arches. Even the ceilings and dome gave the impression that we had indeed been transported to a Venetian villa.

Had I not known the responsible artisan for this masterpiece, I would never have guessed an underlying truth: These walls were nothing more than standard drywall that had been transformed by a clever Polish artist who specializes in exquisite surface finishes.

Greg Sieminski explains that European artisans have been creating beautiful walls for centuries utilizing limestone plasters softly colored with natural elements. He Greg at reststudied these walls in Mediterranean countries, and wondered how the rich, aged patina could be duplicated in fine San Diego homes. It took several years, but Greg was able to perfect his replications of fine Venetian plaster to the delight and amazement of his clients.

How is Venetian plaster made? Greg explains that the 1300 year-old process starts with the selection of special limestone from Italian quarries and rivers. The limestone is then fired in a large and very hot kiln, which causes chemical changes within the limestone itself. The result? The super-heated stones turn to putty when placed in water. The painter goes on to describe how this putty is wet-seasoned for up to a year before being processed as a finishing plaster.

The end result, says Greg, is a finely milled limestone putty that is even finer than face powder. This cultivated material can be further embellished with finely-ground marble, which yields an ancient building material that can be burnished to a low sheen or rubbed to a high polish. Additionally, he will occasionally add granular material so that he can recreate stone finishes.

Venetian plaster, he explains, is not faux painting, as hobbyists commonly refer to this style of painting. œThe product is not paint. It is an old finishing technique that works well in contemporary homes. He adds that Venetian plaster can be used outdoors as well, with few limitations.

This article has 13 Comments

  1. Roberta,

    I’ve seen venetian plaster in a couple of homes and it is gorgeous. Just like your new blog. Maybe you’ll put it on our blog tour next month?

    Maureen

  2. Maureen: Thank you! I would love to participate in your blog tour next month. I’ll be sure to clean house first.

    Sharon: Venetian plaster is stunning. Greg Sieminski charges around $8.00 to $12.00 per square foot in San Diego homes. For additional information, feel free to give him a call at 760-518-3990. I am a big fan of Greg’s work (as you might be able to guess!).

  3. tengo esperiencia en aplicar venetian aplaster, me gustaria trabajar para ustedes, gracias

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