If Walls Could Talk ... About Their Coverings If Walls Could Talk ... About Their Coverings

By Ann Tatko-Peterson

Contra Costa Times

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.

While that row of identical houses may all look the same on the outside, it's the walls inside that sets them apart.

It is the details that make our homes different, and wallcovering are a big part of that.

Wallcoverings have moved beyond just simple paint and wallpaper to become more like works of art. The options are limitless: Venetian plaster to American Clay, faux painting to color washing, murals and trompe l'oeil to foils and commercial vinyl.

Decorative wallcoverings are all the rage.

In a way, it's a concept rooted in history. Just look at European palaces from the 18th century and earlier, made famous for their tapestries and frescos.

"Nobility would hire artists to stay in the house and do nothing but decorate the home," said GiGi Miller, owner of Embellish Decorative Paint and Plaster Studio, based out of Antioch, Calif. "Today, people want that wow, too. They are starting to design their house for their interests."

It doesn't always work, however.

"I met a guy and his wife who did a castle brick wall - very gothic," Miller said. "It looked like a dungeon, but that was their thing."

Today, green living is in vogue, which is why American Clay has gained in popularity. The clay-based plaster from New Mexico is a natural material that has no chemical additives. Even the pigments are natural.

Orit Yanai, who owns a studio in San Francisco, discovered American Clay in 2003. Now, she has become a leading expert in its application, and offers workshops attended by contractors.

"Faux and artistic finishes are the tricks we would use to get the look of real plaster," Yanai said. "American Clay is the real plaster. There are no more games. And I love that it has no smell or toxic dust, and it's extremely user- and environmentally friendly."

American Clay can be applied to look like any plaster finish, from textured adobe to Venetian plaster.

Such versatility of looks is a mark of most wallcovering options. But one theme resonates across all of those choices: European style.

"In Europe, everything is so old and has so much character," said Julie Rogers, who owns Distinctive Accents in American Canyon, Calif. "Somehow, that has carried over to here. People want that look in their homes."

Miller believes the do-it-yourself craze and deluge of television design shows have made owners more aware of their options. So has traveling overseas.

"Plaster over here (in America) is considered art," Miller said. "In Italy, fresco is their art. I was even at a McDonald's in Verona that had a fresco."

To give customers that authentic European flair, some wallcovering designers and businesses are going to great distances.

Miller visited a family-owned manufacturing plant just south of Verona to learn more about the Italian plaster she uses. (American Clay is the only non-Italian plaster in her stock.)

Keith and Elaine Lelliott of A Cut Above Wallcovering in Pleasanton, Calif., custom order their most popular product, a commercial vinyl called Arte, from an Italian manufacturer.

The product was discontinued for general sales two years ago, but demand for it led the Lelliotts to place bulk custom orders for the seven most popular colors.

"This is pretty much what all my work is now," Keith Lelliott said. "It's a wonderful alternative, and there are a lot of people who want to go different with their walls."

Here are some of the options:

Arte vinyl

It's a custom-ordered commercial vinyl manufactured in Italy that mimics Venetian plaster or faux painting and adheres to the wall like a durable wall paper.

"But it's not wallpaper - that's a dirty word," said Keith Lelliott. "It feels like leather. Usually, when people hear commercial vinyl, they think it's something ugly. But this is used in the resort hotels and is designed to look like a painted finish; it just lasts longer."

Smooth walls are a must for application, so Lelliott and his crew apply a plaster and smooth it with a wet sponge. Then they prime and paint it. Arte comes in 27-inch wide rolls (larger than wallpaper). Each strip is applied with adhesive.

Colors at A Cut Above Wallcovering include Tucsan gold, deep rust, terra cotta, sage green and neutral tans.

Pros: It's durable, lasts 10-plus years and can be used on cracked walls and ceilings.

Cons: It's expensive, costing $60 a roll. Typically, it installs for $8 a square inch, including prep, installation and materials cost.

American Clay

It's a clay-based all-natural plaster from New Mexico. Because it contains no chemicals, it doesn't cure afterwards, Yanai said.

"You can continue to manipulate it, if you don't like it," she explains. "You can use a water sprayer to make it smoother."

The clay powder, which comes in 50 pound bags, is mixed with water and tinted with natural dye.

The type of application tool used determines the finished look.

There are 43 color variations offered. "But you can make your own, depending on the pigment you add," Yanai said, "so the choices are limitless."

Pros: It's an earth-based plaster that is breathable, sustainable and easy to repair.

Cons: It's expensive, though Yanai declined to list specific numbers. "Plastering in general is two or three times more expensive than painting," she said. "It's more labor intensive, but if you're looking to add more class, plaster is a relatively simple solution."

Faux painting

This painting technique creates a finish meant to resemble something else.

"Faux means fake, so essentially we're trying to fake a finish," Rogers said. "Wood, stone, stucco - there are so many looks you can copy."

The desired finish dictates the technique and tools used. For example, color washing involves applying a solid base color on the wall, then adding a top coat of a color paint mixed with a glaze (like a sheer glue). "The glaze thins it out, so when you smear it on the wall, it looks translucent and the background color comes through," Rogers said.

Finishes range from sponging and ragging to pearlescent and crackle. One of the most popular choices mimics Venetian plaster. "It looks like parchment paper; it's very subtle," Rogers said. "In a house with 20-foot ceilings, you want something that you won't get tired of."

Pros: With so many possible finishes, it's very versatile and easy to change (just paint over it). It's also less expensive than plaster, costing about $1,200-$1,500 for an entire good sized room.

Cons: It lacks the texture of plaster.

Murals and trompe l'oeil

These paintings can be used as accents, such as creeping ivy, or full wall pictures, such as landscapes. Trompe l'oeil is a mural that fools the eye, such as a painted window that looks realistic.

These require a tremendous amount of time and work because they are more detailed than traditional painting techniques. They comprise about 25 percent of business for Julie Rogers of Distinctive Accents in American Canyon. Because they are like custom art on the wall, they can take days or even weeks to complete.

Many artists, including Rogers, can duplicate an image from pictures and designs.

"My most challenging was the Taj Mahal because it had to be so exactly like the actual building," Rogers said.

"My clients were from India, and I was very happy with how it turned out."

Pros: They are unique and reflect the individual interests of the homeowner. They can make good use of alcoves and niches.

Cons: These are more expensive than typical paint because they take longer. A mural on a 10-by-8-foot wall would cost a minimum of $1,500, Rogers said.

Specialty plaster

These run the gamut, so we'll focus on those offered by GiGi Miller of Distinctive Accents, based out of Antioch. She uses mostly Italian plasters.

"Sometimes people look at it and think it's faux painting," Miller said of her work. "It's not painting, this is texture."

The techniques, tools and type of plaster used determines the look of the finish. Miller trained in Italy to master Old World finish applications.

Miller has dozens of finishes and materials, ranging from rough texture to polished marble. Some of the plasters include lime, which is mildew resistant and breathes on the wall; cellulose, which is great in media rooms because it acts as a sound barrier; and Veneziano, a shiny plaster that "you can almost see your reflection in," Miller said.

Pros: There are endless options and versatility with these plasters. They give a home a European flair and provide texture to the walls.

Cons: Cost depends on the type of plaster and finish. Specialty plasters often require professional application. "You can do it yourself," Miller said, "but they I'll probably have to come clean it up."

Resources

Need help? Ask the experts interviewed for this story:

Keith Lelliott A Cut Above Wallcovering, 925-462-5078

www.acutabovewallcovering.com

Gigi Miller Embellish Decorative Paint and Plaster Studio, 510- 502-5577, www.embellish-studio.com

Julie Rogers Distinctive Accents, 707-557-3415

www.distinctiveaccents.net

Orit Yanai Orit Yanai Studios, 415-264-5577, www.orityanai.com Need Help?

Ask the experts interviewed for this story:

Keith Lelliott-A Cut Above Wallcovering, Pleasanton

PHONE: 925-462-5078

WEB SITE: www.acutabovewallcovering.com

Gigi Miller-Embellish Decorative Paint and Plaster Studio, Antioch

PHONE: 510-502-5577

WEB SITE: www.embellish-studio.com

Julie Rogers-Distinctive Accents

PHONE: 707-557-3415

WEB SITE: www.distinctiveaccents.net

Orit Yanai-Orit Yanai Studios, San Francisco

ADDRESS: 67 Mullen Ave., San Francisco

PHONE: 415-264-5577

WEB SITE: www.orityanai.com need help?

Ask the experts interviewed for this story:

Keith Lelliott-A Cut Above Wallcovering, Pleasanton

Phone 925-462-5078

Web site www.acutabovewallcovering.com

Gigi Miller-Embellish Decorative Paint and Plaster Studio, Antioch

Phone 510-502-5577

Web site www.embellish-studio.com

Julie Rogers-Distinctive Accents

Phone 707-557-3415

Web site www.distinctiveaccents.net

Orit Yanai-Orit Yanai Studios, San Francisco

Address 67 Mullen Ave., San Francisco

Phone 415-264-5577

Web site www.orityanai.com

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