Painted Finishes & Murals
From the wall paintings in the prehistoric caves at Lascaux to the ornately embellished interiors of Pompeii to modern cathedrals and civic buildings, talented artists have left their mark with decorative painting and murals. This art form includes wall finishes, stenciling, trompe l’oeil, murals and other decorative effects. Our Studio has a staff of talented artisans with a wide range of expertise encompassing all aspects of decorative painting, wall murals and trompe l’oeil. Trained in the classic tradition our artists are able to develop treatments for the most discriminating tastes.
From traditional glazed finishes to sandpainting, stenciling and Venetian plaster, our skill in color mixing on site makes the creative process much more efficient. Our talented muralists create environments which are works of art and are personalized for the client’s space.
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Jewel Box RoomWashington, DCThis sitting room had all the moldings gilded in composition gold leaf, which were then slightly patinated to produce an aged appearance. The walls were glazed in a raw silk effect. Designer: Penne Poole Interior Design |
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Riversdale MansionRiverdale, MarylandAs part of the restoration of the circa 1810 mansion, we were brought in to restore the graining on the doors to match the original mahogany graining. Owner: Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission |
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Painted FloorBlowing Rock, North CarolinaWe produced a custom design for this floor painting to blend the fabrics from the owners' dining room and living room furniture. The design was painted directly on the oak floor and the fringe was hand painted to look as realistic as possible. The surface was then coated with a catalyzed acrylic polymer. Designer: Kent Moberg |
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Woodgrained LibraryWashington, DCThe walls and cabinets in this library were basecoated then woodgrained in a knotty pine. Private Residence: Washington, DC |
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Private ResidenceAlexandria, VirginiaDennis DaSilva working on a custom mural in a dining room of a what was once the Governor's residence during the Union occupation of Virginia during the Civil War. Designer: SPI Design |
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Private ResidenceAlexandria, VirginiaAnother view of the custom mural showing the Washington Monument. Designer: SPI Design |
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Woodgraining in ProcessPotomac, MarylandWoodgraining in process. This image shows the depth of color achieved using glazes over the orange base color when woodgraining, in this case, a crotch mahogany. Designer: Gloria Capron Interior Design |
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Hudson Theatre (circa 1910)New York, New YorkArchitrave and proscenium arch of the Hudson Theatre (circa 1910) which was painted, glazed and gilded to match the historic colors. Please note the glass tile inlays attributed to Louis Comfort Tiffany. Owner: Millenium Hotels |
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Hudson Theatre - DetailNew York, New YorkDetail of the column capital showing the glazed field and gilded details. Built in 1910 by one of the survivors of the Titanic disaster, the Hudson Theatre is one of the oldest original Broadway theatres. Owner: Millenium Hotels |
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Sandpainted ResidenceWashington, DCThe stamped metal oriel and cornice on this rowhouse was sandpainted to match the carved Seneca sandstone arches and pilasters. Paint analysis showed this was the original treatment on the structure. Historically, sandpainting was used to accurately simulate sandstone on structures such as Mount Vernon, the Lindens and other historic landmarks dating from Colonial times. |
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Private ResidenceWashington, DCThe stamped metal oriel was supported by this sculptural figure known as an Atlantis, underneath. |
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The United ChurchWashington, DCAll the metal ornament on this church was sand painted to match the Seneca sandstone lintels and sills. Owner: The United Church, Washington, DC |
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Lincoln MemorialWashington, DCDating from 1922, there are more than 4,500 characters carved into the walls of the three chambers. The Gettysburg Address, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and the Dedication behind the sculpture. After more than 75 years, the original paint had deteriorated to the point of being illegible in places. We were tasked to consolidate and preserve the original paint in the inscriptions while producing a stable substrate onto which a modern paint system could be safely applied. After testing and laboratory analysis, we developed a system that met the needs of the project and made the letters legible again. |
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Sky Mural - Avalon TheaterWashington, DCThe plaster in this 40' x 15' shallow dome had extensive damage due to water infiltration to the point that approximately 25% of the surface need to be repainted. We repaired the plaster, primed and inpainted the failing areas to match the original artwork. |
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Venetian Plaster Powder RoomPrivate Residence - MarylandThe walls in this powder room were coated with a custom tinted Venetian plaster. The studio has installed thousands of square feet of Venetian plaster over the past 15 years. Designer: Texam |
