Interior
Wall Finishes for Your Home
Prior
to the introduction of sheetrock or drywall in the 1940’s
most walls were either plastered by hand or constructed of wood.
The more affluent homeowner would then cover their walls with wall
paper to add color and pattern to their interiors. Nothing can compare
to the subtle beauty and grace of a hand plastered wall, but hand
plastered walls were labor intensive and that technique has been
replaced by the use of manufactured wall board. Now builders using
wallboard in combination with modern paints can produce flawless
wall surfaces to the point of visual sterility.
We as a culture now honor the older trades by historical preservation
of structures, pilgrimages to historical districts and countries,
and in frequenting restaurants that create ambiance in rough hewn
interior settings.
Interior
designers and decorators rediscovered in the latter part of the
20th century the beauty inherent in faux and decorative wall finishes.
The subtle variations in color, the marks left by a trowel, or the
patina of age contribute to the visual appeal of surfaces. It is
as if a wall may reveal its history through its many peeling layers.
With
today’s open floor plans the challenge is often to pick a
color or finish to use in the areas of the home where there are
no obvious architectural breaks. The foyer flows into the great
room which flows into the breakfast room which flows into the kitchen..
Select a color/finish that works in all these rooms, most likely
a neutral. If the foyer is separated from the other areas of the
home with arched openings or doors, it presents an opportunity to
make a bold dramatic statement when guests first enter but will
not spend much time.
|
