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I was inspired by a comment made yesterday on my "Which would you prefer?" post, here, by Leigha Oaks, of the inspiring Elle Oh blog. Leigha favors "ridiculously rough walls" over a more refined look.
Here are a few different ways to feature the spirit of rough luxe.
This is an 18th century home in Saintonge, France. The warm, mottled off-whites of its worn plaster walls, along with the gorgeous stone floors, create its welcoming warmth and invite you to run your hands over their smooth surface. I love the door, too.
Simply Contemporary by Henrietta Thompson Photo by Solvi dos Santos
This Norwegian bedroom wall faces the sea. To protect the home from the extreme elements, the wall was covered with old sails (probably canvas) and then painted. The wonderful craquelure that developed would be very hard to duplicate with anything new.
Simply Contemporary by Henrietta Thompson Photo by Solvi dos Santos
As this Italian home was renovated, the fresco was discovered and left in place. The whole setting is charming.
Italian Style by Jane Gordon-Clark Photo by Simon Upton
These beautifully textured walls are part of an old warehouse building in Marseilles. The inhabitant, painter Francoise Martinelli, created the collage, which becomes the room's focus on the white-ish walls.
Simply Contemporary by Henrietta Thompson Photo by Solvi dos Santos
In this bedroom, interior designer David Kaihoi and his wife, Monique Simard, found a tattered pile of hand-painted, 18th century Chinese wallpaper at an auction. They found three scenes, placed them on the walls and filled in the gaps with bits and pieces.
House Beautiful Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo
Breathtaking!
House Beautiful Photo by Ngoc Minh Ngo
The natural, raw patina of the walls compliments the homeowner's hat display. I would like to see the curtains up close.
Elle Decoration UK Photo by Jean-Francois Jaussaud
What is your take on raw walls? Do you like their natural patina or favor a more refined look?
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The raw walls, plastered walls, venetian plaster walls...they all have my name all over them. We just finished our dream home and the walls are plastered and glazed through-out. I will never tire of them. I wish you lived close to me.
ReplyDeleteThe discovered fresco wall in the Italian home is sensational. I'm so glad that the owners left the fresco in situ. It is possible to almost duplicate this look. One has to have enough guts to paint it perfectly and then spend a lot of time destroying it.
ReplyDeleteMona- Can you publish some photos of your new walls? We'd love to see!
ReplyDeleteGina- I find that the hardest part of trying to duplicate an aged finish is the final step of
"destroying" it. If it's not done well, the look is not achieved, but sanding, etc. the hard work is scary to do. I was impressed years ago when I read an article on a John Saladino dining room with a newly painted mural. Saladino walked in when the mural was complete and started to destroy the bottom of it- said it needed it to look authentic.
Ann that is a breath taking post, really inspiring. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnn, One way to achieve a convincing distressed look is to mix sand into the paint first, then remove paint selectively with water and a kitchen scrubber (the orange plastic kind).
ReplyDeleteI heart both. I can appreciate both and it all depends on the overall feel you would like to give a room. These pictures and your writing are both very, very pretty and well thought out :)
ReplyDeleteSo great, but it seems to work better in Europe than here, probably because they have the furniture that looks so great with it!
ReplyDeleteHi Ann! Love the raw walls...the 18th century wallpaper. Have many unfinished, varied tone paint colors on walls (decisions, decisions) that I knew I should feel guilty about for not painting perfectly...but secretly liked. Even like that "the water came up to here" look. Many beautiful examples...thank you! Trish
ReplyDeleteAh, a love letter to my heart! I wait with baited breath for my first home (I am sadly still a meager tenant). My husband probably dreads the day we buy a house - he is well aware of the great lengths I will be going to (my home will not be complete until my walls are rough and lovely). Yes, ridiculously rough.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend dear Ann.