When you’re a guy working in the building trades, it’s not very often you get to travel for work, let alone work in a place like Banff, Alberta. This fantastic retreat in the mountains has been a dream-like project for me, and I’m happy to share with you this video of a walk-through of how the project’s coming.
As the build got further along, more plaster work got added to my slate. I love an owner getting excited about my technique and wanting more as the work progresses, especially in a place like this. By the end, Stucco Italiano’s Italian plaster was used throughout, stretching from the bottom up to the third floor.
Please set your viewing to high-def for all the detail!
Take a look at the waxed deep magenta plaster walls in the powder rooms, which includes that awesome entry feature and incorporates those subtle smooth textures across the walls and ceilings, on all floors.
Why would you want to use Italian plaster over both walls and ceilings? You have to consider the characteristics. No paint will match the beauty or durability over the long-term like Italian lime or Venetian plaster, and when you’re creating a mood in a room, why would you neglect the ceiling?
When the colour is fortified right off the bat, as I hand-mix plasters for application, including base coats, it gives a rich layered finish that doesn’t look man-made — it looks like it just belongs that way. It’s natural, rustic, and amazing for creating a mood in big and small spaces.
Lime plaster builds an atmosphere you just can’t get with only paint, and I’m a painter saying that.
When you’re talking about any kind of art or space, lighting means everything, and it’s definitely true with Intonachino plaster approaches I use in my Venetian/Italian lime finishes. As light moves across the room, during dusk through to dawn, and the light shifts from season to season, it changes the way the plastered surface appears, and you’ll always notice something different. It’s almost like your walls are a living part of your space.
This video will provide a perspective on the feel created with these finishes, but if the same video was shot at different times of day, you’d get more a sense of why I say that lightning — natural or electrical — is plaster’s best friend.
It’s been a while since this amazing journey began. Have a look at how far we’ve come, and how this plaster came to life. Click here to see the beginning blog posts.
6 Comments
WOWEE!!!! THat is one monster job!
You guys have created art on those walls worthy of a museum.
Absolutely gorgeous work, beautiful, timeless and elegant finish.
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For so many years Vegas was dead-set against this kind of thing – becsaue it took you away from gambling. Used to be nothing but a tacky cover band here and there, a buffet, and lots of silent gambling. Now, they’ve openly embraced all sorts of other ways to get you to spend. Thanks, but my waspy American guilt has me spending my money in the Indian casinos that are only an hour away from me (as opposed to four for Vegas). At least the Agua Caliente’s have a real history museum to fund….
Thanks Kathy It has been a true adventure working on this house I cant wait to see it furnished and ready for photos
Incredible work Darrell. Love the soundtrack too. Your work is beautiful. You need to go back after they move in their stuff for staged shots.
Thank you. As you know this project has carried on for a while but the architecture was something that needed a little extra detail
Beautiful work!
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My dad, an architect, took me to Habitat; I was belray 5 years old, but I have some memories of it. It overwhelmed me, but even then I got some of the vibe, and I remember being impressed by the number and range of people (I lived in a rural part of BC). My dad was especially impressed with Erickson’s paper architecture.About 15 years ago I attended a lecture by Erickson here in Montre9al. I had a book of his architecture with me, and afterward I went to get him to sign it. He saw that my dad had signed the book when he had given it to me on my birthday, and I mentioned that it was through my dad that I had become interested in Erickson’s architecture. I mentioned Habitat, and I saw him pause, and then I realized that he thought I was mixing up Safdie’s Habitat in Montre9al with his own work. I felt very embarrassed. I would _never_ mistake Safdie for Erickson.Here in Montre9al we have some buildings left from Expo 67. I like to go down there and imagine what that expo must have been like. But even more, I imagine how it must have been when a few of the buildings were transformed, in the early 70s, into the headquarters of Canada World Youth; apparently youth from around the world bunked in some of those buildings. They have been torn down now, too, and I think that the wonderful edifice that is CWY is in danger of being demolished by the bright lights currently at the helm of our society. Dark times everywhere. Good luck with your project.Michael
Thank you
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She certainly looks happy after being thgrouh such an ordeal. Mmmm about the designer boot..methinks it needs the Pops treatment to make it really lovely….so come on Pops get your colouring bits out and turn it into a boot of beauty. Annette xx