Publications: Houston House & Home

Faux est Chaud

you don't need to speak french to know faux finish is hot

by Polly Barnes Coleman

From the simple process of sponge-painting wall to the complex art of marbling wood, faux finish work has arrived at a level of popularity that would astonish a time-traveler from seventeenth-century Italy.  Many Americans reluctant to say "bonjour" in Paris are tossing around terms like frottage and trompe l'oeil without a blush.  Faux finish is the rage, and when done right it can transform a room - even an entire house - into an old-world, cozy retreat.

Vigini Studios in San Antonio is the regional distributor for Faux Effects products manufactured in Florida.  Nicola Vigini and partner Leslie Morrison are enthusiastic about theses environmentally friendly finishes which are water-based, essentially odorless and easily disposed of.  An important factor in their popularity is the fact that they allow a longer "open" time than other non-toxic glazes - time needed to manipulate the surface and to correct any mistakes before they dry.

It is products such as the Faux Effects line which encourage the amateur decorator to go beyond the flat surface of a painted wall.  More and more homeowners are investing in gold-leaf finishes for thir built-ins, faux marble fireplace surrounds, and random-pattern stenciling to enhance their walls.  In newer, larger home, a decorated room can stay just that - a decorated room - until some texture and color soften the glare of those clean white walls.