“Old world” is my own term for a faux finish that is also known as "fresco," "distressed plaster," "Tuscany," and other names. The finish is meant to look like that of an old exterior wall in Europe, a kind usually found near the Mediterranean Sea. You see these beautiful walls in places like Italy, the South of France, Spain, and Greece. In reality it occurs on stone buildings that are plastered with calcium paint. Calcium paint partially dissolves in water and tends to fade in the sun. The rain and the sun discolor it in a graceful way. Add to that age and the exposure of different layers applied at different times, and you get the look that we associate with “old world” Europe.

How does one create this finish in a fraction of time that it took nature to achieve? In the world of faux finishing it is done by manipulating several layers of paint until you have achieved the desired look. For example, I put dark colors over light in random shapes and sponge it off just as the paint begins to dry. This gives a pattern that looks similar to the real thing. Then I sponge on another color to suppress the dark areas and discourage some of the shapes. With highlights and shadows I will encourage other shapes until it looks like the real thing. I also use flat finish paint for a more authentic look because in reality any original sheen has been worn away by the rain and sun.

When I was first asked to do this finish, I thought it was somewhat ridiculous because I grew up next to the Mediterranean Sea where a lot of the buildings that look like this were found in the older, poorer parts of town. This look was not associated with European charm but rather with poverty and depression. As a kid I painted houses in the summers and was asked to erase the worn look with a fresh coat of paint. However, my view is very different now.

In these modern times when everything is new and high tech we feel like something is missing. Today, new homes are perhaps the best built and most comfortable ever, but short on character and ambiance such as the “old world” is full of. Since we cannot buy a French chateau or an Italian villa in Newton, MA, we provide a bit of this history and charm with faux finishes. It is a trend that doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

Amiel Mesner has been a professional muralist and faux finishing artist for more than 20 years. He is co-owner of Arteriors, one of the Boston area's leading decorative painting companies. You can see examples of a Tuscany finish by visiting the Arteriors web site at http://www.arteriorsfaux.com