WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

The powder room inside this “Euro-Fresh” net-zero carriage house raised eyebrows during the 2021 Showcase of Homes. 

Greeting visitors within the 5’ x 6’ room (just off the first-floor foyer) is a dramatic dome ceiling, silver walls, and a deeply-set window. 

Old-World European Charm

All of the walls and ceilings inside this 3,662 sq. ft., 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home are coated with plaster, a natural product that has been used for, and lasts, thousands of years.

An old-world finish that is harvested from river beds and used widely throughout Europe, plaster adds dimension and soft texture to a wall while still letting it breathe. 

Add to this its easy tint-ability, and you can see why it’s becoming much more popular across the pond, as well. 

“Silver has been very popular and gold is making a huge comeback” said Donna Mock, a decorative painter and the owner of Classic Wall Finishes. “Here, the style is trending more toward a cleaner, softer look that’s not as ornate.” 

Almost half of her residential clients ask for plaster, said Mock. In addition to residential homes, she has done plaster restoration work for luxurious public spaces including the Adelphi Hotel and the Hotel Saranac. 

Natural Modern 

Pairing a lightly textured marmarino lime plaster tinted with subtle color throughout the rest of the house, in the powder room she used a dark paint finish on the first layer and then the applied silver leaf finish to create a modern glow.

The hundreds of 4” silver leaf squares were applied by hand then glazed to create visual interest and to protect the surface.

“It’s not something you’d want to do all over the house but is something you do as a different and fun accent,” said Mock, “it’s a real labor of love.”

For more information on all of her hand-crafted finishing techniques, follow Donna Mock on Facebook, visit www.classic-wall-finishes.com, or call 518-944-0331.