Marmorino and Limewash for Period Homes in Richmond and Kingston

Short answer. For Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes in Richmond and Kingston, Marmorino and limewash are good matches because both are lime based and let solid walls breathe. They also sit well with the soft, chalky colours of older interiors. If the house is listed, ask the council's conservation officer before booking, as listed building consent can be needed for internal work.

Would you rather have it done for you? Our own applicators provide limewash installation across the UK, including Venetian plastering in Richmond.

A riverside stretch of old houses

Richmond upon Thames and Kingston upon Thames both sit on the river. Richmond is known for its Georgian houses around Richmond Green and on Richmond Hill, and the borough also contains Hampton Court Palace. Kingston grew up as a historic market town. Around both centres run streets of Victorian and Edwardian villas and terraces.

Many of these houses have solid walls and original lime plaster. Walls like this need to let moisture move through them. A finish that seals the surface tends to trap damp, which then shows up as flaking or staining.

Marmorino. Lime plaster with marble

Marmorino is an Italian lime plaster that contains crushed marble. Trowelled on in thin coats, it can stay matt and stony or be pressed to a soft polish. Because it is lime, it stays breathable.

In a Georgian drawing room it sits comfortably beside original joinery, meaning the wooden doors, shutters and skirting. In a Victorian hall it gives a calm, stone like surface that is tougher than paint.

Limewash. The simplest breathable finish

Limewash is lime putty thinned with water and coloured with pigment. It goes on with a wide brush in several thin coats and dries to a flat, chalky finish with gentle variation in the colour. Many people choose it for bedrooms and for old walls that are not perfectly flat, where that soft movement feels natural.

Limewash bonds well to bare lime plaster and brick. It does not grip modern sealed paints, so a painted wall may need preparing first. Our guide on how to apply limewash covers the steps.

Mouldings and repairs first

Many period houses here keep their cornice, the moulded band where the wall meets the ceiling. Cracked or missing sections can be repaired and matched before any new finish goes on, so the room looks complete. Old lime plaster with small cracks can often be repaired in lime rather than hacked off.

Listed homes and consent

Listed building consent can be needed for internal work on a listed home, including taking off or replacing old plaster. Ask the conservation officer at Richmond or Kingston council before you book, and keep their reply with your plans.

To see Marmorino or limewash in your colour, order a sample board, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. Our London page covers how we work across the capital, including the south west.

Questions we get asked

Is Marmorino a type of Venetian plaster?

Yes. Marmorino is one of the Italian lime plasters grouped under the name Venetian plaster, and it is usually more matt than Grassello.

Can limewash go on a painted wall?

Not directly onto modern sealed paint. The wall needs the right preparation or primer first so the limewash can bond.

Do you cover the whole of Richmond and Kingston?

Yes. Our applicators travel from Birmingham across the UK and work in planned blocks of days.