Venetian plastering in Kensington

Zavoré carries out Venetian plastering in Kensington for houses, mansion flats and mews homes. We supply authentic Italian lime based Venetian plaster, and our own applicators travel from Birmingham to lay it, together with Marmorino, polished plaster, cornice and coving and our other decorative finishes. A sample board is the place to start, or send photos of the rooms to sales@zavore.co.uk.

Kensington is a part of London where the building is nearly always older than the decoration, so most of what we discuss begins with the condition of the walls and ceilings.

The houses and flats of Kensington

The area runs from Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace down through the museum quarter of South Kensington, with the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the V&A and the Royal Albert Hall nearby. Around them are tall, white stucco fronted terraces on streets such as Queen’s Gate and in garden squares like Edwardes Square, with tall rooms and often elaborate ceilings. Kensington Square is much older, with houses that date back to the late seventeenth century.

North of the High Street, Holland Park has large Victorian villas, while red brick mansion blocks stand along the High Street and the roads off it. Mews cottages tucked behind the grander streets are small, and often have been converted with new internal walls. Many large houses in Kensington have been divided into flats, and basements have been dug out under a good number of them.

Each of those wants something different. Stucco terraces and Victorian villas usually have lime plaster and elaborate cornices that deserve care. Mansion block walls can be solid, but have been patched many times. A newly built basement or extension usually has flatter walls, which suit a polished surface once they are confirmed dry.

Finishes for Kensington interiors

• Marmorino for drawing rooms and halls in stucco terraces and villas, because it is lime based and lets old walls breathe.
• Plaster cornice and coving to repair or recreate mouldings in tall period rooms, where the ceiling is as important as the wall.
• Polished plaster for basements, new kitchens and extension walls, which are flat enough to take a deep sheen.
• Gilding or lacquered walls for a library, dining room or entrance hall that deserves a bolder statement.
• Microcement for showers and wet rooms, since Venetian plaster is not recommended inside a shower.

Working in Kensington

Kensington jobs are planned in blocks of days. The applicators stay on site and lay each coat in order, which suits the layered way these finishes are built.

We begin with photos and rough measurements, then survey the rooms before we price. The survey looks at the substrate, flatness, cracks, damp and movement, how the rooms are used, and how floors, stairs and joinery are to be protected. You will be told straight away if a wall wants skimming, stripping or a damp problem fixing. After you approve the sample and price we agree dates, and the plaster is tinted to your colour in Birmingham, from 48 house colours or any NCS reference.

Mansion blocks and managed buildings often need a licence from the freeholder, a lift booking and set working hours, and street parking is limited, so it is worth raising these early. A listed house or one in a conservation area may need consent from the council, which is a decision for you and your architect. Read more about the choice of Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian coving, and see every area we cover.

Supplying designers, decorators and trade

Designers and architects can use our specification page. If a decorator is already involved, we tint the materials and deliver them by tracked service. Our courses run in Birmingham, and trade accounts are open to professionals.

Questions about Venetian plastering in Kensington

Which finish suits a stucco terrace near Queen’s Gate?

A lime based finish such as Marmorino suits the solid, older walls of these houses, and it lets them breathe. We would also look at the ceiling, as the cornice often needs attention too.

Can you work in a Kensington mansion flat?

Yes. We agree dates around the building rules, including lift bookings and working hours, and we protect floors and joinery as part of the job.

Is polished plaster suitable for a basement room?

It can be, provided the walls are dry and flat. We survey for damp first, and tell you if the wall needs treating before any decorative coat.

Do you supply plaster for a decorator working in Kensington?

Yes. We tint it to your colour and send it by tracked delivery with the base coats and tools your decorator needs.

Call 07592 929191, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, or email sales@zavore.co.uk with photos, rough measurements and the postcode. A sample board lets you see colours before you decide.