Lori and I spend a lot of time extolling the many "Green" benefits of authentic Venetian plaster. With eco-chic finally coming into fashion, it's exciting to be at the forefront of a movement that promises both beauty and environmental kindness. True Venetian plaster is a natural material, has no toxicity and has several benefits beyond its distinctive beauty.  A room decorated with  authentic  Venetian plaster can actually help create a healthier interior environment!

Surfaces treated with Venetian plaster trap carbon dioxide and literally "breathe" by absorbing excess moisture when the room is humid,  releasing it when the room is dry, unlike acrylic finishes which can trap moisture inside the wall.  This breathing process actually makes the plastered surface effect more beautiful with age.  Building breathable buildings is a healthier option than building sealed buildings, and causes fewer damp problems.  Additionally, because moisture is continuously being absorbed and released, mold, mildew and fungus never get a chance to  develop.  As a result of eliminating mold spores, the finish is hypoallergenic, not allowing allergy spores to live longer during allergy season.

When lime plasters cure, the result is hard-as-stone, long-lasting mineral coating. All natural, oxide pigments result in the preservation of lasting color in your walls. Natural Italian lime plasters raise the design standard of any building project, and create a  high-end point of differentiation by recapturing the lost art and tradition of an Italian Renaissance art form.  And they create the highly sought-after "Wow" effect that stops people in their tracks to marvel at the unique and exquisite beauty, that is bold but not brash, complimenting rather than competing with the other architectural elements and decorative finishes employed by the designer, adding an element of unmistakable luxury and drama with eco-friendly benefits.   

What do you think? Has eco-chic come into its own? Would you (or your clients) pay more for eco-friendly building and decorating materials?