18c Parchment Restoration

…more artistic musings

Restoration to a recreated 18c Parchment wall treatment/finish painted more than 14 years ago needed to be repaired after a remodeling. The practice of keeping records and detailed on-site notes for all my clients projects would now prove valuable.

Project Background

Last month I accessed repairs that would be needed after a remodeling was completed to an area decorated more than 14 years ago. The client desired to restore the decorative painting rather than repaint. The practice of keeping records and on site notes for all my clients would now prove valuable. In the main foyer I had previously completed a ceiling mural using casein paint, an 18c parchment wall treatment using a transparent oil glaze as the final color wash and door moldings in a black faux marble

August 4

9 A.M. Day One

Today I arrived before my assistant did with the scaffolding and had time to prepare the area. One wall in the octagon hallway had to be restored to match the original recreated 18c parchment decorative wall finish; door molding had to painted a black faux marble; the domed ceiling mural that extended 16 feet needed to be dry cleaned.

After the scaffolding was installed work began on the above-mentioned areas. First, white primer was applied to the damaged wall and a mid grey primer to the door trim. After these applications dried thoroughly the appropriate flat basecoat color was painted on the wall, a semi-gloss black was used for the molding. While I completed these tasks, Dave my assistant dry-cleaned the 18c parchment wall with a chemical treated dry sponge; using this sponge does require water. Also, we took this time to repair a small crack in the ceiling.

We were done for the day by 4 p.m.

August 5

9 A.M. Day Two

Dry-cleaned the painted casein ceiling mural with the specialty sponge. Over the dry flat basecoat I distressed the damaged wall of the hallway matching as per the 18c parchment faux treatment that the previously painted area. Because this job was completed more that 14 years ago I needed to spend over 4 hours beforehand in the studio preparing samples, as I did not want any surprises once I was on the job. The original sample was prepared using latex products for the basecoat while the distressed final thin glaze was made with an alkyd product. Color change over time along with everyday wear to the decorative finish needed to be anticipated.

While the distressed paint application was drying, I began to marbleize the door molding. Although the black faux marble requires a limited palette the line becomes the focus when executing black marble. Often after a day of marbleizing I am more exhausted than if I had glazed a large hallway foyer with an extended 18 foot ceiling. Today ended at 5 p.m.

August 6

9:30 A.M. Day Three

Hopefully, today is going to be a short day.

Finished painting the faux marble around the door molding. Once this dried I applied the first of 2 coats of a high quality varnish that has been thinned 10%. I let this coat dry for approximately 4 hours. We took this opportunity to break for lunch after which we returned to apply the 2nd application of the Satin Finish Varnish.

Scaffolding was removed, supplies packed, tarps folded. We were finished by 4:30 p.m.

Cynthia