Top 10 Faux Products: Nos. 1 – 5

Hi, everyone! I’ve put together the Garay Artisans Top 10 Faux Products. This list contains materials we’ve come to appreciate and use often. ?Some are more functional and some are just plain gorgeous. All of them are featured prominently in many of our commissions. The following contains the first half of the list and next week we’ll post the remaining five. Please note that the Top 10 Products are in no particular order…

1) LusterStone by Faux Effects?- Quite simply, brilliant. I do believe it is their most popular product and deservedly so. It is a shimmery plaster that is both versatile in its application and in its available colors (I counted 42). Modern Masters?has a similar product called ShimmerStone and Adicolor?has OroStone.

2) Modello Designs?- For me, this product has transformed the stenciling world and by doing so, the faux finishing industry. Gone are the days when we had to work with mylar stencils for particularly tough areas (i.e., ceilings, arches) or for very detailed patterns and designs. (I can’t tell you how happy I am to not have to cut another design out of mylar with a stencil burner. I used to dread setting up that whole system.) Melanie Royals developed a one-time use stencil that could be made in custom sizes and either in a negative or positive pattern. Perfection.

3) Venetian Plaster – I get a lot of requests for this finish and a lot of questions, too. Venetian Plaster is a labor-intensive process (with diva-like qualities sometimes) but you can’t take away its stunning beauty in person. This is the finish I traveled to Italy to receive advanced classes in. In fact, we recently had a client who actually used their formal dining room just so that they could sit and enjoy the finish — what a compliment!? I personally prefer the products from Safra?since they glide on like butter, whether synthetic or lime-based. ?I have heard great things about Dimensions Plaster?and Oikos?and most DIYers find the Modern Masters version easy to use.

4) Schaibin by Sepp Leaf?- Gold leaf shimmer…or aluminum or copper. Schaibin is large irregular sheets of leaf metal that can be used in many ways: to “gild” a stencil design, create a first-rate finish or use it underneath other faux products for a peek of what I call “high-res metallic”.? Gold Leaf is traditionally used for gilding (see an example here) but schaibin is the same product in a more versatile format. It is a bit messy but for some applications, it is the perfect touch.

5) Metallic Foil – This product has started a whole new love affair for me and metallic finishes. The copper foil is stunning for a hammered copper finish on a rangehood and the hologram foil is amazing with our snakeskin finish. Can’t even begin to tell you how yummy the pewter foil is and don’t even get me started on the gold. It also comes in an array of colors. This product is used similarly to gold leaf and schaibin but it doesn’t leave a whole lot of mess behind to clean up and is easier to use. I get mine locally from the Sarasota School of Faux and Architectural Finishing?but I know that it is also sold by the amazing Gary Lord at his studio, Prismatic Painting.

I did not include glaze in this list since it is the one product faux finishing is really based upon — so I thought that it would have Honorable Mention status.? Next week, I’ll post the remaining five faux products…please feel free to comment and let me know if you agree with this part of the list. Have a great day!