Decorating with Lime Plaster with Lauren of Master of Plaster

Get ready for some insanely gorgeous interiors, because in this episode we’re diving into all things plaster with Lauren Dillon. Lauren Dillon is the lead designer at Master of Plaster, a traditional lime plaster and lime wash maker based out of South Carolina. She’s passionate about restoring historic structures and infusing modern design with traditional plaster work, and specializes in making and recreating ornamental plasters.

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So, what is lime plaster? Well, it’s mainly composed with hydrated lime made from limestone. It’s a natural material that is safe to use within the home, and not only that, but it also reabsorbs carbon dioxide from your home during the curing process, and it also has a high pH which is why mold and bacteria can’t grow on it, either.

And in addition to being an environmentally friendly interior finish, it’s also INSANELY beautiful. As you can see from the images in this post, the texture and depth and nuance it adds to your interior space are completely unique and unparalleled. The crushed limestone in the basecoat creates a subtle shimmer that’s visible when the light hits the plaster, and it just adds such depth and visual magic to an interior space.

One of the most common questions folks ask is whether or not plaster can be applied to newer wall materials (like drywall), and the answer is yes! Lauren recommends painting the wall with primer first before applying the plaster layers to the wall. And lime plaster can also be applied to existing plaster walls in older homes, too.

As far as how to apply the plaster to the wall, this should be done using a trowel, where the wet plaster is applied to the trowel, and then the trowel is pressed against the wall in a sweeping motion to apply the plaster to the wall. Lauren does 1:1 coaching sessions via video and/or in-person with their plaster clients who want to apply it themselves and coaches them through the application process to make sure things go smoothly.

Make sure to tune into the episode to learn about how to incorporate lime plaster into your home!