Drywall & Wallpaper in Indianapolis
Faux finishes and Venetian plaster in Indianapolis
A dining room that should feel like stone, a powder room that deserves more than flat paint, or a feature wall with depth. Decorative finishes are hand work, and they start with samples on your wall.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Sampled on your wall first
- Hand-applied finishes
Paint lines and window treatment brands we work with
Quick answer
Decorative finishes in Indianapolis include Venetian plaster troweled in thin layers and burnished to a soft sheen, limewash and mineral paints that give walls a cloudy, matte depth, and glazes and color washes over a base coat. Every finish is sampled on your wall first, the surface is prepared smooth, and the work is applied by hand room by room.
What the job involves
Why decorative finishes are their own trade
Updated September 2026
Decorative finishes look the way they do because of how they are applied: the trowel angle on Venetian plaster, the brush pattern in limewash, the timing of a glaze before it sets. The wall underneath has to be smooth and sound, since these finishes show every bump. We prepare the surface, prime with a product the finish bonds to, and sample the finish and color on your wall so you approve the actual look before a room is done. Base coats come from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and PPG lines chosen to suit the finish.
Walls that need smoothing first follow our skim coating process. Limewash on exterior brick is covered under brick painting and limewash, and color planning can start with a consultation.
Choosing between the options
Venetian plaster, limewash or glaze
| Consider | Venetian plaster | Limewash or mineral paint | Glaze or color wash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Polished stone, soft sheen | Cloudy, matte depth | Soft variation over color |
| Washability | Good, better with wax | Lower | Good with a clear coat |
| Time per wall | Longest | Moderate | Moderate |
| Best for | Dining rooms, entries, powder rooms | Bedrooms, living rooms, old plaster | Feature walls, cabinets, trim |
Most rooms use one finish on one or two walls rather than every surface.
What moves the price
What moves the price of a decorative finish
No sourced figure is quoted here; decorative finishes are priced by area, finish and how smooth the wall is to start.
- Finish type Venetian plaster takes more coats and time than limewash or glaze.
- Wall area Feature walls cost far less than whole rooms.
- Surface prep Walls that need skimming smooth add a step before the finish.
- Sheen Higher polish on plaster takes more burnishing.
- Ceilings and niches Overhead and detailed surfaces are slower.
- Protective topcoat Wax or sealer for high-touch areas.
- Samples Test boards or wall samples before the room is done.
Variations of this job
The faux finishes & venetian plaster jobs we get called for
Venetian plaster
Venetian plaster is applied in several thin coats with a steel trowel, each layer pressed and compressed, then burnished so the surface takes on a soft polished sheen with movement like stone. It suits dining rooms, entries, powder rooms and feature walls. The wall is skimmed smooth first and primed with a primer the plaster grips. Finish options range from matte to high polish, and a protective wax or sealer can be added in areas that are touched often. Each wall takes more than a day, since coats need time to dry.
Limewash and mineral paint walls
Limewash and mineral paints soak into the surface rather than forming a film, which gives walls a soft, cloudy, matte depth that changes with the light. They are brushed in crossing strokes in two or more coats, and the brush pattern is part of the look. On drywall, a mineral primer is applied first so the limewash has something to bond with. These finishes suit bedrooms, living rooms and older homes with plaster walls. They are less washable than standard paint, so we suggest them where walls are not handled constantly.
Glazes and color washes
A glaze is a translucent color applied over a base coat and worked with rags, brushes or sponges to create soft variation, from subtle parchment effects to stronger aged finishes on cabinets and trim. Color washes layer thin, diluted color for a sun-faded look. We sample the glaze and technique on your wall or on a board first, since small changes in pressure and timing change the look a great deal, and we keep the same hand on a room from start to finish so the pattern stays consistent.
Metallic and accent finishes
Metallic paints and finishes add a subtle sheen to a ceiling, a niche, a feature wall or a piece of trim. They show brush and roller marks easily, so they are applied over a perfectly smooth base in careful, consistent passes. We use them sparingly, on one surface rather than a whole room, and test them in the room's light first. Accent stripes, two-tone walls and ceiling medallions can be added to the same visit when a room needs a finishing detail.
Local context
How this work runs around Indianapolis
Historic Meridian Park in Mapleton-Fall Creek is a 42-acre district of Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival houses, and older Indianapolis homes like those often keep original plaster walls. Plaster is an ideal base for limewash and Venetian plaster, which is why many of our decorative finish calls come from older houses where owners want a finish that suits the age of the walls rather than flat modern paint.
From your call to the final walk-through
How a decorative finish job runs
- 01
Call and describe the room
The space, the look you want and any photos you like.
- 02
Visit and test
We check the walls and test the finish on your surface.
- 03
Approve the sample
Color, technique and sheen agreed on the wall.
- 04
Prepare
Walls skimmed smooth where needed and primed.
- 05
Apply
Finish built up by hand in thin coats.
- 06
Burnish or seal
Plaster burnished; topcoat where needed.
- 07
Walk-through
We review the room with you in its own light.
Doing it yourself vs. calling us
Trying a decorative finish yourself versus calling us
| Step | Doing it yourself | When we do it |
|---|---|---|
| Technique | Learned on the wall itself | Practiced and sampled first |
| Prep | Bumps show through the finish | Walls skimmed smooth before the finish |
| Consistency | Pattern changes across the wall | One hand on the room start to finish |
Limewash on a small wall is a reasonable weekend project. Venetian plaster and large glazed rooms are where technique decides the result.
FAQ
Questions we hear on this job
Yes, once the drywall is skimmed smooth and primed for plaster.
Less than standard paint, so it suits walls that are not handled constantly.
Yes. Every finish is sampled on your wall first.
Several coats with drying time, so most walls take more than a day.
Very well, especially limewash and Venetian plaster.
Yes, over a smooth base, tested in the room's light first.
Related services
Other drywall & wallpaper work we handle
Wallpaper Installation
Accent wall paper, peel-and-stick paper and more.
Wallpaper Installation in IndianapolisDrywall Repair & Patching
Nail pops and cracked seams, corner bead repair and more.
see our drywall repair & patching pageSkim Coating & Wall Texture
Level-5 smooth skim, texture removal and more.
learn about skim coating & wall textureWallpaper Removal
Steam removal of vinyl and paper, border removal and more.
learn about wallpaper removalReady when you are
Describe the room and the look you want
Call any hour, tell us the room and send photos of finishes you like, and we will book the sample visit on the call.
Faber Paint & Blinds service office
3053 Stillcrest Ln, Indianapolis, IN 46217