This guide is designed to support interior designers and architects in confidently presenting plaster surfaces to their clients — not as a finish choice alone, but as a material experience.

Plaster sells best when it is positioned correctly.

 

First: How to Frame Plaster

 

Plaster should not be sold as a paint alternative or decorative upgrade. It is a material decision that impacts light, atmosphere, and how a space is experienced over time.

 

Encourage clients to understand plaster as:

A hand-applied, mineral surface

A finish with depth, movement, and variation

A long-term material that ages gracefully

 

When clients understand this early, conversations around cost, variation, and care become much easier.

Talk About Experience, Not Perfection

Clients often default to wanting surfaces that are uniform and flawless. Plaster offers something different — softness, nuance, and character.

 

Helpful language:

“Plaster interacts with light throughout the day.”

“No two areas are exactly the same — that’s part of its beauty.”

“It’s meant to feel layered and dimensional, not flat.”

 

This shifts the conversation away from control and toward intention.

Address Durability with Confidence - durability is often misunderstood.

 

Plaster is durable in use, but not indestructible. It is semi-wipeable, breathable, and well-suited for thoughtfully selected interior applications.

 

Key points to share:

Light marks can be gently cleaned

The surface is meant to be lived with

Subtle patina over time is expected and valued

 

This reframes durability as longevity, not resistance.

Use Samples Strategically

Samples are tools — not guarantees of exact replication.

 

Guide clients to understand that:

Samples represent direction, not exact duplication

Scale, light, and application affect the final result

Approved samples set intent, not uniformity

 

Encourage viewing samples in the actual space whenever possible.

Position Cost as Craft

 

Plaster pricing reflects:

Material development and testing

Skilled hand application

Time, layering, and curing

 

It is closer to commissioning custom millwork or stonework than selecting a standard wall finish.

This helps clients contextualize value appropriately.

 

When Clients Hesitate

If a client expresses concern, it’s often about uncertainty rather than the material itself.

 

Helpful responses:

“This finish is about atmosphere rather than precision.”

“We’re choosing this because it will elevate how the space feels.”

“It’s a material you notice more the longer you live with it.”

 

Confidence from the designer builds confidence in the client.

 

Our Role as a Studio

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We partner with designers to:

Clarify finish direction

Support material selection

Provide samples for alignment

Execute the work with care and intention

 

We’re here to support you in selling plaster thoughtfully — and delivering it beautifully.

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For additional guidance or project-specific questions, we’re always happy to advise.