Exotic paints that shimmer like silk and pearl
Metallic, pearlescent, velvet, and sand-textured paints from Europe, Asia, and Australia, chosen with Gabriel, our specialist, and applied by hand.
Talk with Greg or Gabriel now, until 10 p.m. Text us any time. Greg or Gabriel will reply first thing in the morning.
Exotic paints for homes
Decorative painters for homes north of Indianapolis
Decorative painters for homes
Metallic and pearlescent walls
Metallic and pearlescent walls for homes
Gold, silver, and pearl that catch the light as you walk past, for feature walls, powder rooms, and ceilings.
How much does decorative painting cost?
Exotic paints give a wall the shimmer of metal, the soft glow of velvet or wet silk, or the grain of sand: imported decorative paints, applied by hand for homes north of Indianapolis. Each wall is quoted on its own, fixed and in writing, after a free consultation.
Exotic paints, up close
Our own work, in Indiana homes.
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Golden “wet silk” powder room, Zionsville -
Lavender walls that catch the light, bathroom, Zionsville -
Play area in lime plaster, with boards built into the wall, Geist
Metallic, pearlescent, and iridescent paints
Gold, silver, and pearl catch the light as you walk past, and iridescent paints shift color as you move. Two San Marco products show the range: Cadoro shimmers like silk, and Marcopolo Luxury has a fine metallic grain.
Suede, velvet, sand, and silk
Suede and soft-touch paints feel like fabric under your hand. Velvet and wet silk effects glow in lamplight with a pearly depth. Sand textures and tactile additives give a wall a grain you can feel, and strié and linen carry depth that moves with the light.
Rust and patina
Rust and patina effects, painted by hand, give a wall the layered warmth of weathered iron or the blue-green bloom of aged copper.
Finishes that pair with them
Tips from the studio
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Metallics shine brightest at night
Metallic and pearlescent paints stay subtle by day and come alive under candles and low lamps, which is why they belong in dining rooms and powder rooms.
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A pearl ceiling by lamplight
A pearlescent paint on the ceiling catches lamplight and turns it soft and silvery, like moonlight inside the room.
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A lacquered front door
A front door in high-gloss lacquer, in a deep green or oxblood, greets every guest with a mirror shine. It is the smallest project with the biggest first impression.
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Gold loves a small room
A gold or wet silk finish is magic in a powder room, a niche, or inside a cabinet. In a small space it glows instead of shouting.
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Lacquer a dining room or a library
High-gloss lacquer over perfectly smooth walls reflects candlelight like still, dark water. In a dining room or a library, it makes every evening feel like an occasion.
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Velvet on a bedroom wall
A velvet or suede effect gives a bedroom wall a soft, deep look that seems to take in the noise of the day.
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Stencil a ceiling
A hand-cut stencil on a ceiling, a tone or two off its background, adds a quiet richness that appears only when the light is low and slanting.
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Color the back of a bookcase
A deep or metallic finish on the back of a bookcase gives the shelves depth and makes books and objects glow.
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Stencil one shade apart
A stencil in limewash on limewash, one shade lighter or darker, reads as a whisper rather than a pattern, found only when the light turns.
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Give a mural its own light
A mural lit by a hidden LED strip or a picture light becomes a window at night. We plan the light with the mural, so the two work as one.
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Dining rooms are seen at night
Choose a dining room finish in the evening light you will eat by. Deep, polished, or metallic walls glow by candlelight in a way daylight never shows.
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A ceiling in a surprising color
A pale sky-blue porch ceiling, a terracotta dining room ceiling, a painted sky over a nursery: a colorful ceiling is the least expected thing in a room, and the one people remember.
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A single line can tell a story
A white line drawing on a colored wall, a portrait of your dog, a skyline, or a vine around a doorway, is simple, personal, and impossible to forget.
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Try a bold palette in the powder room first
Love a palette that feels a little outside your comfort zone? Start in the powder room. A small room loves all the attention it can get, and you will see the colors come together at full strength. If you love it there, carry it through the house.
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One bold move per room
A drenched ceiling, a marble wall, or a metallic niche: one confident gesture makes a room memorable, while three compete. We help you choose which one.
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Let a mirror double the glow
A mirror across from a lit, textured wall doubles its glow, and the whole room feels brighter for it.
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Let a pattern turn the corner
A geometric pattern that runs past a corner onto the next wall, or up onto the ceiling, blurs the room’s edges and reshapes it to the eye: a low room grows taller, a narrow hall wider.
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Choose a dark made for mineral walls
Deep colors are the hardest to get right in lime. The Turn, our own collection, is built around its darks, so a moody room starts from colors made for limewash and plaster.
What you can count on, in writing
- What we quote is what you pay.
- Greg or Gabriel is on every job and answers your call.
- Every project carries a five-year workmanship guarantee.
- Under our Change-of-Heart Guarantee, if you dislike a mineral finish within 30 days, we repaint the wall at no charge.
The investment in exotic paints
See samples in your own light, at a free consultation.
| Exotic paints | quoted for each wall |
|---|---|
| Painted faux finishes | from $300 |
What shapes your investment
- Wall condition and repairs
- Ceiling height, ladders, and scaffolding
- Ceilings and hard-to-reach surfaces
- Outlets, crevices, and tight corners a trowel can barely reach
- Niches, curves, and returns
- Which stone we reproduce, and in how much detail
- Framing for mantels and built-ins
- Small projects, which carry a minimum
- Rush schedules and overnight work
Questions about exotic and decorative paints
What is decorative painting?
Decorative painting gives a wall an effect plain paint cannot: the shimmer of metal or pearl, the glow of velvet or wet silk, the touch of suede, the grain of sand, or the look of rust, patina, marble, or stone.
What are exotic paints?
Exotic paints are imported decorative paints with texture or light in them. They range from metallic, pearlescent, and iridescent paints to suede, velvet, and wet silk effects, sand textures, and rust and patina. Cadoro and Marcopolo Luxury, both by San Marco, are two products we use.
Where do metallic and pearlescent paints work best?
On feature walls, in powder rooms, and on ceilings, where light moves across them through the day, and most of all by candlelight.
Is exotic paint the same as a painted faux finish?
Not quite. A painted faux finish, from $300, imitates another material, such as marble or stone. Exotic paints carry the effect in the paint itself, and in the hand of the decorative painter who lays it on. For stone you can feel, see Marmorino and faux stone.
Tell us which wall you picture shimmering
Greg or Gabriel replies today, or by the next business day.
Prefer to talk? Call or text (317) 795-6378.
Thank you
What happens next
- We reply today, or by the next business day at the latest, to check your dates and set a time for our visit.
- We visit with samples in the colors and textures you like.
- You receive one fixed quote, in writing.
Before we visit, gather two or three photographs of looks you love, and keep any fabric, tile, or stone you want us to match nearby.
To speed things up, text us a photo of the space.
Greg and Gabriel