These faux marble projects really showcase what specialist decorating can offer.

For the first project, the client was building an indoor swimming pool and wanted marble columns to be a key feature of the design. However, having looked into the cost and weight of getting real marble columns, he started looking at alternatives. 

To quote Wikipedia ‘Marbleizing’ or ‘faux marbling’ is the preparation and finishing of a surface to imitate the appearance of polished marble. It is typically used in buildings where the cost or weight of genuine marble would be prohibitive. Faux marbling is a special case of faux painting used to create the distinctive and varied patterns of marble – the most imitated stone by far.’

I mention the description as it perfectly describes why I had been commissioned for the project. Arriving on-site, the columns had been pre-prepared, having been made from wire mesh, then plastered and painted. After cleaning everything down and masking everything off, I set about mixing up my glazes. I chose a colour palette that complimented the stone of the home’s exterior, using complimentary shades of yellow ochre, grey, white, and brown. All in all, the work took around a couple of weeks to complete and included the finishing touch, a UV resistant lacquer with a beautiful soft sheen. The clients were over the moon with the results and couldn’t wait to complete the rest of the building works and take that first dip in their lovely new pool.

For the second project, the client had been looking for a decorative solution for an archway and columns, and whilst talking to a friend my name came up. The archway was a divide between the hand-made burr oak kitchen and the dining room, so we felt the colours in the marble needed to be slightly lighter than the worktops but have the same sort of patina. The client’s house had many bespoke elements, and it was a pleasure to add my faux marble painting into the mix. He really appreciated quality craftmanship and saw the marbling as an original piece of art and a genuine talking point, wondering how many people would think it was real marble.

Lee works as a specialist painter throughout Yorkshire and is within easy reach for faux marble painting in Harrogate, Leeds, York, Wetherby, Ripon, Otley, Ilkley, Wakefield, Halifax, Pontefract, Doncaster and all the surrounding areas.