What is “faux finishing”?
Faux (pronounced “foe”) is the
French word for “false”, or
“imitation”, hence the terms “faux bois”
(false wood) or “faux porphyry”
(false stone).
Faux finishing is the process of
creating illusions of depth and
complexity on a given surface, using
paint, glaze, plaster and a host of other
materials, which are applied with a wide
range of tools.
In addition to imitating the look of
different materials, faux finishing
can simulate age or patina, making
brand new walls look centuries old.
The art of faux finishing is a collection
of age-old, carefully guarded secrets,
handed down from master to apprentice,
who were members of the
ancient, exclusive Guilds
combined with the new techniques currently
being discovered and used today.
Faux finishes expertly imitate the
look of cost-prohibitive and rare materials
like tropical hardwoods, exotic
marble or gilding at a fraction of
their expense, while also preserving
valuable natural resources.
These arts have been around since
the time of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks
and Romans, on through the Renaissance
and Baroque periods, up our present day’s
resurgence of interest. However,
far from there being “nothing new under the sun”,
the materials and techniques of today
allow us to create fantastic works of art
both efficiently and economically,
making faux finishing an attractive, unusual and
highly desirable design option for your home or
workplace.
