Old methods for a new look

When it comes to interior paint, the choices used to be simple: flat for walls, gloss for trim. Now there’s a world of do-it-yourself (and seek-professional-help) options that provide striking textures. Here’s a look at the results of the new finish lines:

Satin

Color: Capricorn Royal Satin by Portola, $62 per gallon

Appearance: A pearlescent paint, satin shades look brighter or darker depending on how light strikes it. This reflective quality also affects the appearance of the glimmering finish, which fluctuates between flat and semi-gloss in changing light.

Application: Most commonly used as a trim paint, satin is a little more difficult to apply to walls than ordinary flat latex. Brushstrokes are visible, so apply with a steady hand and an artistic eye.

Milk paint

Color: Turquoise by Sydney Harbour, $32 per kilogram (2.2 pounds)

Appearance: Also known as casein, this lactose-based paint was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for its opaque shades and soft sheen that ages attractively, especially on wood. Superior for period colors in colonial, Scandinavian interiors.

Application: Made with powdered milk, casein must be strained and cannot be stored because it sours. Though walls can be gently cleaned, a protective finish is highly recommended.

Lime wash

Color: Fire Kiln by Portola, $45 per gallon

Appearance: Made with powdered limestone, this old-fashioned formula offers saturated color that mellows over time. The lime “blooms” at the surface, creating a patchy field of subtly mottled color. Providing texture, lime wash is ideal for re-creating the aged look found in French farmhouses and Mediterranean villas.

Application: Ideal for first-time painters, lime wash requires no special technique, only two coats of crisscrossed strokes with a large block brush.

Tuscan wash

Color: Vegas by Portola, $59 per gallon

Appearance: Delicately broken color reminiscent of stone and aged terra cotta, this finish suits classical Spanish and Mediterranean architecture as well as contemporary decor schemes.

Application: A two-step, two-person process, wash is painted in broad strokes with a wide brush as a darker finishing coat of color. The water-based formula has a slower drying time to allow some of the paint to be “ragged” off with a wad of muslin, creating the two-tone effect.

Metallic

Color, Liquid Copper by Sydney Harbour, $90 per liter

Appearance: Copper particles suspended in an acrylic paint base create a rich, reflective metallic surface. With the addition of a patina solution ($25 for 500 ml.) the copper can be made to corrode to a soft-green finish.

Application: Often used on wooden surfaces to match weathered copper, this two-step process (paint, then brush on liquid patina activator) is also used for doors and trim. For interior walls, it provides a rough-hewn, dramatically colored finish.

Distemper

Color: Mulberry stain by Sydney Harbour, $58 per gallon

Appearance: Finely ground chalk and powdered pigments yield delicate yet saturated colors and a velvety look that softens with age. The creamy matte finish adds a cozy warmth to Old World and modern room designs.

Application: One of the oldest paint recipes is also one of the easiest to apply. Despite modern additives that increase durability, the plush finish of distemper, ideal for ceilings, can be a maintenance issue for homeowners with children.

Venetian plaster

Color: Topaz Roman clay by Portola, $45 per kilogram (2.2 pounds)

Appearance: Devised as a way to add a polished-stone look to surfaces where marble can not be laid, this wall finish exudes a cool and classical elegance.

Application: This ancient process — updated by adding pigment to acrylic plaster — is not recommended for the impatient. Venetian plaster is troweled on, then skim-coated. After drying, smooth with fine sandpapers. A final coat of beeswax protects the wall and can be buffed to a highly polished shine.

Glaze

Color: Lime and soda Venetian glaze by Sydney Harbour, $64 per gallon

Appearance: This high-gloss wash adds intensity, translucency and shine to surfaces painted with a low-sheen acrylic color. Commonly used as a textural antiquing medium, glaze can also imitate the 21st century glamour of lacquered walls.

Application: This water-based topcoat, which mimics traditional oil glazes, can be manipulated with rags, sponges and brushes. With a relatively quick drying time, it is a process best practiced by two people.