Rich ink-blue Venetian plaster feature wall, entry sequence of the Modern Farmhouse Refresh in Shepherdstown, WV

Case Study

Modern Farmhouse Refresh

A whole-home refresh in Shepherdstown pairing a Venetian plaster feature wall, breathable limewash on the adjacent surfaces, and rift-sawn white-oak slat detailing on the stair rise

For Specifying Trade Partners

A Multi-Finish Signature Install

A Shepherdstown homeowner approached the studio with a multi-surface refresh brief: modern farmhouse bones with cleaner transition points between the entry, the main living space, and the stair rise. The deliverable paired a soft Venetian plaster accent wall in the entry sequence, a breathable limewash across the surrounding living surfaces, and a vertical rift-sawn white-oak slat treatment tying the stair rise into the same architectural vocabulary. Three finish systems on the same substrate, sequenced over five working days, with the substrate-prep and cure windows coordinated across trades so no finish had to wait on another. The walkthrough below documents each finish in the order we applied them (substrate prep, layering, sequencing, and finishing notes) so the trade team has a tangible reference for a coordinated residential refresh.

Location
Shepherdstown, WV
Project Type
Residential, Whole-Home Refresh
Finishes Used
Venetian Plaster, Limewash, Wood Slats
Surface Area
~480 sq ft finished surface
Completion
5 working days, on schedule
Trade Partner
Tier 1, referral from past project
Rich ink-blue Venetian plaster in the entry accent wall, Modern Farmhouse Refresh in Shepherdstown

Finish 01 of 03

Venetian Plaster

The entry accent wall is a soft Venetian plaster in a warm, muted ink-blue: a tonal anchor chosen to deepen the entry sequence without overwhelming the white-oak slat detailing on the stair rise directly opposite. We applied it in four thin layers, each burnished to a different sheen so the surface reads with subtle depth from recessed lighting and from the natural daylight through the entry sidelight.

Process Notes

  • Substrate: Level 5 drywall, sealed with a plaster-compatible primer; moisture reading under 12 percent before trowel application.
  • Base coat applied by stainless steel trowel: full coverage, no telegraphing of seams.
  • Two subsequent coats in the same tinted mineral plaster, troweled in crossing directions to set tonal variation.
  • Final burnish pass with a fine-edge trowel at partial cure, generating the low-luster sheen without waxing the surface.
  • Cure window: 48 hours before the limewash adjacent surfaces were rolled within the same elevation.
View the Venetian Plaster craft page → Download the spec sheet →
Soft limewash sitting-room wall in chalky bone tones, Modern Farmhouse Refresh in Shepherdstown

Finish 02 of 03

Limewash

The surrounding living-room surfaces were specified in a mineral limewash in a chalky bone tone, selected specifically because the home's existing plaster substrate needed a finish that would keep breathing. A sealing finish would have trapped the substrate's residual moisture and risked hairline cracking at the partition seams. The limewash softens the transition between the Venetian plaster accent and the white-oak slat treatment on the stair rise.

Process Notes

  • Substrate: existing plaster wall, tested for breathability; any acrylic primer residue was removed before brushwork began.
  • Brushwork applied in long, loose strokes with a specialty limewash brush: no roller, no spray.
  • Three coats minimum, with each coat burnished into the previous before full dry for tonal saturation.
  • Edges feathered into the Venetian plaster reveal with a 1/8-inch gap, kept clean with low-tack tape and a steady hand.
  • Sealed with the studio's signature matte wax for scrub resistance without losing the mineral matte read.
View the Limewash craft page → Download the spec sheet →
Vertical rift-sawn white-oak slat detailing on the stair rise, Modern Farmhouse Refresh in Shepherdstown

Finish 03 of 03

Wood Slats

Vertical rift-sawn white-oak slats anchor the stair rise, running floor-to-ceiling and continuing in a reduced-height band above the entry console. The slats were hand-finished before installation so every face (front, edges, and backs) carried the same matte hardwax-oil, which is the only way to keep the slats reading consistently as they age in a daylight-heavy entry.

Process Notes

  • Species: rift-sawn white oak, selected for vertical-grain consistency and minimal seasonal movement in the south-facing entry.
  • Each slat hand-finished in a matte hardwax-oil before installation, not after, to ensure the finish sealed all four faces.
  • Mounted on a hidden cleat system with a 3/4-inch standoff, leaving room for a future acoustic backing if the client requests it later.
  • Slats scribed individually to the stair rise ceiling line: no caulk, no shadow gap, no visible fixings from the stair side.
  • Sequenced after the limewash cured fully, so brush drips and limewash dust could not contaminate the wood.
View the Wood Slats craft page → Download the spec sheet →

Project Gallery

From the Install

Ink-blue Venetian plaster accent wall at the entry of the Shepherdstown farmhouse refresh
Venetian Plaster
Chalk bone-tone limewash across the living-room surfaces of the Shepherdstown refresh
Limewash
Vertical rift-sawn white-oak slats anchoring the stair rise in the Shepherdstown refresh
Wood Slats
Detail of the Venetian plaster accent wall, trowel variation in close focus
Venetian Plaster, Detail
Craft detail, clean slat termination at the stair rise ceiling line
Craft Detail

Specifying a residential refresh with two or three coordinated finishes?

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