The History of The Master's Touch Decorative Painting & Murals
by Stephen Kallai
I first noticed the art of the decorative finish in 1985 while working as a
painting contractor on the restoration of an elegant turn-of-the-century Victorian
hotel in San Francisco. The ornate lobby featured a number of Corinthian plaster
columns that we painted black. Not long after they were finished, I watched
with amazement as two artists began applying a translucent green liquid over the
black color, and began daubing this glaze with sponges, rags, feathers, and
artist brushes. In a matter of a few days, the formerly simple, black columns
were transformed into a striking green and black marble with white veining.
This seemed like an incredibly clever use of paint to me, and I knew I had to try
my hand at decorative faux painting.
At first, faux finishing just seemed like something fun to do. I didn't realize until
later that decorative painting, as I learned it was called, was a highly respected
trade with a rich tradition. I also learned that demand for decorative finishes was
growing by leaps and bounds.
When I experimented on some furniture as my first faux painting project,
I discovered that I had a very good eye. In fact, in my painting
business I had always taken an interest in color and had taught myself how
to mix and match colors. This ability really came in handy when learning how
to do these new decorative painting techniques. Any faux finish requires making
colors from scratch and you can't rely on the paint store to make them for you.
When I combined that skill with my new understanding of the concept of
glazing, the whole world of faux paint finishes just opened up. In two years my
newly acquired decorative painting skills, combined with my talent as a
colorist, made my services so much in demand that I was able to devote my full
attention to this new craft.
It's hard to believe, but that was more than twenty years and likely thousands of
faux finish paint jobs ago.
Today The Master's Touch Decorative Painting & Murals is a full-scale faux
finish painting company with woodgraining, marbleizing, glazing, lazuring,
murals, gilding, trompe l'oeil, stencilling, antiquing, and color design. A staff of
four, including accomplished Australian fine artist Peta Sanderson and talented
decorative artist Bac Hoang, executes a tremendous range of faux finishes with
precision, professionalism, and creativity. Michelle Kallai manages our
faux paint company and is its chief project estimator.
Initial faux finish bids are complimentary. Samples are provided upon request.
We are licensed decorative painting contractors and are fully insured.
CA Lic. 882022
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Our faux finish work has been featured in many publications, including
Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and The S.F. Chronicle.
Publications
California Home & Design, "Stately Manor," March 2003
Northern California Home & Design, "An English Manor in
Tiburon," September 2000
Decorative Paint & Faux Finishes, Sunset Books,
September 1999
Marin Independent Journal, Home & Garden, "Color Me,"
September 1999
Design Times, April/May 1999
Kitchen and Bath magazine, April/May 1999
Northern California Home & Design,
"Villa Moderna," September/October 1998
Pacific Sun At Home, "Trends in Home Decor,"
Autumn 1998
Interior Design, "Scarlet Fever," May 1998
San Francisco Examiner Magazine, "Opera Give and Take,"
September 1997
Preservation magazine, "Wright Again,"
September/October 1997
Marin Independent Journal, Home & Garden,
"Faux to the Finish," May 1997
Traditional House, August/September 1997
House Beautiful, September 1997
Living Home, CD-ROM, "Redecorating with Faux Finishes,"
March 1996
San Francisco Chronicle, Home Section, "The Big Picture,"
February 1995
Gentry Design, "Paradiso Found," March/April 1995
Architectural Digest, "Pacific Heights Redux,"
February 1993
Designers Illustrated, "To Meta," September 1992
Showcases
Marin Designers Showcase, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996,
1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Hillsborough Decorator Show House, 1999
San Francisco Decorator Showcase, 1995, 1996, 1998,
2005
Workshops
Faux Finishing Workshop, Strybing Arboretum,
San Francisco, February 1998
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