A Tuscan Spa Retreat

Finishes • Before & After Transformations • Close up

A Tuscan Spa Retreat

A typical bathroom got a beautiful renovation and in the process a Tuscan spa-retreat was born.

The walls were originally a solid flat yellowish hue. This coordinated with the tile work and curtain decor; however, it didn’t complete the true Italian ambiance.

Here is the 3-layered colorwash finish that was proposed against the original paint.

My client called me in to “amend” the walls. The challenge was to use the basecoat that was already there and it was not the eggshell or pearl finish (or higher sheen) on which I usually work. The decorative painting had to coordinate with the elaborate, Italianate tile-border along with the minimalist subway tile below.

The finish had to incorporate some gray with yellow without being too cold and balance between cool and warm tones.

After  — an even more subtle, layered colorwash treatment was applied than was first proposed. This gives the look of a refined, aged wall with Tuscan inspired character.

Fortunately, it worked!

My client had the brilliant idea to carry the colorwashing up onto the ceiling, which was just flat white ceiling paint and was visually jarring with the completed walls.

We did this in stages to ensure and validate the next step.

The bathroom is luxurious and one would certainly feel like they were transported to Tuscany while relaxing in the spa jacuzzi. What a gorgeous retreat it has turned out to be. No need to travel to Italy when you have such a retreat at home.