Gilded fresco ceiling by Kim Delaney, Delaney Fine Finishes

The Journal

Notesondecorativeartistry.

Essays on the materials, techniques and quiet philosophy behind bespoke decorative finishes.

Venetian Plaster

The Quiet Power of Venetian Plaster

Why the burnished lime surfaces of old Venice remain the most quietly luxurious way to finish a wall, and how a bespoke plaster is made.

May 2026 · 6 min read

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Verre Églomisé

April 2026 · 7 min read

Verre Églomisé: The Art of Reverse-Gilded Glass

One of the rarest of the decorative arts, the practice of laying gold leaf behind hand-worked glass, and why it brings a jewel-like light to a refined interior.

Classical hand-painted ceiling mural of a goddess on a golden chariot by Kim Delaney

Murals

March 2026 · 7 min read

Commissioning a Hand-Painted Mural: A Guide for Designers and Collectors

How a bespoke mural comes to life, from first conversation to finished wall, and what designers and collectors should know before they begin.

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