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Clay Plaster – The Benefits Therein

By Chet Zebroski

As we created the natural light in our hallway via a built-in cabinet/art niche, we also turned our attention to improving the layout and function of the adjacent bedroom, soon to become Den.  The existing bedroom plan was odd, in that it didn’t provide a resting place for the open door among other issues.  So, we took the opportunity to revise the layout.

den before and after

By eliminating an existing closet we expanded the sense of space in the room.  And, by placing a new smaller closet next to the door opposite the built-in cabinet, we created an area along one side of the room for clothing storage.  This tactic created a larger sense of space within the same footprint.  To soften the atmosphere we introduced elliptical arches into the space.  But, the real joy we discovered was in the finish material of the walls:  American Clay Plaster.

This wall finish is natural, unlike modern paint.  It’s base is clay and natural minerals are used for color.  Odorless?  Well, there are no toxic fumes, but there is a joyful wisp of ionization as the clay interacts with the atmosphere in the environment.  We’re all familiar with this smell, or aroma.  It’s similar to Petrichor, the smell in the air just after a fresh rainfall.  The atmosphere in the rooms finished with clay plasters involve a natural interaction regarding humidity levels.  So, there are many reasons to choose this finish to enhance our indoor air quality and sense of space.

There are contractors out there available to apply this finish.  I’ve read the costs are coming in at around three times the cost of painting for the basic finishes, more for stenciling and other detailing.  The options are vast, so pricing varies depending on complexity.  Being on a tight budget and having more time, experience, and confidence, we decided to apply the finish ourselves.

I won’t bore you with the details of the application.  But, will provide a number of photos to share the process.  It truly transforms the sense of space far beyond simple paint.  You can actually sense it, if you pay attention.  Working with the material is pleasant.  There is no fear of chemicals during prep, application, and clean up.  All natural, water based clay plaster with minerals added as a colorant.  Also, in these photos, we share a technique for softening the sense of space by use of elliptical arches. The use of the arches in this room helped to soften and define the space while keeping it open.

Home Design – Natural Daylighting

By Chet Zebroski

Once the water intrusion, air infiltration, and insulation solutions were installed in our crawl space, we moved our attention onto interior improvements.  With the desire of opening up circulation and providing natural light into a dark hall, we started by removing a door and related framing to allow additional daylight to enter the hall space from the Living Room.

We considered adding a skylight for natural day light, but the roof form over the hall where we’d like to place one is way too complicated.  So, we came up with the idea of borrowing light from a bedroom window and feeding it through a large display niche into the hallway.

What happened is that while contemplating a solution for gaining natural light in the hallway, a friend/client and I bartered an exchange.  I did some design work for him, and he did some glass blowing for me.  His work actually inspired the concept of the niche in the hallway instead of a skylight because we needed a place to display his art.

It occurred to us that by using a niche as a light-source / display-space in the hallway, we could also expand the niche on the bedroom side and provide a built-in cabinet. ~and, avoid the hassle of putting in a skylight.  We wanted to make improvement to the bedroom, too.  So, it’s kind of a two-fer.

We love built-ins and the charm they bring to a home.  So, game on!

By removing a door and related framing from a hall entry, and providing a source of light from an adjacent bedroom’s window via a large niche, we provide natural daylight into what was once a dark hallway.  These pictures should be self explanatory…