VENETIAN PLASTER
Venetian plastering Edinburgh
Polished marble-effect finish in Italian tradition. Marmorino, Stucco Veneziano and modern polished plasters. Residential and commercial across Edinburgh.
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EDINBURGH · SPECIALIST FINISHES
Specialist Decorative Finishes Edinburgh
Venetian plaster, microcement and decorative wall finishes — the technique-led side of decorating, applied across Edinburgh and Scotland since 1959.
4.9 / 5average rating
175+verified reviews
1959est. — 65 years of craft
£10 millionpublic liability cover
Welcome to Borthwick Specialist Decorative Finishes
Borthwick Decorators is Edinburgh's established specialist for decorative wall finishes — Venetian plaster, polished plaster, microcement, limewash and Stucco Veneziano. We apply these techniques across Edinburgh, Scotland and London for both residential and commercial clients, with the heritage credentials and trade accreditations to work on listed buildings and conservation projects.
The technique-led side of decorating
Specialist decorative finishes are the techniques that turn a wall from a painted surface into an architectural feature. Polished Venetian plaster catches light like marble. Traditional limewash gives a period property a breathable, sympathetic finish in keeping with its original character. Microcement gives bathrooms and kitchens a seamless contemporary finish. Each technique has its own material chemistry, its own application sequence, and its own audience.
We have been applying these finishes from our Edinburgh base on George Street since 1959. Borthwick is a full decorating company — not a single-technique specialist — which means specialist finishes are delivered as part of a coordinated project that includes the surrounding decoration, joinery preparation, and integration with the wider scheme. For interior designers and architects: we work to drawings and to the finish-level specifications you write into the brief.
AWARD WINNING
2025 Cultural Renovation Project of the Year
2025 Residential Category
2024 Private Domestic (Pre-1919) Project of the Year — Contract Manager 2024
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TECHNIQUES
Hand-applied plaster and decorative finishes
We work across the full range of specialist wall finishes — from Venetian polished plaster to modern microcement, limewash, and Stucco Veneziano. Each technique has a different application sequence, a different finish character, and different cost and durability profiles. The right finish depends on the property type, the room use, and the architectural context.
The links below take you to our dedicated city pages for Venetian plastering in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. For other techniques — microcement, Stucco Veneziano, limewash — get in touch directly and we will arrange a site visit.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Who we work for across Edinburgh
Edinburgh has one of the densest stocks of Georgian and Victorian period property in the UK — New Town terraces, Marchmont and Morningside tenements, Stockbridge villas, listed buildings throughout the city centre. Many of these properties were originally finished in lime-based materials, and conservation officers in the City of Edinburgh consistently specify breathable, period-correct finishes over modern alternatives.
Equally, Edinburgh’s contemporary residential market — New Town lateral conversions, Stockbridge apartments, modern Leith homes — has driven demand for Venetian plaster and polished plaster as sophisticated focal-wall finishes. And the city’s commercial hospitality sector (hotels, restaurants, reception spaces) has been a meaningful share of our specialist finishes work over the last decade.
- Listed buildings + conservation areas Conservation officer-specified breathable finishes on Edinburgh's Georgian terraces, Victorian tenements and listed properties.
- Residential New Town townhouses, Stockbridge conversions, Morningside villas — Venetian and polished plaster as a focal architectural finish.
- Hospitality + commercial Edinburgh hotels, restaurants, reception spaces — CHAS + SafeContractor accredited; programmed around operating hours.
- Specifier audience Interior designers and architects — we work to drawings, finish-level briefs, and on-site sample boards.
OUR FINISHES
The decorative finishes we offer
Each finish links through to its dedicated city page where relevant; for less-common techniques get in touch directly.
POLISHED PLASTER
Polished plaster
Modern polished plaster product family applied in thin layers, burnished to depth and sheen. Wall and ceiling installations.
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MICROCEMENT
Microcement
Seamless contemporary finish for walls, floors and wet rooms. Polished concrete look without the structural weight. Kitchens, bathrooms and commercial spaces.
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LIMEWASH
Limewash
Traditional limewash for breathable, matt, period-appropriate exterior and interior finishes. Conservation projects.
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STUCCO VENEZIANO
Stucco Veneziano
Traditional high-gloss Italian formula. Hand-burnished to mirror sheen. Heritage feature walls and focal points.
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PERIOD + LISTED WORK
Period and listed-building work
Borthwick’s core strength on specialist finishes is the period and listed-building market. We have been applying polished plaster and decorative finishes to Edinburgh’s Georgian and Victorian property since 1959. Conservation officers across the City of Edinburgh Council planning team know our work; we have ongoing relationships with Historic Environment Scotland-supervised projects.
Our trade accreditations — CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor, PDA and SDF — make us viable for listed-building work, council-supervised conservation projects, and the more demanding heritage specifications. For interior designers and architects writing finish-level briefs into a conservation project: we work to drawings, attend site meetings, and provide on-site sample boards before application begins.
COVERAGE
Edinburgh coverage + city-specific finishes
Edinburgh is our base for specialist decorative finishes. We also deliver dedicated regional coverage — Venetian plastering in Glasgow, plus Venetian plastering in London — and we cover Perthshire, Stirling, Fife, Dundee, East Lothian and wider Scotland on request. See our Edinburgh hub for sub-locality coverage.
FAQ
Common questions about decorative finishes
What decorative finishes do you offer in Edinburgh?
Venetian plaster (Marmorino + Stucco Veneziano + polished plaster), microcement, limewash and traditional decorative plastering. The choice of finish depends on the property type, room use, and architectural context — we advise during the initial site visit.
Is Venetian plastering suitable for older Edinburgh properties?
Yes, with caveats. Venetian plaster sits beautifully against the high ceilings and proportions of Edinburgh's Georgian and Victorian rooms. For listed properties or conservation areas, we discuss conservation officer requirements during the consultation — some interiors need substrate preparation before Venetian plaster; others welcome it directly as a focal feature.
How much do specialist decorative finishes cost?
Cost varies significantly by finish type, surface area, substrate condition, finish-level and access. Limewash and microcement are typically the most accessible; Stucco Veneziano and high-gloss Venetian finishes sit at the premium end. We provide written quotes after a site visit — get in touch and we will arrange one within a working day.
Do you work on commercial properties in Edinburgh?
Yes — commercial decorative plastering is a regular part of our practice. We work on Edinburgh hotels, restaurants, reception spaces, retail and offices, programmed around operating hours where required. We are CHAS, SMAS and SafeContractor accredited for commercial sites.
Can decorative finishes be applied to existing painted walls?
Most can, with proper substrate preparation. Existing painted walls typically need cleaning, sanding, and a primer/key coat applied before specialist finish application begins. Uneven walls may need skim-plastering. We assess substrate condition during the consultation visit.
Do you cover areas outside Edinburgh?
Yes — we maintain dedicated Venetian plastering coverage in Glasgow and London, and we cover Perthshire, Stirling, Fife, Dundee, East Lothian and wider Scotland on request. See the dedicated city pages above for regional finish specifics.
Accreditations & memberships
Public liability insurance to £10 million.
PDA
Painting & Decorating Association
SDF
Scottish Decorators Federation
SSIP
Safety Schemes in Procurement
Trusted Trader
Edinburgh — Trading Standards Vetted
SafeContractor
Independent H&S Verification
CHAS
Contractors Health & Safety
SMAS
Safety Management Advisory
PASMA
Mobile Access Towers
IPAF
Powered Access (PAL)