Living Walls

Limewash Paint has been around for thousands of years. It is a truly wonderful traditional material that ages beautifully, and will continue to patina years after. La Rosa Colours Limewash Paint is made with traditional European techniques, using the finest, most sustainable mineral-based ingredients, composed of hydrated aged lime and zero VOC pigments. It creates subtle movements with natural color variations in a matte finish on interior and exterior surfaces.

Limewash is a thinner material applied with a brush, allowing it to soak into porous surfaces. Plaster, by contrast, has a thicker, paste-like consistency and is applied with a trowel to create a solid layer that can be smooth or textured. Our limewash paint provides a matte coating with soft tonal variations, while plasters can be used as either a base coat or a final finish—ranging from coarse to smooth to glossy, depending on the type of plaster and the application technique. Both lime-based plasters and limewash are breathable, allowing moisture to pass through the surface. While both finishes offer good durability, plasters are more resilient, and can even be used in high-moisture areas such as showers, and also floors.

Tadelakt is designed for use in wet areas like showers, tub surrounds, and backsplashes. It can also be used for decorative dry area applications, and outdoors. It is very durable, breathable, low maintenance, and water resistant.

Color Atelier Tadelakt is available in a curated color palette and comes pre blended with dry mineral pigments. Simply add water and mix. You can view the full palette on our Colors page: https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/collections/colors(https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/collections/colors) Custom color requests may be available with production approval and a minimum order quantity. Please email us to learn more and to place an order. Experienced users can also tint Tadelakt on site using zero VOC pigments or dry mineral pigments. Do not exceed 10 percent pigment by total product volume.

Yes, we do. Custom Tadelakt colors require a minimum order of seven pails, which is the smallest batch size available for pigment blending. Color Atelier Tadelakt comes pre-blended with dry mineral pigments and requires only the addition of water for mixing. Please note that all custom color requests are subject to production approval. To receive an order estimate, please email us your surface square footage and desired color, and our team will be happy to assist.

Not always. Our plasters and pigments consist of natural ingredients, and there can be slight variation between batches. For that reason, we recommend placing orders for the same job all at once, if possible, for ensuring the color consistency.

We practice contemporary application techniques with stainless steel and chrome trowels, as opposed to the stones used in the old times. Our line of highest quality tools, custom made in Italy for Color Atelier, do a fantastic job, closing the pores, compressing and burnishing the finish. A compression trowel c(https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/trowel-initial-compression-closing)an be used for the application of Base and Tadelakt coats. A chrome treated bianko trowel (https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/chrome-trowel-white-plasters)would be ideal when using white and light colored plasters to avoid black burnishing marks.

Yes, Color Atelier Limewash Paint can be applied on exterior brick, concrete, stone, stucco and masonry surfaces, achieving a mineral matte finish with soft tonal variations, and comes in a beautiful range of colors. It absorbs into the wall allowing the walls to breathe and keep the moisture out. It is a truly wonderful traditional material that ages gracefully, and will continue to patina years after. Lime gets better with time, it will fade but will not chip or peel. Darker colors will show more patina which adds a charm and an aged look. Sealer topcoat would be optional, and is recommended depending on the surface. The proper curing of the exterior walls is crucial, and it is essential to ensure they remain dry. Therefore, it is advisable to monitor the weather forecast to confirm at least 72 hours of no rain.

Color Atelier Lime Paint has a traditional limewash consistency, which is naturally more fluid than conventional latex paints. The liquid consistency can vary between colors - deeper, more pigmented shades tend to be thicker, while lighter tones are thinner. This variation is normal for our mineral-based paints, as the pigment load affects viscosity. Before use, stir the lime paint thoroughly, as natural settling may occur at the bottom of the container. If the paint feels too thick, you can add up to 10% water to achieve a smoother, more workable consistency. For most primed drywall surfaces, we recommend using our light-to-medium colors as-is, without dilution. On more porous surfaces such as brick, stone, or concrete, adding water can create a more translucent, soft-washed finish, if desired

Color Atelier Lime Paint is available in a carefully selected range of over 76 unique colors, in addition to our exclusive designer capsule collections. It can also be tinted to any color with zero VOC pigments or universal tints. Our color "Natural" serves as the untinted variant of Lime Paint and is recognized as our purest white.

Yes, we do. If you have a color that works better with your project we are happy to create that custom color for you. You may order here. P(https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/lime-paint-custom-color-match)lease contact us for further custom color inquiries.

No, whites and lighter colors have a more subtle movement quality in the finish application, whereas darker colors have more textured appearance to them. In order for increasing the movements with light colors, layering two shades in the application is a helpful method; usually a darker color goes for the first coat and the lighter color goes on top as the second coat.

Colors across our products, including limewash paint, limestone plaster, and tadelakt, are matched as closely as possible. However, because each finish has its own texture, sheen, and application method, for example lime paint is typically brushed on while plaster and tadelakt are troweled and tadelakt is also burnished, the same color may appear different from one product to another. In addition, the application of waxes or sealers as topcoats can further affect the final color and appearance. The amount of variation can depend on the specific shade and the application method.

We practice contemporary application techniques with stainless steel and chrome trowels, as opposed to the stones they used in the old times. Our line of highest quality tools, custom made in Italy for Color Atelier, do a fantastic job, closing the pores, compressing and burnishing the finish. A compression trowel c(https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/trowel-initial-compression-closing)an be used for the application of Base and Tadelakt coats. You may switch to a lighter trowel for polishing the Tadelakt finish coats, such as this trapezoid trowel. (https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/trapezoid-polished-trowel)For white and lighter color plasters, we recommend a chrome treated bianko t(https://www.coloratelierpaint.com/products/chrome-trowel-white-plasters)rowel for not leaving any black burns behind.

The limewash layering technique enhances movement and tonal variations, particularly with lighter colors. This is achieved by first applying a darker color, followed by a lighter one. For example, you could use a 150% Wabi for the first coat and a 100% Wabi for the second coat, or Plateau for the first coat and Chevre for the second. You have the option to choose two complementary colors from our palette for layering or to select a single color in two different strengths.

Not always. Our paints and pigments consist of natural ingredients, and there can be slight variations between batches. For that reason, we recommend placing orders for the same job all at once, if possible, to ensure color consistency.

No, our Lime Paint naturally comes in a mineral matte flat sheen, and is the only option which gives it such authentic character.  To achieve a soft sheen, you can burnish our lime paint using a extra fine grit sanding sponge, or a clean venetian trowel. Burnishing is possible if the walls are smooth.

Yes, you can use latex paints directly on top of Color Atelier Limewash Painted walls, without any special preparation, however priming with a water-based primer would be necessary.

Touch ups can be done by re-coating the damaged area with Color Atelier Lime Paint in the same color, from the original container if possible; orders placed at different times can have color variations. Lime Paint should be blended with your brush strokes on your previously lime painted walls. For touch ups, always use the lime paint in a very thin manner; this will avoid the lime built up. In general, touch ups for lighter colors can be easier to handle vs. darker colors. If multiple sections of a wall have been damaged and need repair, re-coating the entire wall would be a more effective solution. If you have stains on your walls, first you should try cleaning it up with soapy warm water as much as you can, then touch it up with lime paint over it. This should take care of the stains.

Yes, if our Lime Paint is applied over smooth plaster walls, it can be polished to a shine much like a plaster finish. You can polish with using an extra fine sanding sponge, and or a clean, lint free cloth, lightly polish the surface in circular motions. For a more polished look use a “burnishing trowel”, move across the surface with a half circle motion while applying pressure. On textured surfaces, it can not be polished, Lime Paint provides a matte, suede-like finish instead. To polish, we recommend applying two coats of Lime Paint over smooth plaster walls. “Polishing” or “Burnishing” will warm up the color of the Lime Paint, create more movement and add sheen when viewed at an angle. Walls will have a beautiful glow to them.