Crown Heights Reno

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November 4, 2007

beauty break

one good thing that happened over the summer was that we started restoring the plaster work on the front parlour ceiling
while there were voices discouraging us from doing so, it was something we both really wanted. (see the march 9th entry)
unfortunately by not doing it immediately, a bit more of the ceiling started to pull away, but not enough so that we considered give up on it. and even though it is costing a bit more to do the extra work, the fact that the majority of the ceiling held up to all the demolition above it, gave us the confidence to proceed.
this project is in a holding pattern right now, as we are going to wait for the floor above to be laid so as not to risk damage to any completed work during that installation

we are thrilled with the results so far

the first step was to remove any loose plaster and secure what was there:

next, all small cracks were patched and the surfaces that were down to the lath were covered with structolite over wire where needed, then the brown coat was applied

some details of the original plaster work and the repair around it

the medallion in this room (left image below) is relatively small and barely salvageable, i am not sure we are going to try to reproduce it given that there is so much going on with the border in the center of the room. the image on the right shows part of a floral border that has pulled away from the surface
i find all of this incredibly beautiful

these images show the two ways that the new decorative work is achieved
the left column shows how the crown molding is reproduced
and the right column shows how the floral patterns are recreated

left column: crown molding template
the device in the upper left image is a metal template created from the profile of the existing molding
it is just dragged across the wet plaster at the top to achieve a perfect match
the bottom image on the left shows the old and the new about to meet

right column: rubber mold
for the detailed floral designs, a rubber mold is made from an existing pattern
it is then pressed into place to create the rest of a design

i can't wait to see this finished
it looks like a fairy tale to me

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Comments

Looks fabulous. I can see why you're putting in the extra investment to save it.

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at November 5, 2007 11:31 AM

Do you know what product was used to make the rubber mould?? I am looking to make reproductions too.
Thanks

Posted by: tomgee at November 5, 2007 12:23 PM

this is gorgeous! looking forward to the photos of it completed.

Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:35 PM

This really is fantastic--and thanks for doing such a great job showing the process! Can you recommend your plaster guy (don't EVEN tell me you figured out this esoteric art as a DIY-er, did you?) We need to do some of the same work. Cheers!

Posted by: Rehab at November 5, 2007 3:40 PM

FASCINATING. Thanks for sharing. Would love the name of your plaster person. We don't have anything like this in our place--its so delicate and whimsy. Would love to --one day--in the very distant future--fabricate a medallion for one of our rooms. Our baby either never had one or ---I fear--lost hers to a ceiling fan.

Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at November 5, 2007 10:21 PM

no
lol
this is not a DIY
(though i briefly considered it)

@ tomgee: i know that there are 2 different materials used to make the mold, one way more expensive than the other but it sets very quickly, i don't know which was used and as i said the work is on hold till the floors go in so i can't ask

@ rehab & homesweetstuy: since we are about to close up and do the floors i am going to hold off on the name until this job is finished, we are so far behind that i (selfishly) don't want to put anyone else's project between us and getting ours done

Posted by: neene at November 6, 2007 7:41 AM