TRADITIONAL
Marmorino + Stucco Veneziano
Traditional Italian formulas applied to walls and ceilings. Choice of matte-to-sheen Marmorino or high-gloss Stucco Veneziano.
Request a quote
EDINBURGH · VENETIAN PLASTERING
Venetian Plastering Edinburgh
Polished, marble-effect finishes for Edinburgh homes and commercial spaces — applied by Borthwick craftspeople since 1959.
4.9 / 5average rating
175+verified reviews
1959est. — 65 years of craft
£10 millionpublic liability cover
Welcome to Borthwick Venetian Plastering Edinburgh
Borthwick Decorators has been applying Venetian plaster, polished plaster and Marmorino finishes across Edinburgh since 1959. We typically work on Georgian townhouses, Victorian villas, contemporary apartments and commercial spaces — from city centre hospitality interiors to New Town and Stockbridge homes.
Edinburgh's established Venetian plastering specialists
Venetian plastering is a transformation — a hard, polished, marble-effect finish that turns plain walls into a focal architectural surface. Applied properly, in thin layers and burnished by hand, it has a depth and light-catching quality that no paint or wallpaper can match.
We have been applying decorative finishes across Edinburgh from our base on George Street since 1959. Venetian plaster is one of the more demanding techniques in the decorating trade — we treat it as part of a full painting and decorating service rather than as a stand-alone speciality, which means we are equipped to handle the prep work, the application, and the surrounding redecoration as one coordinated project.
AWARD WINNING
2025 Cultural Renovation Project of the Year
2025 Residential Category
2024 Private Domestic (Pre-1919) Project of the Year — Contract Manager 2024
View all awards →
TECHNIQUE
What is Venetian plastering?
Venetian plaster is a wall finish of Italian origin, traditionally made from slaked lime and finely-ground marble dust. It is applied in thin layers with a steel trowel, then burnished to a high sheen that mimics polished stone. Variants include Marmorino (matte-to-sheen marble finish), Stucco Veneziano (the highest-gloss traditional formula), and modern polished plasters (broader product family).
It works on walls and ceilings and is enjoying renewed popularity in UK interiors — valued for its tactile depth, the way it catches changing daylight, and its durability compared to paint or wallpaper. The finish is permanent and is sealed against staining; ten- to twenty-year lifespans on residential walls are typical.
EDINBURGH FIT
Venetian plastering for Edinburgh homes and businesses
Edinburgh’s architecture is a particular fit for Venetian plaster. The city’s Georgian and Victorian interiors — high ceilings, generous proportions, plaster cornicing — are exactly the kind of canvas where a polished plaster feature wall has presence. Contemporary New Town conversions and Stockbridge apartments use it as a sophisticated accent. And Edinburgh’s commercial hospitality sector — hotels, restaurants, reception spaces — has driven a meaningful share of the city’s Venetian plastering work over the last decade.
We work across the city: New Town, Stockbridge, Morningside, Marchmont, Leith, Bruntsfield and city centre commercial properties.
- Georgian + Victorian period interiors High ceilings, plaster cornicing, generous room proportions — the architectural backdrop Venetian plaster was designed for.
- Contemporary apartments + conversions New Town and Stockbridge lateral conversions — polished plaster as a sophisticated focal-wall finish.
- Hospitality + commercial interiors Edinburgh hotels, restaurants, reception spaces — CHAS + SafeContractor accredited for commercial work.
- Marmorino + Stucco Veneziano Both traditional formulas in our regular practice — matte-to-sheen marble finish or full polished gloss.
SERVICES
Our Venetian plastering services in Edinburgh
The full range of polished plaster work we deliver across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
POLISHED
Polished plaster walls and ceilings
Modern polished plaster product family applied in thin layers, burnished to depth and sheen.
Request a quote
FEATURE
Feature walls + focal points
Single-wall installations as architectural focal points — living rooms, dining rooms, reception spaces.
Request a quote
COMMERCIAL
Hospitality + commercial Venetian plastering
Hotels, restaurants, bars, retail and offices. Programmed around operating hours; CHAS-accredited.
Request a quote
CONSULTATION
Colour + finish consultation
On-site sample boards, finish-level selection, integration with surrounding decoration scheme.
Request a quote
PROCESS + COMMERCIAL CREDIBILITY
The Borthwick Venetian plastering process
Each Venetian plastering project follows a defined sequence: on-site consultation and finish selection — surface preparation (key to long-term durability) — base coat application — first and second finish coats applied in thin layers — burnishing to the selected sheen — sealing and protection. The whole sequence takes longer than conventional decoration but produces a finish that lasts decades.
For Edinburgh’s commercial sector — hotels, restaurants, hospitality interiors — we work as a fully-accredited contractor. CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor, PDA and SDF accreditation makes us viable for sites where a sole-trader Venetian specialist cannot bid. That commercial scope, alongside our residential heritage work, is what separates Borthwick from single-technique specialist firms.
COVERAGE
Edinburgh coverage + related finishes
We deliver Venetian and polished plaster across Edinburgh — including New Town, Stockbridge, Morningside, Leith, Marchmont, Bruntsfield — and city centre commercial interiors. See our Edinburgh hub for the full sub-locality list. Related decorative finishes pages below.
FAQ
Venetian plastering Edinburgh — common questions
How much does Venetian plastering cost in Edinburgh?
Cost depends on surface area, finish type (Marmorino vs Stucco Veneziano vs polished plaster), substrate condition, and sheen level. We provide written quotes after a site visit — get in touch and we will arrange one within a working day.
How is Venetian plastering different from standard plaster?
Standard plaster is a structural finish — it levels and prepares a wall for paint or wallpaper. Venetian plaster is a decorative finish in itself: applied in thin layers over a properly-prepared substrate, then burnished to a polished, marble-effect surface. The two work together — the underlying wall is still skim-plastered before Venetian application begins.
Can Venetian plaster be applied to existing walls?
Yes, provided the substrate is sound, level, and properly prepared. Existing painted walls usually need a primer/key coat applied first; uneven walls need to be skimmed flat before Venetian application. We assess substrate condition during the consultation visit.
How long does Venetian plastering last?
A properly applied and sealed Venetian plaster finish typically lasts 10–20 years in residential settings, often longer. Commercial high-traffic environments may see shorter lifespans depending on use, but the finish is significantly more durable than paint or wallpaper.
Do you offer Venetian plastering for commercial properties in Edinburgh?
Yes — commercial Venetian plastering is a regular part of our Edinburgh practice. We work on hotels, restaurants, reception areas and retail interiors across the city, programmed around operating hours where required. We are CHAS, SMAS and SafeContractor accredited for commercial sites.
CONTACT — EDINBURGH
Speak to our Edinburgh team.
Borthwick Decorators Ltd93 George Street
Edinburgh EH2 3ES
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)