Hi. Any help welcome. I ordered furniture and had someone paint venetian plaster over my fireplace. I wanted red but was told that I could never get a true "red" so therefore I am left with a salmon/paprika color that I despise; not to mention that I had to send my furniture back because it was too large for the room.

After going through a decorator that measured a floor plan too small -- recommended a painter that is too busy to come back and fix the wall color, I am taking matters into my own hands.

I have a warm chocolate wall to wall rug in the family room. Large Sliding Glass door on the left of room. The center is a fire place with an aged antique cream finish, 2 art work bookcases on either sides with the same finish and on the right wall is a large built-in entertainment center with the same antique faux.

I just purchased a brown sectional. What color should I paint this room (family room) and can I paint over the one Venetian plaster portion? I am thinking either red for the walls? and if any of you agree, any specific red color suggestions or should I go with the restoration hardware blue/brown look? If so, what color blue? I am very afraid of the room looking monochromatic so am therefore picking bold colors. Any insight would be so helpful. I'm going crazy over this.

First, I am so sorry about how you thought you had this all taken care of only to find out it's not. I don't know about painting Venetian plaster & people will pipe up with their favorite reds, so hang in there.

When I was picking a red for my DR, i brought home every red sample that I could find - eliminated a lot because of the lighting in the room & wanting the red to go with the natural oak woodwork. Before I made my final choice, I waited until I found my window treatments. Good thing I did because it changed the red again.....

Sometimes I am successful when I find the color I want in sheets/tablecloths/pillows/etc. Then I take it to the paint store and say "Match this please"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 117becca,

Are you sure it was a Venetian plaster that was applied? VP is troweled not brushed on.

Secondly, the person who did the finish is not a professional if they told you that you cannot get a true red. That is not true. Look at this site for some examples www.faux-mural-gallery.com

Also, did you see a sample before the work was started? If you did and the color is not the same, you should get your money back.

Kathy is right, venetian plaster can be tinted to any color. Provided you use the proper product for it. A paint store may either not have the know how, or the product to allow them to get certain colors. Most likely this has been the case. The painter was trying to make a color in a base not deep enough for the tint. There are plenty of high quality plasters to get exactly what you need. So if that changes things go for the red plaster.
Secondly, if the plaster has not been waxed at all, then usually a light scuffing is appropriate then prime and paint over it.
-Dan