Hello! Thanks for asking, we love this fireplace too. :) Originally it was all brick, so the homeowner had a contractor build a 2x4 "frame" structure over it and attach sheetrock, to completely cover the brick. (If you took a sledgehammer to it now, you'd find the brick underneath.) Then we skimmed it out with joint compound and primed it. To get the marble look, our artists first laid down a layer of Venetian plaster over all, tinted in a soft white. Then they did subsequent layers of Venetian plaster, working some grey Venetian plaster into the white, to get the marbling. Final step is burnishing it to get the polished/honed marble look.

To get this look yourself, I'd find someone who can build the base structure (if your current fireplace isn't already smooth), and find a local artist (a decorative painter or what we used to call a "faux finisher" back in the day) who is skilled with Venetian plaster. Make sure they've worked with Venetian, since it can be a finicky material, but most experienced decorative artists have done so. If you need to find a local pro, there's an industry trade group called IDAL (International Decorative Artisans League) that I believe has regional listings. Their website is decorativeartisans.org.

Hope that helps!! :D

Lisa Moon,

Paper Moon Painting

Thank you sooooooo much for your detailed answer!! I will check your website for someone local. I think it will work for our fireplace (I put a picture of our current fp just if you’re curious). We are planning to have windows put in On either side of the fireplace and I think your Venetian finish technique will work great for our fp remodel. If you were here, I’d have you come give us a quote!!! Thank you, thank you!!!

Pam