--- title: "Level Five Design — Painters | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/level-five-design-pfvwus-pf~277018963 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~277018963.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Level Five Design" category: ["Painters"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0bc34658008db08b_3095-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "362 Henry St., Oakland, California 94607, United States" latitude: 37.8071 longitude: -122.2851 phone: "(510) 735-9212" website: http://www.levelfivedesign.com rating: 5 review_count: 4 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 98 last_updated: 2026-09-06 --- # Level Five Design Original Houzz profile: [Level Five Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/level-five-design-pfvwus-pf~277018963) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Painters - **Location:** Oakland, CA - **Serves:** San Francisco, Bay Area - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (4 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - 1,000 Ideabook Saves - Offers Custom Work Level 5 Design specializes in the design and application of creative wall finishes using eco-friendly paints and plasters. 
 We work with designers, architects, and residential clients to design custom finishes that bring beauty and value to commercial, hospitality, institutional, and residential projects. Level 5 combines artistic innovation with pioneering material science to offer the broadest palette of cutting edge and traditional wall finishes available. We continually experiment with new eco materials to push the envelope of what is possible in wall finish design. We are guided by our passion for designing exceptional finishes using the finest materials, that bring character, context, and design to wall surfaces. Rye Hudak, founder of Level 5 is a second-generation painter and decorator. He holds a degree in visual studies from Dartmouth College, and studied at the Art Institute of Florence and La Cipressaia Studio in Montagnana, Italy. Primary artistic influences include Paul Klee, Jean Dubuffet, Anselm Kiefer, and Sol Lewitt. His two decades of experience with paint and plaster and his passion for great design infuse every Level 5 project. ### Services Provided - Texture Painting - Plastering - Site Specific Design ### Areas Served - San Francisco - Bay Area ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Level Five Design | | Address | 362 Henry St., Oakland, California 94607, United States | | Phone | (510) 735-9212 | | Website | http://www.levelfivedesign.com | | License Number | CA License \# 951469 | | Followers on Houzz | 98 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — http://www.facebook.com/Levelfivedesign - LinkedIn — http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rye-hudak/3/869/304 ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Level Five Design](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/level-five-design-pfvwus-pf~277018963) - **Website:** http://www.levelfivedesign.com - **Phone:** (510) 735-9212 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2025), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 4 reviews **★★★★★ — Robert Bentley, April 2024** > Everything was perfect. We liked their total professionalism and knowledge. I would definitely recommend them and use them again. **★★★★★ — magnusschevene, Sept. 2013** > Rye's work was exactly what he promised. He provided a white Venetian plaster for clients of ours, and they could not be more pleased. He was honest about what was possible with the material, and guided us to excellent alternatives in areas with high moisture content. Above all, his work is truly beautiful. **★★★★★ — mbeynon, Jan. 2013** > Rye from Level Five Design recently completed a Venetian plaster finish on a tall (14ft high) fireplace column in our living room. He was able to take my idea and make it come to life even better than I expected. Rye was a pleasure to work with and throughout the process I was impressed with his attention to detail and craftsmanship. Everyone who steps into the room remarks on the amazing results. **★★★★★ — sharon malcolmson, Nov. 2012** > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHPnD\_MptVo > This link will show the Venetian plaster installation Level Five Design completed at my Montecito home, in one week. It transformed a narrow, nearly 30' wall into an organic art piece. The highly reflective wax finish created the illusion of width and movement, and achieved our original goals. Rye and his staff--with whom I have worked for several years in different locales and am now planning to use for all interior finishes on my home under construction in Arizona--are always on time, careful of all spaces, respectful of my needs for quiet and willing to work around my enthusiastic pets. They have installed clay ceiling finishes, concrete countertops, Japanese plaster, JaDecor fabric finishes, exterior tints and combed plaster and even tinted existing decks and roof tiles! Rye is a master color and texture expert, and always finds the most ecofriendly materials to utilize. Plus, he always leaves behind repair kits for my art moves. I cannot imagine working with anyone else! ## Selected projects - [Pac Heights, Cement veneer plaster](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pac-heights-cement-veneer-plaster-pj-vj~586474) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 10 - Description: The featured finish on this project is a cement finish, applied as a thin veneer in the style of a classic Venetian plaster. The material choice was driven by the necessity for a waterproof, washable finish as the plaster accents were chosen for kitchen, bath, and shower surfaces. - [Pacific Heights, SF Venetian Plaster](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pacific-heights-sf-venetian-plaster-pj-vj~427028) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: The white Venetian plaster is finished with a satin Sapone wax, yielding a subtle reflectivity that plays deftly on the ornate geometry of the space. - [Venetian Plaster, Montecito, CA](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/venetian-plaster-montecito-ca-pj-vj~109544) - Location: Montecito, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: A luminous, reflective bone white Venetian plaster with Sapone satin wax finish serves to expand the narrow hallway and spread light throughout the space. - [Marin County, Venetian Plaster](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/marin-county-venetian-plaster-pj-vj~586431) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: The featured Venetian plaster finish was designed to emulated the qualities of distressed concrete. The smooth topcoat finish is applied in several dappled layers over a coarse basecoat, and finished with a buffed satin wax finish. - [Natural Balance House www.naturalbalancehouse.com](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/natural-balance-house-www-naturalbalancehouse-com-pj-vj~109453) - Location: San Juan Island, WA - Photos: 4 - Description: The traditional Japanese plaster finish brings an organic textural and visual element pairing nicely with the exposed beams and timbers of this San Juan Island retreat. - [Noe Valley, Cochineal Venetian plaster](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/noe-valley-cochineal-venetian-plaster-pj-vj~427041) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: This plaster finish was designed to bring a passionate and visceral magnetism to the space . The plaster was tinted using authentic Peruvian cochineal pigment - (made from the blood of cochineal bugs that feed on cactus) - [Maui, Wailea](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/maui-wailea-pj-vj~4969531) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - [SLACK](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/slack-pj-vj~4969460) - Location: San Francisco, CA - Photos: 5 [See all 8 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/level-five-design-pfvwus-pf~277018963) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/175734264/list/wish-list) — 1 idea [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/ryehudak) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love the mirror! Details to purchase it?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Hello- we installed the black Japanese plaster with rice fibers. I'm not familiar with the mirror's provenance. **Q: material for back of shower** *(in Photo Questions)* I have a bath with sloped ceiling in area of combo tub/shower. The slope on 1 side begins @ 78". The other sides are 8'. Do you know of material/s other than tile that I can place on this sloped area? A: The shower area of this wall was done with "Skimstone", a veneer hybrid cement over cement board, tinted to the color of the surrounding Venetian plaster. **Q: Is the plaster finish reflecting/backlighting the lights?** *(in Photo Questions)* This is stunning! Is the plaster translucent to allow the LED lights to backlight the dome? Or is it so reflective that it's reflecting the chandelier? A: The Venetian plaster is reflecting light from 120 embedded fiber optic light crystals that protrude from the wall surface. The plaster comes up flush to the crystal bezels and casts a lovely reflection on this 13' tall turret room. **Q: Interested in windows. Manufacturer? true divided light? double pane?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: Level Five Design installed Vero-Rialto Venetian plaster in this project. I believe the windows are original. Thanks! **Q: What paint color is this? I'm looking for a soft interior color just like this for my spanish colonial house.** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The Venetian plaster was matched approximately to Ben Moore's "Calm" \# 2111-70. **Q: The light in the bookcases is soft and warm. How can I recreate this look?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: The warm lighting showcasing the extensive collection of Hopi Kachina dolls and Native art is recessed downlighting installed inside the shelving. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-06.*