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That’s a wrap! We just finished up our Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop at our New Orleans shop yesterday! What a talented, amazing, and lovely group of humans we had from around the country! The enthusiasm and camaraderie were so contagious and uplifting! We came away so incredibly inspired by them! (Plus, they were all really good at Jazz Hands!🤣🤍)
Attendees completed an intensive four-day training covering Venetian plasters, appropriate techniques, proper substrate requirements, and much more. They are all now certified Venetian plaster installers from Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans and Stucco Italiano. We are honored to help them along their respective plaster journeys and know they will do great things – be on the lookout! We will be offering this workshop again in the fall – dates will be announced soon.
Congratulations to our wonderful attendees! More on this workshop coming soon… Have a great weekend, you all!
Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans
Premium Materials ~ Master Artisans
The US distributor and certified trainers for Stucco Italiano plasters and decorative arts products.
May 16

We’re geared up, excited, and ready to rock with our sold-out Hands-On Venetian Plaster certification workshop kicking off tomorrow in our New Orleans shop space! We will be welcoming plasterers from all over the country to train on real-deal lime plasters!
We will cover Grasello and various forms of Marmorino. Attendees will also learn correct application techniques, color, and, critically, proper substrate. Upon completion, they will receive certification from Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans (GCPA) and Stucco Italiano. GCPA is the US distributor and certified trainer for Stucco Italiano – a world-class plaster and decorative arts manufacturer out of Italy.
Our workshop series is designed to give professional applicators the tools, knowledge, and skill needed to deliver top-quality plaster applications using the highest quality products. GCPA delivers these trainings in concert with our sister company, Sylvia T Designs, the Gulf South’s premier decorative arts and plaster firm, leveraging years of experience in decorative and functional plasters.
We can’t wait to host and train this next group of applicators and help then raise their plaster game to new heights! Stay tuned – more coming soon!
Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans
Premium Materials ~ Master Artisans
May 11

Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans is the exclusive US home to several unique plasters only produced by our friends Stucco Italiano – real lime plasters made by a family run business in Italy. Seta Plaster is one of those! Meaning “silk” in Italian, this special plaster truly resembles the luxurious fabric! It’s a one-of-a-kind decorative finish that combines a slightly rough, matte texture with a soft, iridescent effect. The pearlescent quality becomes visible when light hits the surface, creating a chiaroscuro and metallic effect that mimics the appearance of silk. This effect is achieved using fine-grained mica powders that are incorporated into the material.
The additional pictures show an entry way’s barrel vault ceiling in a New Orleans area residence. This gorgeous finish was delivered by our sister business, Sylvia T Designs, the Gulf South’s premier plaster and decorative arts firm. You can see how beautifully the light plays on the ceiling – both with its accent lighting on as well as with it off, showing stunning texture with both natural and artificial light.
If you are interested in offering your clients something special and truly distinctive, let us know and we will get you going with Seta Plaster!
Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans – Premium Materials – Master Artisans.
Application – Distribution – Training
Apr 17

Marmorino Medium, a classic Venetian plaster, provides a timeless look that is comfortable in nearly any setting and will complement other materials in the space incredibly well! These days, at our sister business, Sylvia T Designs, the Gulf South’s premier plaster and decorative arts firm, it is probably the most popular plaster we have going. It loves walls, stove hoods, and more!
The look of Marmorino Medium is very satin-like. It can show a range of movement from subtle to somewhat bold. It also plays wonderfully with light given its medium grain. Check out the most recent stove hood post on @SylviaTDesigns for a good example.
If you are a plasterer or professional applicator, we will be teaching this extremely popular and beautiful material in our Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop coming in mid-May here in New Orleans. We still have two spots left! Check out our Education and Support page on our website (link in bio) for full details and how to register.
Also, if you are spec’ing a job that calls for plaster, Marmorino Medium is always a great way to go! Reach out and we can get you setup with the material and expert application, if needed. We can also custom color match to Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Farrow and Ball, and just about anything else!
Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans – Premium Materials – Master Artisans.
Application – Distribution – Training
Apr 8

Generally, there are two categories of plaster – decorative and functional. Though, there can be an “overlap” between the two. Decorative plaster, such as Venetian, is often used on walls and ceilings, for instance, and exhibits great beauty. It does “function” in a way, it breathes, adding to its lasting durability. Functional plaster usually refers to materials used in wet applications and high-contact areas. where enhanced durability and, often, stain and moisture resistance are needed. Think showers, baths, counter tops, pool houses, certain kitchen areas (indoor and outdoor), commercial spaces, and more. But functional plasters can also be quite beautiful themselves!
Pictured here is Beton Stucco, only available from Stucco Italiano. It delivers a modern, textured look. It is ideal for high-traffic, high-impact areas. It can be applied to interior and exterior walls, shelves, counters, and even furniture! It is popular in commercial spaces, offices, public buildings, and in residences seeking this progressive aesthetic.
In our Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans “Advanced Functional Plaster Workshop” in June, we’ll teach this great material, its application, and proper substrate. We are Stucco Italiano’s US distributor and official trainer. You can only get Beton Stucco here!
Also pictured in this post, you can see a contemporary retail space where our sister business, Sylvia T Designs, delivered a Beton Stucco finish in the French Quarter of NOLA. It is on the feature wall (blending perfectly with the concrete floor), the display tables, and even the raised logo!
For more about our Advanced Functional Plaster Workshop, its prerequisites, and how to register, check out our Education & Support page on our website, link in bio. It is open to experienced, professional plasterers and those who have completed our “Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop” (coming in May – discounts for both!)
If you’re an architect, interior designer, or contractor interested in spec’ing this unique plaster for your next project, let us know. Also, Sylvia T Designs is always available to bring our unparalleled product knowledge and application skill to any job!
Apr 3

Marmorino Fine, one of the classic Venetian Plasters, adds a touch of elegance to any space! This timeless plaster is equally at home in both traditional and modern settings. Applied by the right hands, it delivers a beautiful high gloss look. It can express lovely movement and handles a wide range of colors well.
In our “Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop,” coming to New Orleans in May, you will have the opportunity to learn this top-quality Stucco Italiano material – something that is sure to be a winner with your clients!
At Sylvia T Designs, the sister business of Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans, we have been loving and applying Marmorino Fine for years (and we would be happy to bring it to your space, too)! Sylvia T Designs is the Gulf South’s premier plaster and decorative arts firm.
If you are a professional applicator interested in learning more, visit our website’s Education and Support page (link in bio.) Also, if you are an architect, interior designer, or contractor, reach out to us to learn more about Stucco Italiano’s Marmorino Fine (and all the other great plasters and decorative arts products they make in Italy) and level-up your plaster game on your next project spec! By the way, we can custom color match plaster from just about anything and can easily match colors by Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Farrow & Ball.
Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans – Premium Materials – Master Artisans.
Application – Distribution – Training
Mar 31

Seeking a modern twist on a classic plaster? Look no further than Marmorino Metallic! It blends the sleek, modern look of metallic with the timeless feel and aesthetic of Marmorino – one of the classic Venetian plasters. It is a very popular material marrying the two worlds of contemporary and traditional.
Here at Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans, we are proud to carry Stucco Italiano Marmorino Metallic. This family-owned, Italian-based manufacturer of real lime plasters and decorative arts materials is nothing short of world-class in quality all while remaining highly price competitive compared to other makers. If you are a professional applicator in the US looking to add this fabulous plaster to your repertoire, let us know and we’ll get you going! Additionally, this is one of the plasters we will cover in our upcoming practical plaster certification workshop, “Hands-On Venetian Plaster,” taking place at our shop in New Orleans this May. For full details and more on how to register, visit our website’s Education and Support page – link in bio.
Pictured here – this is a barrel vault ceiling our sister business, Sylvia T Designs, the Gulf South’s premier plaster and decorative arts firm, delivered in the primary bedroom’s walk-in closet of a New Orleans area residence using Marmorino Metallic. You can see in the three shots how it looks with various amounts of lighting, both natural and artificial. It gives off a lovely glow and demonstrates beautiful motion, giving a dramatic and elegant presence to the ceiling!
Mar 25

How often do you get plans for a job that simply spec “plaster” or, perhaps, “Venetian plaster?” It happens to us all the time at our sister business, Syvia T Designs! Of course, this can mean different things as far as the look and feel the client is really looking for! As a professional plaster applicator, it is critical you know your plasters – what they can and can’t achieve aesthetically and use that knowledge to guide your clients – be they architects, interior designers, contractors, or home or business owners!
Knowing your key Venetian plasters is a great place to start! In our upcoming Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop (May 12-15 in New Orleans), you will learn what you need to know – including proper substrate – to accomplish this. You will learn the three grains of Marmorino plaster – fine, medium, and coarse – as well as Grassello. Proficiency with these four will carry you a long way in the world of plaster! Please note – only two spots remain in the workshop – don’t miss out!
Pictured here – the vaunted and beautiful look of Grassello plaster from Stucco Italiano. This is the highest level of sheen due to the fineness of the grain. This is from a residential job we did at Sylvia T Designs in a high-end residence in the Four Seasons building here in New Orleans. Among other areas in the home, we did the walls, ceilings, and bays in the foyer and entry hall. You can see more on this job here - https://sylviatdesigns.com/news-projects/stunning-plaster-work-in-new-orleans-four-seasons-residence/
Come join us in the Big Easy to learn this look! As part of the workshop, you will generate numerous samples of these plasters that you can show prospective clients. Check out our Education and Support page on our website – link in bio – for more details and how to register!
Mar 17

Plaster Workshops Update! Our Hands-On Venetian Plaster Workshop is nearly full – only two spots are remaining! Also, the Advanced Functional Plaster Workshop has just a few spots left! Don’t miss your chance to come visit us in New Orleans and elevate your plaster game through expert instruction and loads of practical application! You will learn about the different types of plaster, how they perform, and, critically, understanding the proper substrate needed for project success!
Each workshop boasts multi-day training under the guidance of our expert team. You will come away with what you need to know to deliver high-quality plaster finishes for your projects. Additionally, you will generate numerous samples that you can show to prospective clients. You will learn and be certified in Stucco Italiano products – one of the world’s highest regarded real lime plaster and decorative arts manufacturers based in Italy. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase materials at great discounts!
Please note – these workshops are open to professional applicators of plaster or related materials only. We have corporate lodging rates at terrific New Orleans hotels. We are also offering PayPal Pay in 4 options for workshop fees. To see full details, requirements, and how to register, please visit our website’s Education and Support page – link in bio. Hope to see you down here in the Big Easy for some plaster education and fun!
Mar 13

Registration for our Spring/Summer 2025 Hands-On Plaster & Microcement Workshops here in New Orleans is now open! Up your plaster and microcement game and service offerings! Workshops include a certification for students and you’ll produce samples that can be shown to prospective clients. We are offering Hands-On Venetian Plaster and Advanced Functional Plaster Workshops featuring Stucco Italiano products and Introduction to Microcement with Topcret Microcement. Multiple workshops and team discounts are available. To see more details and to register, visit our Education & Support page (link in bio!)
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Feb 26

Beautiful and durable, Microcement is all the rage in Europe and quickly gaining ground here in the US! It is an artisan-applied, hand-troweled material that offers gorgeous modern and classic looks. It is ideal for use in both wet and dry applications and in high-traffic, high-impact areas, making it great in commercial and residential spaces. It is perfect for showers, outdoor kitchens, floors, walls, ceilings, indoor/outdoor areas, countertops, bars, and so much more!
Are you a professional applicator looking to add to your offerings and up your game?!? Registration for our Introduction to Microcement Workshop here in New Orleans, June 4-6, 2025, is now open! This three-day workshop will teach you the ins-and-outs of this fabulous, trending material including the opportunity to practice in a serious hands-on way, create samples suitable for sharing with clients, and learn in-depth about the specific substrate requirements for successful installation. Students will receive an applicator certification from Topcret, the global leader in Microcement, and Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans.
For more information visit our website and check out our “Education & Support” page for full details on this and our two upcoming plaster workshops (great discounts for multiple workshop attendance)! Link is in our bio!
Pictured here – a microcement restaurant restroom in New Orleans. This beautiful finish was applied by our sister business, Sylvia T Designs. It’s the perfect material, both aesthetically and performance-wise for a space like this – it is both stain and moisture resistant and looks terrific! If you are interested in learning about how Microcement can work in your residence or place of business, let us know!
Feb 24

Registration for our two upcoming plaster workshops is now open! Don’t miss your chance to learn from the expert artisans at Gulf Coast Plaster Artisans, powered by Sylvia T Designs! We are offering our Hands-On Venetian Plaster (May 12-15) and Advanced Functional Plaster (June 23-26) workshops here in New Orleans. In both, you will learn various plaster applications and techniques using world-class plasters by Stucco Italiano!
As part of the learning process, you will generate numerous professional level samples that can be shown to prospective clients. Both workshops offer the chance to practice and gain the skills needed to deliver these plaster finishes effectively in your project work. We will also focus on understanding the proper substrate needs for each application – a critical part of ensuring project success!
To see the full details of these workshops and to register for them, please visit our Education & Support page on our website. Link in bio! Workshops are open to professional applicators only. Attendess will also have the opportunity to purchase materials at a great discount! Space is extremely limited!
Please note – registration and more info for our Introduction to Microcement Workshop are coming very soon!
We hope to host you in the Big Easy soon!
Feb 17
