Here is a look at some of our work in the terrific new New Orleans Mexican seafood restaurant, Acamaya, in the Bywater. The dynamic back bar and its shelving needed a striking look but also had to be highly durable. We used Pastellone, which is a lime-based plaster that also mixes in concrete to provide its resiliency. We custom colored the plaster to match the tile around the shelving surround and bar. It has a smooth and lightly polished finish that shows mellow, delicate movement.⁠
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On the feature wall adjacent to the back bar, we delivered a lovely lime paint finish that we custom tinted to match the plaster work. Another wonderful feature is where we applied this lime paint to key areas of the dining area around the tables and private booth. This creates continuity to the space and sets the desired feel for patrons. Also, we used black-toned lime paint on a feature wall in the dining area. It perfectly complements the wall sconces, making them pop as they sit over the subtle movement shown by the paint. The same was used in the common vanity area where the red neon light casts gorgeous shadows on the lime paint. ⁠
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Overall, the elements we delivered help create the restaurant’s slick and contemporary look that is, at the same time, still cozy with a traditional Mexican coastal vibe! Sylvia T Designs is the preeminent decorative arts and plaster firm in the Gulf South. Restaurants, bars, and hotels are among our specialties! Let us know how we can make your hospitality spot a work of art!⁠
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Thanks to our friends @kalimera_construction⁠
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Be sure to check out @acamayanola and chef @anabanana_castro⁠
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More soon… ...

Here’s a look at a stunning plaster finish we delivered on a residential foyer’s barrel vault ceiling. The homeowner wanted something gorgeous that would grab your attention and point it towards the vaulted ceiling upon entry into the home. This is Seta (“silk”) plaster that works tremendously in both classic and contemporary (and everything in between) spaces. What makes it special is that it contains milled marble. This creates a shimmering effect reminiscent of light on silk – something that can be a bit more subtle than metallic plasters. Shots shown here include the ceiling with both the room’s accent lights on and off as well as the beautiful play from the front door’s natural light.⁠
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In the right hands, Seta plaster can be custom tinted to any color. This is what we did here, creating a tint that matches the color of the painted foyer walls and much of the rest of the home, tying the whole space together. Of course, beyond the expert color work, the application of plaster on a barrel vault ceiling like this, reaching heights of twelve feet, requires great skill, knowledge, and teamwork. Something we have in spades here at Sylvia T Designs!⁠
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Sylvia T Designs is the premier plaster and decorative arts firm in the Gulf South region! If Seta plaster might be a fit for your project, reach out to us! We are experts in all-things decorative and functional plasters. So, we can steer you in the right direction for whatever material and approaches will help you realize your vision. Let us know how we can make your space a work of art! ...

Sylvia T Designs has been in business delivering top decorative arts finishes for nearly 30 years! Since day one, when Sylvia started out as one-woman-show working out of her home to the stellar full-time team and terrific shop space, showroom, and distribution warehouse we have today, the company has been leading the way in this part of the world. From our masterful decorative and functional plaster finishes to our beautiful murals, stencils, gilding, cabinetry and furniture finishing, and more, Sylvia T Designs is the premier decorative arts firm in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Gulf South region!⁠
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Not only are we proud of our work, which speaks for itself, but we also take great pride in our dedication to building careers for women in the decorative arts. This takes shape in our Artisan Training Program where team members start as an “Artisan Assistant” then progress to “Artisan Apprentice.” After demonstrating great skill in application, superior product knowledge, project management ability, and a passionate dedication to their craft, they are promoted to full “Artisan.” This of course, is a nod to our work “in the trades” and its important history and legacy of building this part of the world. ⁠
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Certainly, we would be nowhere without our wonderful suppliers! That also goes for our incredible team/fam of all female artisans! And, of course, the great gratitude we have towards our clients who have trusted us with the privilege of working in their spaces for nearly three decades! We have been Honoring Tradition and Progress all this time! Whether your project is large or small, commercial or residential, historic or new construction, let us know how we can Make Your Space a Work of Art!⁠
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To see more on the history of Sylvia T Designs, click the link in our bio!⁠ ...

Here is a super cool project that blends old and new! The owners of this historic Uptown New Orleans home have a largely contemporary style. But they love the traditional look of the dining room’s plaster crown molding, ceiling medallion, and rope plaster details. They wanted to add a modern bit of pizzaz to the room! We delivered this fun wall finish boasting a striking perceived texture. It perfectly plays off the dark navy paint in the adjoining parlor. We custom-colored the lime-based Marmorino plaster in two distinct tones – one a soft white and the other matching the parlor’s navy color. We applied the colors together to create this dynamic finish! We also painted the decorative plaster details draping the rope plaster. This effectively ties in the chandelier and incorporates the ceiling into the overall design aesthetic.⁠
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Sylvia T Designs is the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Gulf Coast’s leading full-service decorative arts firm. Our expertise in delivering the right decorative and functional plasters is the best in the business! We are also your color experts! Whether in historic or new construction, let us know how we can make your space a work of art! ...

This was an interesting project… We were called in to “repair” a wallpaper installation over in Alabama. The wallpaper is Papier Chinois and is meant to mimic traditional wallpaper looks from the 18th century. Because the paper is handmade and handpainted, the seam lines do not perfectly match-up between the panels. This is part of the beauty and style of the wallpaper and is desirable. However, likely due to a faulty installation, the design elements (in this case the foliage) did not match up neatly as they should. ⁠
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We were brought in to make the elements – branches, leaves, and flowers – line up correctly by handpainting the needed connections as well as the background where needed. This required significant attention to detail, great pre-planning, and meticulous painting technique to execute! A big part of this was not only the painting itself but the expertise required to seamlessly match the colors originally on the paper – both as part of the design elements and the background. We corrected the mis-lineups, painted new branches, leaves, and flowers, and painted over the areas that needed to be corrected with the beautifully matched background color!⁠
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Sylvia T Designs is an expert firm in dealing with color! Whether we are custom color matching for our decorative and functional plaster finishes, delivering handpainted elements in our mural work – or a unique project like this, or you simply need professional color consultation for your project – our mastery of color is unparalleled. Let us know how we can make your space a work of art!⁠
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Pictured – the first three photos are overall finished looks. The last two show close-up examples of how the elements were misaligned. See our current IG Reel for more! ...