Limewash and plaster finishes in the East Village, Manhattan are characterful work for Chelsea Limewash Co., in a neighborhood of tenement-era brick walk-ups. We apply breathable slaked-lime limewash, troweled lime plaster, and Roman clay to old brick and converted apartments. Limewash cures by carbonation into calcium carbonate, keeping its vapor-permeable, matte depth rather than sealing the wall. From a walk-up studio to a converted apartment, our crews prep and finish by hand.
The East Village is built on tenement-era brick walk-ups and converted apartments, a dense, low-rise neighborhood with a long creative history. The aged brick and older plaster in these buildings give lime finishes the breathable, mineral substrate they key into best. The neighborhood's artistic, lived-in character makes a hand-applied lime finish a natural fit in its rooms.
The brick walk-ups of the East Village often have exposed masonry and original plaster that take limewash naturally. The slaked lime soaks into the brick and cures by carbonation into a breathable mineral finish with a soft, cloudy matte. It brings warmth to the raw, character-rich rooms these old buildings are known for.
For a smoother, more contemporary depth, we trowel lime plaster or Roman clay over a mineral-primed surface in thin hand-applied coats. Lime plaster reads like polished stone, while Roman clay leaves a softer suede. Both give a converted apartment a crafted surface that flat paint cannot match.
East Village walk-ups are compact and usually lived-in, so clean, low-disruption work is essential. We mask thoroughly, protect floors and fixtures, and keep the job low-odor since lime finishes are mineral rather than solvent-based. The finished room is left tidy and ready to use soon after the lime cures.
We also finish walls in nearby Carnegie Hill. Call Chelsea Limewash Co. at (646) 828-5798 for limewash & mineral paint finishes across Manhattan.