We often focus on the pieces we bring into a room, but the surfaces that surround them can be just as transformative. Walls, ceilings, and architectural details are far more than a backdrop; they offer an opportunity to introduce depth, movement, and character in a way furnishings alone cannot. This is where working with an artisan can completely change the experience of a space, creating something that feels deeply personal and impossible to replicate off the shelf, and taps into the quiet luxury trend.
Even a small pantry can become something extraordinary through decorative painting. In my own work, I often look to Decorative Artist Caroline Lizarraga, whose hand-painted finishes have a remarkable softness to them, even in darker palettes. Her work never feels applied on top of a room, but woven into the architecture itself. Here, the walls and ceiling are treated as one continuous canvas, with a delicate motif drifting across the space. The effect is immersive yet gentle, enveloping the room without overwhelming it.
That same sense of artistry can bring quiet drama to larger spaces as well. In this sitting room, a painted ceiling introduces movement and pattern overhead, allowing the rest of the room to remain restrained and calm. It is a reminder that interest does not always need to come from adding more objects or decoration. Sometimes the most impactful gesture is simply rethinking the surfaces already there.
Plaster, too, can become something expressive and atmospheric when approached with intention. In one bathroom, the walls are finished in a richly layered plaster by Charles Leonard, with a flowing, almost sculptural pattern wrapping the back of the water closet. The movement feels organic rather than decorative, as though it emerged naturally from the architecture itself. Even in a small room, that level of craftsmanship creates an unmistakable sense of depth and presence.
Lacquer offers an entirely different experience. In a luxury living room enveloped in deep, saturated color, a lacquered finish captures and reflects light in a way flat paint never could. William Racker’s work has an extraordinary clarity and luminosity to it, giving the walls a richness that shifts throughout the day as the light changes. The palette may be controlled, but the room itself feels alive and constantly evolving.
What unites all of these finishes is the hand behind them. Artisan work brings nuance, individuality, and a sense of permanence that mass-produced treatments rarely achieve. These surfaces are not simply applied; they are layered, shaped, and considered in direct response to the architecture around them. And for homeowners, that does not mean every room needs an elaborate treatment.
Often, a single moment – a lacquered home library, a painted ceiling, a plastered entryway – is enough to transform the feeling of an entire home. When a room feels as though something is missing, it is often this layer: the subtle artistry that may be difficult to define, but is instantly felt when it is present.
Interior designer Tineke Triggs is one of Homes & Gardens' new Editors-At-Large for By Design, sharing her thoughts on decor. See the rest of her articles here.
