Category Archives: Traditional design

Aged Lime in Beverly Hills

Aged Lime in Beverly Hills

We applied lime stucco and lime wash to this beautifully appointed, traditional home in Beverly Hills by Landry Design Group. This project is a stellar example of how natural materials can be used to create surfaces with patina and interest that age gracefully.

Historic Bungalow Restoration at Caltech

Historic Bungalow Restoration at Caltech

We have spent the better part of the last year working on this project for Caltech.  Seven historic bungalows were moved from one side of campus to the other to make way for the new Chen Research Center. Naturalwalls was hired by Eagle Restoration Inc. to install the exterior waterproofing, lath, natural hydraulic lime scratchContinue Reading

Country Cottage

Country Cottage

Naturalwalls had the pleasure of collaborating with the multi-talented Justina & Trevor Freel of Rose Thicket Botanical Design House on a charming space at the 2017 Pasadena Showcase House.  They specified three custom clay plaster colors for the interior walls and ceiling.  This project is also featured in the current issue of Traditional Home Magazine.Continue Reading

A Classical Entrance in Brentwood – Part 2

A Classical Entrance in Brentwood – Part 2

The finish plaster has been applied to the traditional ashlar stone installation that we introduced in our last post.  All of the elements were hand formed in our studio or shaped in place. This project has been a particularly interesting challenge that combines architectural history, traditional materials and classical skills into a beautiful result.  TakeContinue Reading

A Flamingo in Eagle Rock

A Flamingo in Eagle Rock

Naturalwalls was called in to create a bright color scheme that the usual stucco blends weren’t able to capture.  Most cement based exterior stucco is limited to a range of earth pigments that keep the color options fairly sedate.  This particular client was looking for weathered “flamingo pink” over a base of sea foam green.Continue Reading

A Classical Entrance in Brentwood

A Classical Entrance in Brentwood

Naturalwalls is half way through a decorative plaster project on a home in Brentwood.  We are employing a traditional French technique called “Stuc Pierre” which is used to create intricate, classical molding shapes like those you may have seen in that 17th century chateau that you visited last summer. We are using our own blendContinue Reading

Monterey Style in San Marino

Monterey Style in San Marino

Natural lime plaster and sealers were used to achieve this built-in bath and vanity in a Monterey style home in San Marino.

Beverlywood Charm

Beverlywood Charm

Naturalwalls applied custom colored American Clay finishes to the interior of this beautifully updated home in Beverlywood. The warm surface of the clay walls acts as the perfect compliment to the gorgeous Moroccan tile, charming architectural details, and wrought iron light fixtures throughout. Architect: Lewin Wertheimer  Interior Design: Danielle Eber          Continue Reading

Ilori, South Coast Plaza

Ilori, South Coast Plaza

Naturalwalls recently designed and installed a unique finish for the high-end eyeglass store, Ilori, in the South Coast Plaza.  The company’s design team wanted several of the walls to feel as if layers of old wall surface were peeling away to reveal the original brick substrate.  We used a combination of French Stuc Pierre styleContinue Reading

Clay Plaster featured in The Los Angeles Times

Clay Plaster featured in The Los Angeles Times

A concise and beautiful article on the benefits of natural wall finishes was published this weekend in the Times.  American Clay and Jill’s Paint, two companies that we love, are both mentioned.  Yeah! http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-mudwall-20150418-story.html

Moroccan Color on the Venice Canals

Moroccan Color on the Venice Canals

Step through the gate of this walled compound on the Venice Canals and be transported to the colorful streets of Marrakesh.  The owner/designer of this project hired Naturalwalls to finish the surfaces of her remodeled home with Clay and Lime plasters to replicate the vibrant, powdery surfaces of traditional Moroccan architecture.   Historical side note:Continue Reading

Scott Nelson included in craft photography project

Scott Nelson included in craft photography project

Photographer Glenn Robinson was inspired by the craftspeople that he saw around him while living in New York City and decided to begin photographing and interviewing them in a spare and beautiful way.  I think that he captures some of the heart and soul that people put into their work.  Take a look at theContinue Reading

Earth Chapel in the Hollywood Hills

Earth Chapel in the Hollywood Hills

Naturalwalls is close to the completion of a project in the hills that we are quite proud of.  Scott Nelson was commissioned to design and build a “super adobe” structure for an adventurous and artistic friend who was looking for a way to construct a unique backyard studio.  It was decided to use the systemContinue Reading

Masters of the Building Arts Festival,  Charleston SC

Masters of the Building Arts Festival, Charleston SC

Beginning March 24,  Naturalwalls owner Scott Nelson will be in Charleston, South Carolina for the Masters of the Building Arts Festival at the American College of the Building Arts brushing up on his plaster molding and casting skills and mingling with some of the finest artisans in the world.  The ACBA is the only collegeContinue Reading

12 Benefits of Natural Plaster Wall Systems

12 Benefits of Natural Plaster Wall Systems

1.  Interior humidity and temperature regulating for a more comfortable environment 2.  Increased energy efficiency 3.  Healthier interior air quality due to lack of toxic off-gassing and neutralization of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) 4.  Mold and mildew resistant 5.  Vapor permeable walls for fresher interior air 6.  Negative ion producing for a calm environment 7. Continue Reading

California Preservation Foundation Award

California Preservation Foundation Award

We are pleased to announce that the Japanese House at The Huntington Library has been awarded a 2014 California Preservation Award. Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to make the project a success including Kelly Sutherlin McLeod Architecture and Griswold Conservation Associates. Naturalwalls was responsible for restoring the exterior plaster panels with Natural Hydraulic LimeContinue Reading

Essay: The Future of Building, Biomimicry and Architecture

Essay: The Future of Building, Biomimicry and Architecture

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Gary Snyder There is a very important and necessary shift happening in the world of architecture and design. We are awakening to the reality that we are part of the larger ecosystem of the earth and that our creations can both injure and heal theContinue Reading

Naturalwalls featured in Frontiers Magazine

Naturalwalls featured in Frontiers Magazine

The Huntington Library has issued their most recent edition of Frontiers Magazine in which Naturalwalls founder, Scott Nelson, is mentioned as the applicator of the historic exterior finishes. Look for his comments on page 14. Here’s a pdf version of the issue: Frontiers Magazine Spring/Summer 2012

The Huntington Library – Japanese House Restoration

The Huntington Library – Japanese House Restoration

Naturalwalls was honored to work with Valley Crest and Griswold Conservation Associates on the restoration of the Japanese House at The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, CA. The historic nature of the building and the outstanding team that The Huntington had assembled for the project made this experience one of the highlights ofContinue Reading

Hollywood Eclectic

Hollywood Eclectic

This magnificent home from the golden age of Hollywood had great bones but desperately needed an update. Naturalwalls worked with the new owner to re-imagine the spaces and install a custom formulated interior wall finish that accents the massive feeling of the structure while keeping the spaces warm and inviting. Natural stone was used inContinue Reading

Tuscan Style in the Malibu hills

Tuscan Style in the Malibu hills

Naturalwalls assisted Landry Design partner Brian Pinkett in the realization of his desire to create an earthy abode for his family. The client was looking to use the most authentic materials and process possible for the exterior of the his home.  Scott Nelson oversaw the installation of St. Astier Natural Hydraulic Lime (NHL) which hasContinue Reading