I spent 16 years in America. There I was called a Faux Finisher and I was often called upon to do a myriad things to help my Interior Designers work their magic. It was great to be part of a creative team, to be respected for what I brought to the table. Often Interior Designers would come to me with an idea and ask if I could make it happen. Off I would go to the Studio to experiment, using all my experience and knowledge to bring their vision to life. I was constantly being challenged and stretched by my Designers.

 Two years ago I returned to the UK, the land of bland, of wallpapered focal walls and beige, safe design. All the design advice I hear, is to keep everything neutral and bring in colour with accessories. All the furniture looks alike, different price points and quality but basically all very samey.
I visit Interior Designers and it is very obvious they have no idea of what I do or how I can help them. The know and understand the value of paint and wallpaper, but do they know the value of a good Decorative Painter? Do they understand that a talented painter can make their practice stand out from the crowd? Or, do they think "sponge painting" or "rag rolling" or any of the other horrors from the eighties and nineties. Decorative painting has come a long way since then and America has played a huge part in both techniques and products.
So, what can we do? We can provide cutting edge techniques and traditional finishes. Wonderful, sleek modern polished plaster or traditional old world. We can paint old, much loved furniture to fit into new schemes. Make one thing look like another. Camouflage problems and make them disappear. It would be hard to list all the things possible with paint and a little imagination.
Get to know a Decorative Painter, put one in your Interior Design arsenal and find out what they can do for you and your clients. You can't offer these things if you don't know what they are. A good Decorative Painter will keep you abreast of new and exciting techniques long before you see them in Design magazines!