What paint finish for lime-plastered kitchen?

[nakbrooks]

I'm converting a former schoolroom (solid brick walls, no DPC) into a kitchen. The old plaster was a mix of original lime and more recent gypsum patching, and the whole had been emulsioned in the past.

All the plaster has now been stripped off back to bare brick and I intend to replaster using lime plaster.

So far so good, but I'm unsure what would be the best finish to apply over the lime plaster. Obviously I want something that will breathe, but bearing in mind it will be a kitchen I also need something I can keep clean.

Any ideas?

 

[biffvernon]

The great thing about simple whitewash is that when it gets mucky you just do it again at very little cost.

 

[nakbrooks]

True, but the walls are 4m tall and I'd need a scaffold so regular repainting would be a bit of a chore.

I'm currently thinking of Earthborn Clay Paint which seems to be pretty resilient, suitable for relatively humid environments and I believe can be painted onto the new lime plaster before it has fully cured (bit of an issue for me as I can't really afford 6-8 weeks delay as there's a kitchen on order!).

Does anyone have any experience of Earthborn Claypaint in a kitchen? They also do a glaze that can be applied on top for greater washability, but I'm not sure how necessary that would be?

 

[biffvernon]

Clay paint is lovely - I don't suppose you will be doing much wall washing 4m up!

 

[MDE]

I haven't tried clay paint in the kitchen. I have it in our dining room with a sponged colourwash of glaze and it looks really nice. I'm not sure how it copes with oil and grease splashes. I used limewash in the kitchen (coloured with yellow ochre) and it doesn't seem to mind the splashes at all and it should be easy enough to put another coat on any areas that get spoiled.

 

[rebeccac]

I think you can apply a type of oil top the clay.Even possibly beeswax thinned slightly.You'd probably get a sort of Venetian plaster finish?

There's a fab book called The Natural Plaster Book I ordered it from Amazon and found it very useful.