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Building a Home Design Dilemma

Best drywall finish for refined rustic lodge house

last month

Struggling with what look to go with on drywall finish...I do like smooth with some random, scattered imperfections. How do I convey this to my drywall contractor. Is there a term or name for something similar to what I am describing? Has anyone chosen something similar that they love - or ...don't? Appreciate any help immensely.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last month
"I do like smooth with some random, scattered imperfections."

Just select the lowest bidder and don't tell them anything.
Jamie Steele thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
vinmarks
last month
I live in a log cabin that has some drywall. We went with all smooth. Our other option was orange peel but for me it reminds me of hotel walls. Smooth with scattered imperfections is going to look like a bad job was done.
Jamie Steele thanked vinmarks
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ci_lantro
last month
Old world/ skip trowel texture. Discuss how thick/ bold/ thin subtle you want the finished wall to look. And be on site when they start applying the texture.
Jamie Steele thanked ci_lantro
mojavemaria
last month
We put a skip trowel finish in our two previous houses and loved it! Any sort of texture seems to be disparaged on houzz and in a modern style house smooth walls look best but IMHO drywall texture can be attractive.

We did ours with an orange peel texture applied first and allowed to dry then a random trowel finish applied over it. It ends up looking like interior stucco.
Jamie Steele thanked mojavemaria
ci_lantro
last month
I love skip trowel, too. I have applied it over orange peel, over sand texture and on new drywall. IME, texture is a regional thing. Totally smooth walls are boring, IMO.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
IMO a textured wall is just a lazy drywaller way to cover their lack of ability to do smooth walls . Smooth walls are always better and if you want walls to look nice add art . I have no idea how to add some random texture would look good.
Jamie Steele thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
last month
A smooth finish is the best look, unless you're going for a period finish. Tudor Revival homes would usually have some sort of texture, and a log cabin would as well. But Colonial Revival or anything post WWII would be best in a smooth drywall finish.
Jamie Steele thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
RTHawk
last month
Look at Portola Paints - Lime Wash or Roman Clay specialty finishes.
Jamie Steele thanked RTHawk
ci_lantro
last month
Back to the scene and what OP is asking:

The House: Rustic Lodge

OP: I do like smooth with some random, scattered imperfections. How do I convey this to my drywall contractor.
Jamie Steele thanked ci_lantro
palimpsest
last month
What do you want the random scattered imperfections to look like? Do you have a picture?

The best way to convey what you want is examples.

I generally don't think that a bad drywall job looks like random scattered imperfections, it looks like being able to read every joint between sheets.
Jamie Steele thanked palimpsest
Jamie Steele
Original Author
last month
Thank you all for the suggestions and allowing me to glean from your ideas and expertise. I do (thankfully know what I like, but always open to new ideas, too)...this house is a mix of rustic with a few unexpected features that are a bit more modern and refined. Therein lies the dilemma, but it is also a "fun"?? challenge to find just the right wall texture with a bit of an interesting element, yet classy. So....onward. I do have a photo or two for the drywall contractor. Always a good idea, I agree.

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