When it comes to upping the glamour, nothing can touch the allure of an ultra-glossy finish. Like a swipe of red lipstick or a pair of patent leather pumps, a touch of shine makes everything more enticing. From walls to furnishings, it creates a look-at-me statement that can’t be ignored. Swipe through for some shimmering examples below and keep reading for how to get the look. And check out our picks for high-gloss designs that make it easy to add a touch of shine here.
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Redd Kaihoi called on decorative painter Agustin Hurtado to play up this L.A. dining room’s curve appeal with a luminous black lacquer finish. “It makes the space feel nacreous, like you’re inside of a shell,” says Miles Redd.
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A slick surface lifts the sculptural curl of this spiral stair into heavenly territory. Designed by Jacques Grange for his own iconic Paris flat, it was inspired by a Man Ray chandelier in his entryway.
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In this stately, traditional dining room also by Redd Kaihoi, a jib door hides a high-octane secret: a wet bar coated in ultramarine that feels deliciously liquid and louche.
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Exhibiting his daring swinging-sixties style, David Hicks lavished his own iconic London living room walls with a finish he called “Coca-Cola.” Its deep, watery sheen heightens everything around it.
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The lacquer backdrop in Steven Gambrel’s West Village dining room bounces light around in an intriguing way, taking the color gray from blah to brilliant.
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HOW TO GET THE LOOK
Lacquer
There’s a reason lacquer makes decorators swoon: “It’s a much smoother, more full-bodied finish than regular paint,” says Chango NYC’s Agustin Hurtado, the decorative painter that Miles Redd and David Kaihoi keep on speed dial. But true lacquer is not for the faint of heart— or DIY dabblers. While flat finishes hide imperfections, shiny surfaces magnify them, which means that skim coating, sanding, and days of prep work are required to get walls in pristine condition. The application itself requires multiple coats—five or more—with wet sanding, surface cleaning, and ample drying time in between. (Expect three weeks total.) Throw in the need for air scrubbers (to ensure dust particles and lint don’t mar a perfect surface), paint sprayers, respirators, and…well, you get the picture.
Paint
As a (slightly) less labor-intensive alternative, consider a high-sheen paint—either an oil-based enamel (Hurtado suggests Fine Paints of Europe’s Hollandlac) or a more environmentally-friendly, water-based version (like Little Greene’s Intelligent Gloss paint, which is washable and quick-drying). You’ll still have to invest in plenty of prep, though: “You need at least four coats of a good primer, and everything should already be smooth and well-sanded before you apply any paint,” says Hurtado.
Wallcovering
Looking for instant gratification? Fake the lacquer look with a wallcovering like Schumacher’s Ace Faux Lacquer Performance Vinyl, which is easy to install and provides plenty of high-style sheen. Plus, it’s a good choice for walls that aren’t in pristine shape as it can help cover up imperfections.
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 15 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
