“I never tire of it. Such richness, such depth. It’s impossible to imagine all the possibilities that lime offers. What I love most of all is its lived-in effect, as if that wall or splashback had always been there. Lime has this incredible quality: it blends in everywhere and immediately warms up a room, just like stone. It’s a mineral material. And that’s not to mention its natural and therefore ecological qualities. It’s a material that breathes, so it’s very suitable for damp rooms, bathrooms and cellars. When acrylic paint peels, lime allows the walls to breathe. I also like the matt finish of lime; no other material gives the same result. There’s no need for a smooth coat; on the contrary, it adheres to the unevenness of the walls. I buy it raw, in the Venice area. I’ve had the same supplier for years. I’m loyal to Marmorino lime, which contains marble powder. It has been decanted in water for six months. What texture! Often, in DIY shops, I get annoyed at the pots of lime sold in the paint section that aren’t really lime, such as stucco, which doesn’t give the same finish at all… It’s better to opt for air or hydraulic lime, sold in large bags of powder. It’s a safe bet, even if it’s not always easy to work with. I work with a spatula, then I iron it. The colours? I make them myself. That’s my secret. I love colours, mixing them together,
