There are many interesting applications for modern plaster but there is one which is really a misnomer. Centuries ago, Italian plasterers practiced an art known as "Venetian Plaster". This was a mix of different plaster and color mediums creating faux marble finishes. Today there is a new trend in the same type of art for walls however it should be clearly pointed out that modern "Venetian Plaster", more often than not, is a paint or polymer faux finish and not a structural plaster. These are beautiful finishes but only as durable as what's beneath them. Realize that in most cases now, the person doing the "VP" is an artist in the medium of paint application and not plaster. This product can be troweled over any good, sound surface but just because you've hired a "Ventetian Plasterer" to handle the interior walls of your new construction project be sure you're getting someone who can do the entire job. You may need to hire a real plasterer (veneer or multicoat) to get the walls ready to recieve that faux finish. You may even consider hiring a plasterer who actually specializes in the real thing, they are out there.

A bit of personal opinion on faux finishes which may rub some of my colleagues in the plastering profession the wrong way. I've done work with color but have found that on a typical construction project there are too many things that can happen to a newly finished plaster wall before the owner moves in. Plans often change causing a move of anything from an electrical outlet to an entire wall. I don't care what the sales representatives say about how easily repaired their 'clay' or gypsum finishes are, once color is added to the plaster there is very little that can be done to repair a change so that it's completely undetectable. I've even done jobs where the owners liked the look of the raw plaster so much they decided not to paint at all until they realized it's not a very washable surface. Face it, stuff happens which is why my preference would be a faux VP over a nice plaster wall {as seen in this photo} after all of the finish carpenters and other tradesmen have all gone away.