Ceiling roses are a subtle yet striking architectural feature that can enhance the charm and authenticity of a period home. Typically crafted from plaster, these decorative pieces were historically ...

Ken Wildes crouches next to a cardboard box and plucks out a rose hand-formed from clay. He holds the rose in his fingertips and points out the flaws. See how the petals are pressed together? A ...

If Beth Cayre had to move, she would regret leaving the dining room ceiling, with its plaster cherry blossom branches hand molded by ceramics artist Matthew Solomon. And who could blame her? The ...

Lath and plaster ceilings and walls were a hallmark of homes built from the 1700s to the early 1900s. And if you live in a period home, they could well be hiding in plain sight. If unsure, there are a ...

Editor’s note: This story originally ran in 2010 and has been updated. You can read the previous post here. As Americans, we can feel patriotic when considering tin ceilings. It’s one of the few ...

Q. We just bought our first house, an American Foursquare, dated 1917. It has been vacant for several years and the interior is not in the best condition. We'd like to gut it to get rid of the sagging ...

While modern house design leans toward clean lines and minimalism, that doesn’t mean classic touches like cornices are out of place. With a smart approach, these timeless features can blend smoothly ...

Q Am I right that when sections of plaster break away from the lath, an accepted repair technique is to roughly fill in those gaps with drywall and then drywall over the whole wall or ceiling? — M.H., ...

Q. How important is it to repair plaster before repainting? Our ceilings have peeling paint that we’re pretty sure was caused by past water damage. Since the water problem is no longer an issue, can ...