Finishes
The materials MIMOSA uses for its finishes are 100% natural and have a very basic composition. At times clients and architects are surprised that, for instance, Marmorino, MIMOSA’s best-selling finish, is only made of Grassello, marble dust and organic glue.
MIMOSA’s success and strength lies in the application of these materials and in the incredible skill and experience of our artisans. All MIMOSA’s finishes derive their physical appearance and texture from the way our craftsmen work with the trowel or the spatula. The movement of the spatula can be directed in such way to obtain a very polished Marmorino or, if desired, a very rough finish.
This is undoubtedly what sets MIMOSA apart from other companies whose products have an elaborate composition but do not have the same flexibility to reproduce a particular finish.
Because our craftsmen have an unerring control over the color, finish and texture, we work closely with architects to recreate their unique vision. Often, we have created finishes specifically for an architect or an interior designer, adapting our materials to the aesthetic and functional needs of the project.
Mimosa’s materials were recently tested in accordance with:
ASTM E 84-01 “Standard Test Method
for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials”
MEA “Material and Equipment Acceptance” for NYC
UPITT toxicity test
Results are available at our New York location for reference.
For more information, please contact us at 1-866-464-6672, info@mimosainternational.com
Fresco
Fresco is the most frequently chosen finish in Italy. A large numbers of villas in the regions of Tuscany, Umbria, Latium and Emilia Romagna are decorated with this plaster.
Fresco is usually thicker than the other finishes, especially for exteriors and its layers often exceed the depth of one eighth of an inch. It can have a very rustic look or, if requested, more polished. Since Fresco contains volcanic dust, which is very dark, almost black, the finish will present a beautiful and very light pattern of black dots scattered all over the decorated surface.
Fresco is now being used and requested a lot in the U.S., especially in the Northeastern countryside. Among MIMOSA’s projects that utilize Fresco are the Timex headquarters and several private residences in the Hamptons and in Martha’s Vineyard. Fresco ages very well and over the years the colors will evolve beautifully.
Marmorino
Marmorino is Mimosa’s best selling finish. It is a simple plaster made with Grassello, a lime paste made
with a stone from the Ticino river, just outside Venice. The river stone is treated in a high-pressure oven
and is then kept underwater for one year to obtain
the paste needed for this finish. This paste is mixed
with marble dust from Carrara, known to be the purest and the whitest in the world.
The mix is kept together with organic glue.
Marmorino is applied with a metal trowel, usually three
to five coatings, depending on the conditions of the wall. It can be applied on virtually any surface (i.e. sheetrock, brick walls) and every other typical construction board, except metal and glass, which do not respond well
to these finishes.
Marmorino can be matte, semi-gloss and shiny.
The special aspect of the shiny effect is that it is obtained by using the trowel knife in a special, characteristic way and not by using wax.
That is exactly what sets Mimosa apart
from other companies: the exceptional training level
of our artisans who have been applying our material
for years and know every little secret, every possible tip to execute an outstanding job.
Upon the architect’s request, we can use wax,
however this operation will make it more complicated
and time-consuming to maintain the finish,
especially for future touch-ups.
Encausto
In its composition, Encausto is very similar to our Marmorino. The main difference lies in the application,
in fact the first coating is mixed with sand with different grains. The type of grain will give different textures, depending on the client’s needs.
A fine grain will give
a more smooth finish whereas a medium or thick grain will result in a more rustic look. A matte finish
may be obtained by replacing the organic glue
with potassium silicate.
Note: Encausto primarily refers to an ancient painting technique that involves the melting of wax.
MIMOSA’s Encausto is different, although it happens
to be named in the same way, and does not involve wax.
Stucco Veneziano
Stucco Veneziano is the most known Italian wall finish
but also the most misunderstood, since many tend
to generalize using the term stucco to refer to any type
of plaster. MIMOSA produces the authentic
Stucco Veneziano, faithful to the traditional Stucco used
in the palazzi of the eighteenth and nineteenth century Republic of Venice. The application of Stucco Veneziano is elaborate and time-consuming and requires
highly skilled artisans to work with a very small spatula.
The pattern obtained is very busy, with waves of texture visible everywhere from one end of the wall to the other.
This finish is always recommended for interiors because it is very delicate and fine. Its fineness derives
from the use of a mineral called Kaolin,
which is the same used in the production of the finest china of the world.
Because it scratches or cracks easily under too much stress and is difficult to touch up, it is recommended
for rooms not subject to high social interaction
(children, pets, heavy traffic).
Dilavato
Dilavato is used exclusively for exteriors. It is very thick and looks like old cement.
Mimosa has employed Dilavato in the U.S.
for the first time for a custom-made project for architects Herzog-De Meuron, who are working on the new Prada headquarters in New York City.
The texture and movement can be controlled
and also quantity and quality of the stone can vary according to the desired look.
Marmorino Metallic Finish
Marmorino Metallico has the same properties
and composition of the Marmorino.
MIMOSA has created this particular finish uniquely
for our client, Alfred Dunhill of the Dunhill stores,
and we have used it primarily to decorate
the boutiques’ furniture. It is resistant to scratches
and produces a beautiful metallic effect.
It can be done in the metallic hues, such as silver,
golden or bronze, but can also be done over white
and have a more hip and ‘avant-garde’ look.
Velatura
Velatura, unlike other MIMOSA’s finishes applied
with a spatula or a trowel, is the only decoration technique applied with a paint brush.
It is a water-based paint mixed with metal oxides
for color pigmentation. Velatura reproduces the same movement of Marmorino or Stucco Veneziano.
Velatura, being inexpensive, is the right solution
when the budget does not allow the use of Marmorino
or Stucco. If desired, golden powder or mother of pearl powder can be added to the last coating to obtain
a pleasant glittering effect.
Travertino
Travertino is a yellowish, porous stone also called ‘pietra di Tivoli’ (stone from Tivoli, Latium, Italy) known
to have been used in early Roman construction.
MIMOSA has invented a wall finish that can reproduce
the same ‘historic’ and stony look of the travertine.
This is extremely useful when a client who already
has existing travertine in some areas
of the residence/office wants to add more details
on other surfaces but cannot find the original stone. MIMOSA reproduces the same finish and same color
of the existing travertine so that the overall result
will be pleasant and consistent.
The use of our Travertino finish presents several advantages inasmuch it is easier to handle
than the actual stone, less expensive, and more practical. If the client tires of the look and wants to change,
our finish is easy to replace or cover with a different finish whereas the actual stone will pose problems
of dismantling.
Marmorino Mix
Marmorino mix may be applied with a smooth
or a raugh texture.
The paste is a mix of limestone and murble dust.
The size of the murble dust is less selected than marmorino.
Cocciopesto
Cocciopesto is an old material.
The base is the dust of the old roof tiles or of the old briks. Is perfect for humidity areas.
The final thikness is about 1/4 inch.