Masters of Their Craft | Plaster Master

The ancient building technique of plasterwork is experiencing a modern resurgence, transforming walls and ceilings into elevated aesthetic elements within homes. Jimmy Sanfilippo, through his company Sparrow Plaster and Tile, has been a central figure in bringing specialized plasterwork to Vineyard homes for nearly three decades. His work blurs the lines between trade and art, emphasizing functional, durable, and aesthetically pleasing outcomes. Sanfilippo's approach is distinguished by his willingness to undertake complex, creative, and physically demanding projects, continuously learning and imparting his extensive knowledge to his team. He works with plaster, a delicate mixture of lime, gypsum, sand, and water, which is highly sensitive to environmental factors such as humidity, heat, and air circulation, as well as the concentration of aggregates and water temperature. These variables become even more critical when working with curved surfaces, domes, barrel vaults, or cast moldings, or when incorporating integral color pigments or marble-like Venetian finishes. Sanfilippo prioritizes high-quality, time-intensive jobs using superior and often rare materials. He transitioned from drywall in the mid-eighties as he found it becoming too generic. His specialization lies in the esoteric aspects of artisanal wall surfaces, particularly plastering over wirework for complex shapes like barrel vaults and domes, which cannot be achieved with Sheetrock. This process involves multiple layers, each requiring precise and consistent curing to prevent future cracks, making meticulous preparation essential before mixing the plaster. Teamwork is fundamental to Sanfilippo's plastering projects. He divides areas into sections, assigning each to a worker, and the crew collaboratively determines the exact amount and consistency of plaster needed for each section, accounting for individual working styles and area specifics. This collaborative approach ensures a cohesive and beautiful final product, fostering a sense of shared accomplishment rather than competition. Plasterwork offers significant longevity due to its material durability and its ability to expand and contract with environmental changes, making it resistant to seasonal shifts and humidity. Aesthetically, a hand-tooled plaster ceiling or wall imparts a distinct, handcrafted quality that integrates seamlessly with other artisanal elements like handmade floors and custom woodworking, creating a unified sense of craftsmanship within a home. While much of his work is on Martha's Vineyard, Sanfilippo also undertakes projects in New York City, drawn by innovative architectural designs that challenge his skills. He has collaborated with restaurateur Keith McNally on several projects, including Pravda and Pastis, and McNally's Vineyard home. A notable project for McNally involved creating a unique layered plaster surface that was smooth yet revealed rougher inner layers, designed to absorb color washes differentially, resulting in a distinct visual and tactile effect. Sanfilippo stresses the importance of clients articulating their aesthetic preferences, often asking them to provide examples from magazines or descriptions of their existing decor to ensure the plasterwork complements the room's overall character, considering factors like rugs, furnishings, and room temperature. Historically, plastering is an ancient practice dating back nearly ten thousand years, used for protection, insulation, and sanitation. Early civilizations, including those in India, China, Jordan, and ancient Egypt (the pyramids were plastered), utilized it. Limestone in plaster acts as a mold inhibitor, a property leveraged by early Europeans to protect their walls. Even the indigenous people of Martha's Vineyard used a form of clay-concentrate mud plaster for their wetus, demonstrating the timeless principle of building with earth materials. Sanfilippo's journey into plastering began in his father's drywall business, where he developed a foundational understanding of construction. He later advanced his skills through an industrial arts program and eventually transitioned from drywall to plastering, taking a pay cut to learn and refine his craft, ultimately achieving mastery. His philosophy, as encapsulated by a shared quote, emphasizes that true artistry in his trade emerges when one works not only with hands and head but also with the heart. #Plasterwork #ArtisanalCraft #HomeDesign #InteriorFinishes #ArchitecturalDesign #BuildingMaterials #HistoricTechniques #CustomHomes #Craftsmanship

The article highlights the previously unseen work of Hans Hokanson, a Swedish-born sculptor renowned for his mastery of wood, who resided in East Hampton from 1961 until his passing in 1997. While his sculptures and functional art, including chairs, benches, beds, and tables, are featured in various public and private collections, a significant two-story spiral staircase he crafted has remained largely private for 45 years within an East Hampton home. This massive oak staircase, installed in 1970 during the conversion of a barn into a residence, serves as a prominent example of Hokanson's ability to blend sculptural art with functional design. The owners of the barn initially faced a challenge regarding access to the hayloft, which was only reachable by a ladder. They sought an alternative to a metal spiral staircase, which they felt would clash with the barn's rustic aesthetic. Following a friend's suggestion, they commissioned Hokanson for a wooden spiral staircase. Despite providing a Shaker staircase photograph as a reference, Hokanson, known for his intuitive approach to wood, created a piece that, while initially surprising to the owners, ultimately brought them satisfaction. For much of its existence, the staircase was situated against a wall separating the living room and kitchen, limiting its visibility. However, after the removal of this wall around Thanksgiving, the staircase is now exposed to natural light from all sides, allowing it to be appreciated in its full, three-dimensional glory. Hokanson immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1951 at the age of 26. He spent time in California, working as a construction carpenter, before moving to New York City in 1956. In New York, his diverse experiences included stretching canvases for artist Mark Rothko, working as a stage designer at the Living Theater, and serving as a technician at the Museum of Primitive Art. In 1961, he relocated to East Hampton to undertake carpentry work for Willem de Kooning. Although his collaboration with de Kooning was brief, Hokanson found a lasting connection to the area, particularly a place on Northwest Creek that he described as "beautiful." Beyond the spiral staircase, Hokanson's architectural legacy also includes a house he built for himself and his wife, Barbara, in Northwest Woods, which was described by House Beautiful as his "largest work in progress." He also furnished this home with many of his handmade pieces. His son, Bengt Hokanson, and daughter-in-law, Trefny Dix, now reside in the house. Bengt, who assisted his father with woodworking, pursued glassmaking after studying at Tulane University. Today, he and Ms. Dix operate HokansonDixGlass, with their work displayed in over 40 galleries, museum shops, and high-end retail establishments globally. The staircase itself is notable for its construction without nails or screws, allowing its joints to expand and contract naturally, a feature expected to ensure its longevity as long as the wood endures. #HansHokanson #WoodSculpture #SpiralStaircase #EastHampton #FunctionalArt #WoodworkingMastery #HomeDesign #ArchitecturalLegacy #ScandinavianDesign

Ceramiche Refin's 'Craft' collection offers a fresh perspective on the traditional industrial aesthetic of cement, drawing inspiration from the artisan craftsmanship of concrete. This collection aims to capture the handmade qualities of cement while eliminating its natural tendencies to deteriorate and wear over time. By doing so, 'Craft' provides an enriched material that expands possibilities for contemporary interior design, particularly given the widespread use of cement in modern flooring applications. The development of the 'Craft' collection involved a collaborative effort between Ceramiche Refin and skilled cement artisans. The Italian ceramics brand focused intently on understanding the material's application process and its inherent surface characteristics. Utilizing advanced technology, Ceramiche Refin successfully reinterpreted these distinctive features to create a new range of tiles. The result is a series of minimalist slabs that seamlessly integrate into diverse contemporary design schemes, offering both aesthetic appeal and practical durability. A defining characteristic of the 'Craft' collection is its nuanced appearance, which includes toned, shaded, and graded finishes. This effect is achieved through a precise glazing process of the cement mixture, coupled with the intentional imprinting of patterns. The technique creates a soft chiaroscuro movement across the surface, highlighting the material's strength. Up close, the tiles reveal a rich tapestry of facets, nuances, marks, and ripples, which collectively contribute to a complex visual texture. From a distance, however, these intricate details coalesce to form a solid, monochrome surface, demonstrating a sophisticated interplay of detail and overall impression. Beyond its impressed patterns, the surface of Ceramiche Refin's 'Craft' collection also features clouding and faded finishes, further enhancing its artisanal appeal. The collection is available in a palette of four colors: Rice, Cloud, Fog, and Tan. These color options are offered across five different slab sizes: 120x240cm, 120x120cm, 60x120cm, 60x60cm, and 30x60cm. Each size is carefully designed to emphasize the unique graphic patterns inherent in the tiles, allowing for versatile applications that can adapt to various spatial requirements and design visions. The combination of traditional craftsmanship inspiration with modern technological execution positions the 'Craft' collection as a notable advancement in ceramic tiling. #CeramicheRefin #CraftCollection #CementTiles #ArtisanCraftsmanship #InteriorDesign #ContemporaryDesign #Tiling #CeramicTechnology #MaterialInnovation

Bryce Hollingsworth has built a successful masonry business by transforming his passion for stonework into a career through extensive training and real-world experience, specializing in dry-stone walling—the technique of constructing stone walls without mortar. Early in his career, while working as a laborer for a landscaper, Bryce discovered his aptitude and interest in outdoor trades. This initial exposure allowed him to explore various tasks, quickly identifying his preference for stonework. Consequently, he pursued roles with specialized landscaping companies, first leading a crew that focused on stonework and later joining a company exclusively dedicated to stone installations. This period solidified his conviction that working with stone was his true calling. Driven to enhance his skills, Bryce enrolled in certification courses at The Stone Trust in Vermont. Seeking further mastery, he traveled to Australia to apprentice with Geoff Duggan, a renowned master craftsman. This apprenticeship proved to be a pivotal experience, as it provided him with critical, real-time feedback that he previously lacked due to often working alone. Bryce credits this training with helping him refine his techniques, eliminate inefficient practices, and reinforce fundamental skills, leading to a significant improvement in his walling proficiency. Following his training in Australia, Bryce continued his education at the Dry Stone Conservancy in Kentucky. The subsequent year, he embarked on another hands-on training journey to Ireland. This trip expanded his expertise by teaching him to work with diverse stone types and various construction styles, further broadening his capabilities in dry-stone masonry. With this comprehensive international and domestic training under his belt, Bryce felt prepared to establish his own company, Stone Bear Mason, LLC. During the initial phase of his business, work consistency was a challenge. To mitigate this, Bryce frequently subcontracted with other wallers and masons, demonstrating a willingness to travel extensively to gain varied practical experience. He emphasizes that working with different professionals provided exponential growth in his skills, as each collaboration introduced new perspectives and techniques that differed from his own established methods. While Bryce's business is now thriving and keeps him fully engaged, he remains open to traveling for specific projects that offer unique opportunities for learning and application of his specialized craft, reflecting his ongoing commitment to skill development and passion for dry-stone walling. #DryStoneWalling #Masonry #Stonework #Craftsmanship #CareerDevelopment #SkillBuilding #Entrepreneurship #KeepCraftAlive #HomeImprovement

Rich Kubica, owner of K-Wall Poured Walls, LLC, has dedicated his career to the concrete foundation and wall industry, following in his father's footsteps who founded Jerry Kubica Foundations in the 1950s. After his father's retirement and the business closure, Rich revived K-Wall in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1992, later inventing the E-Max insulated wall system, now sold by Western Forms. In 2006, Kubica relocated his family and business to Asheville, North Carolina, and began operations in 2007. The economic downturn of 2008 posed significant challenges, leading to the collapse of many concrete wall contractors in the region. However, K-Wall Poured Walls survived by diversifying its services. Kubica's strategy included expanding into footing and wall projects, flatwork, gypsum concrete underlayment applications for multi-family units, decorative concrete, and epoxy floor coating jobs. This diversification allowed the company to maintain operations when housing construction, and consequently poured wall demand, declined. As the economy gradually recovered and competitors re-emerged, Kubica identified a growing market for precast walls, particularly in the mountainous Asheville area. Several factors influenced his decision to incorporate precast walls into his offerings. The limited availability of ready-mix concrete in the region presented a logistical challenge. Additionally, the heavily engineered walls required in Western North Carolina, due to the terrain, led to thick walls, substantial footings, and extensive rebar, significantly increasing the cost of traditional poured wall foundations to the point where they were deemed too expensive for typical homeowners. A crucial development was the 2012 IRC Code Book, which, for the first time, recognized precast walls, moving them from a proprietary product status to a widely accepted construction method. Another significant driver for adopting precast walls was the increasing difficulty in finding skilled and dedicated labor for the demanding work of pouring concrete walls. Kubica noted a shift in work ethic among younger generations compared to his own experiences. Precast walls offer a less labor-intensive solution, as they are manufactured in a factory setting under controlled conditions. Installation primarily involves a crane and minimal manual labor, making the process more attractive to both experienced and new workers. This approach reduces physical strain and streamlines the construction timeline. Kubica partnered with Ron Ward, CEO of Structura Technologies, to develop the MonoKast Precast Wall system. While precast walls had been observed for two decades, their timing was not previously optimal due to lack of code recognition, proprietary status, and higher costs compared to traditional methods. However, advancements now allow for the use of 70 percent less concrete in precast walls, making them a more efficient and cost-effective option. The MonoKast system is manufactured at K-Wall’s facility in Fletcher, North Carolina, and delivered to job sites. These walls are set using a crane on a crushed stone footing, adhering to 2012 IRC building codes. Once installed, they are insulated, studded, and ready for finishing without requiring additional framing. The stud cavities can accommodate insulation to enhance R-values, and MonoKast walls can be integrated with traditional cast-in-place walls to create hybrid foundations. The MonoKast wall profile features a 10-inch wide header beam at the top and a 10-inch wide footing beam at the bottom, both 3.5 inches thick with solid concrete and reinforced steel. The concrete shell is 2 inches thick, fiber-reinforced, and meets 5,000 psi code compliance. Precast concrete offers benefits such as faster construction times, reduced costs, and versatility. Kubica highlighted an instance where 180 lineal feet of MonoKast wall was set in 3.5 hours. He emphasizes that precast walls are not a threat to poured wall contractors but rather an opportunity for diversification and offering a comprehensive service to builders. He views the addition of precast walls as an evolution, allowing contractors to provide a "one-stop shop" solution for foundation and wall construction, ultimately meeting modern building and energy codes, reducing material volume, and opening new revenue streams while maintaining the core business of poured concrete walls. #ConcreteConstruction #PrecastWalls #PouredWalls #FoundationContractor #ConstructionDiversification #MonoKastSystem #BuildingCodes #LaborEfficiency #ConstructionTechnology