Think of plasterwork and images of grand historic homes undoubtedly come to mind. From the Neo-Classical cornices of Stourhead in Wiltshire to the Roman-inspired Georgian variety at Erddig Hall in Wrexham, Wales, plasterwork has the ability to instantly uplift a space. Turns out there’s only one purveyor of decorative plaster that’s gained the trust of The National Trust, Stevensons of Norwich, and we at Balineum have a bit of a company crush on them. Aside from being a genuinely nice lot, Stevensons holds the exclusive license from the Trust which, apart from restoration work, benefits from the sale of any cornice in its namesake collection. Each piece is of course made by hand using traditional techniques from their home base in East Anglia.

Granted we don’t all have bathrooms large enough to accommodate intricate cornices or decorative ceilings but the good news is that Stevensons also produces brackets, panel moulds and ceiling centrepieces. Get creative and try using them out of context as interior designer Vicente Wolf did in this impressive installation. When grouped together, the individual elements pack a powerful punch and it would make for an equally stunning display over a bathtub.

On a side note, we love that for it’s singular bust offering, Stevensons chose King Ludwig of Bavaria. The so-called Swan King was notorious (if not completely mad) for his love of design, commissioning two of Germany’s most iconic landmarks. If you’ve not been to Neuschwanstein or Schloss Linderhof in the Bavarian mountains, we strongly urge a visit. Perhaps some of the most ornate architecture we’ve ever seen! 

Photograph © Vicente Wolf