FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Polly Doolittle, Specialty Plaster Painter

In this Q&A, Polly Doolittle talks about how she learned the craft of plaster veneer and dives deep into the materials she uses in people's homes.

By Lana Melonakos-Harrison
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Polly Doolitte (she/her) occupies a very niche corner of the residential building industry. As a decorative plaster painter working with organic materials, Polly helps her residential clients bring vibrant but earthy textures and feels to their home environments. In this interview, we talked with Polly about her journey from ceramicist and float maker to decorative painter with a thriving business based out of Charlotte, N.C. You can find examples of Polly’s work and connect with her on Instagram or her website. 

LMH: How would you describe your craft?

PD: I am a decorative painter specializing in veneer plaster finishes. Plaster is an ancient building material but the types of plaster I use are veneer, so they are more like fine coatings. You can also use plasters as a substrate. Originally, plasters were used for what drywall is used for now, but I do fine coatings and multilayered decorative finishes. The possibilities with plaster are endless, so it’s hard to say I do one thing. Most people are familiar with Venetian plaster, which is a very artistic finish, but I work with specialty plaster and an interpretation of Venetian plaster in which I use wax, which makes my process a lot simpler.

LMH: I know you studied ceramics in college. What was your journey to getting where you are today?

PD: Ceramics is what got me in the door. While I was living in the Bay Area, I was doing float assemblies, building props for Pride floats, and I really loved the environment of working as an artist’s assistant and learning new skills. So when my husband and I moved to New York in 2018, I was determined to find one artist who just needed me so we could be a two-person team. I ended up posting an ad on Craigslist. As a freelancer, you have to find all the forums and throw yourself out there. An artist, Ben Lai, saw my listing, which included my experience in ceramics, and he said if I liked mud then I would like plaster. And I did. I fell in love with it. The first time I tried it, he told me to play with the material on the job site, and he said, “Wow, you’re a natural.” I worked with him every day for a year and when I told him I was leaving New York, he gave me his blessing with the skills and techniques I had learned from him.

LMH: What are common projects you work on and if different, what are your favorite projects to do?

PD: Right now, range hoods and fireplaces are my bread and butter. As soon as I started doing range hoods, I kept getting requests. The more I do them, the more people want them because they browse my Instagram, which is where I get about 80% of my business. The work speaks for itself. I also do powder rooms, bedrooms, and accent walls, but 75% of my work is range hoods and fireplaces. My favorite projects, though, are commercial accent walls because the clients are always more willing to do something a bit more experimental or a special finish of gold mica or staining or rustic textures. Most of the time, residential clients want something more subtle. With this modern plaster appeal right now, everyone wants to be clean, but they like that organic feel. It’s beautiful and it never gets old, but commercial spaces are the best.

Plaster range hood in a kitchen

plaster fireplace

LMH: Tell me about what kind of materials you work with.

PD: There is a lot of variation, but for the most part, plaster is basically ground up limestone, water, and sand particles at different aggregate sizes depending on the texture you’re going for. A topcoat finish will be really fine so when you stick your finger in the topcoat, it’s very smooth and buttery. The base coat will have a larger aggregate of sand. I am super loyal to Master of Plaster, a family-owned and woman-run business based out of South Carolina. Lauren Dillon does amazing color work. Her pigments are so vibrant, and she hires me as an assistant for installations sometimes. I never use any other product. It’s organic, and there are no acrylic additives, which are bonding agents that create structural strength and aren’t needed for finishes.

LMH: What’s your method of working with clients on their homes?

PD: I always have a consultation phase. I set up a site visit where I see the location and check out the substrate. If it’s during construction, sometimes it’s a drywall fireplace and it’s not finished, so I tell them I need it to be a level 4—basically ready to paint. It needs to be taped, mudded, primed, and sanded. I always bring a box of samples. Then we discuss textures, such as the difference between movement that you can see versus textures that you can feel, or micr texture which is more like small holes or pores. It’s easier to digest all that when someone can look at it and I can show the client the difference. For example, Venetian plaster with pigment is going to have a lot of movement, but you’re not going to feel texture when you touch it. Once we nail down a design, we decide the color.

Close-up view of a plaster wall and wood shelf

LMH: Have you been able to connect with people in your trade?

PD: I am really the only one doing decorative plaster in my area, but on Instagram, there’s a whole network. I actually have a friend in Australia through Instagram who does great work; it is amazing to have an international connection with artists who do specialty painting work.

LMH: You talked earlier about the importance of your first mentor. What are some other resources you’ve been able to tap into for further learning?

PD: Eric from Mudwerk has been doing plaster for 30 years here in Charlotte, and he actually reached out to me and wanted to meet me. He taught me how to do crown-molding mitering. When you install ornate plaster crown molding, every piece has to be patched where the two pieces meet and then the ornamental elements all have to be sculpted and placed. He taught me how to do that and that is a very niche craft. My background in ceramics is helpful, to be able to make forms. He really pushed me to learn something within the realm of plaster but also so different. I also get asked to do decor. I’ve done portraits and painting.

Cathedral ceiling with plaster

Photos courtesy of Polly Doolittle.


RELATED STORIES

  • Decorative Plaster Finishes
  • Lime-Plaster Installation Over Drywall
  • Tradesperson Interview: Lydia Crowder, Drywaller

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

Joanna Gaines may have started as a celebrity designer on HGTV, but she’s proven to be the real deal. This book help you understand how and why good design works so that you can recreate it on your own.
Buy at Amazon

The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate

With this book, architect Bruce King changes the conversation around what it means to build a green home. Take everything you thought you knew about the topic, and just set it aside and let Bruce explain why embodied carbon trumps the rest of what is undoubtedly important.
Buy at Amazon

Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid

If you are designing or remodeling a traditional home and want to make sure that you get all the finish details right, this book is for you. Marianne’s drawings are illustrative, covering every aspect of interior and exterior finishes.
Buy at Amazon

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Podcast Episode 684: Masonry Heaters, Whole-House Ventilation, and Porch Flooring

Listeners write in about fireplaces and ask questions about whole-house ventilation, traditional porch flooring, and gutter sealants.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • FHB Podcast Segment: Repairing an Old Home While Maintaining Its Integrity
  • Beat the Heat: Cool Innovations
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Designing and Building an Efficient Slab-On-Grade Home
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Do You Need HVAC Ducts in Every Room?

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

Video

View All Videos
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Repairing an Old Home While Maintaining Its Integrity
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Designing and Building an Efficient Slab-On-Grade Home
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Do You Need HVAC Ducts in Every Room?
  • FHB Podcast Segment: A Homemade Radiant Heat Floor Assembly
View All

Paints and Finishes

View All Paints and Finishes Articles
  • Paint Prep With Less Waste
  • Paint Behind Strike Plates
  • Resurrecting Linseed Oil Paint
View All Paints and Finishes Articles

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 81%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data