Home is more than a simple shelter; home is a sanctuary. "Sophisticated Surfaces" illustrates how to enhance simple shelters by applying paint imaginatively to create aesthetically-pleasing home environments. Rooted in traditions that date back to the Italian Renaissance in 17th-century Europe, decorative artists use contemporary tools and materials to interpret age-old techniques - marbleizing, graining, and glazing furniture, walls, and ceilings. Inspired by early masters, these same artists go on to create new finishes - cracked linens and textured wall surfaces among them. This book is divided into three categories: Faux Finishes, Painted Furniture, and Murals. Each section focuses on works by decorative artists who excel in translating precisely-executed techniques into exquisitely painted surfaces. Beauty and harmony are vital to our psychological health and well-being. "Sophisticated Surfaces" is designed to inspire readers to view ordinary living space in new, innovative, and creative ways.