Gold Leaf Gilding in Westminster London
Gold LeafKensington Gilders were commissioned to carry out gold leaf gilding work in Westminster, London. Working in this historic area demanded the highest levels of skill and respect for the surroundings. The property, located within the Westminster conservation area, required a sympathetic approach that honoured the building's heritage while delivering a finish that would stand the test of time.
The project encompassed gilding to ornamental plasterwork across multiple rooms, including elaborate ceiling borders, picture rails and carved timber elements. Given the age and significance of the building, we worked closely with the client's conservation adviser to agree on appropriate materials and methods. For the principal plaster elements, we used water gilding with 23.5 carat gold loose leaf over a traditional red bole ground. The warmth of the bole shows through at the edges and in any natural wear over time, giving the finished work an authentic period character that cannot be achieved with modern shortcut methods.
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The carved timber sections — door architraves and several ornamental brackets — were oil gilded using transfer leaf. Oil gilding is better suited to timber in these situations because the surface can flex slightly with seasonal changes in humidity, and oil-gilded leaf accommodates that movement more gracefully than water gilding, which can crack if the substrate shifts.
Access within the building was restricted in several areas. Some of the ceiling work required scaffolding to be erected in rooms with limited floor space, and materials had to be carried through narrow corridors and up period staircases without causing any damage. Our team is well accustomed to working in listed and heritage properties across London, and we take particular care with dust containment, floor protection and the careful handling of all equipment.
The Westminster project ran for several weeks and was completed on schedule, with the finished gilding complementing the property's existing decorative scheme and restoring a sense of the building's original splendour.
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