Bend has seen a surge in custom home builds in recent years, bringing a new level of design sophistication to Central Oregon. One way to personalize and upgrade a high-end build or remodel is to incorporate custom wall finishes in the home, including lime and Venetian plasters and a wide array of decorative finishes. Juanita Perdomo, owner of WallsArt, Inc., has mastered the craft of turning walls into works of art. She launched her company in 2000 after working for years as both an interior designer and in industrial design.
“I walked into a building where Juanita hand-applied plaster on a two-story wall and my jaw dropped,” said Bend interior designer PJ Hurst. “It looked like brick and had so much depth and movement. It was the most beautiful thing. I feel that whatever Juanita touches turns into gold.”
A native of Colombia, Perdomo has worked across the United States and in Central and South America. While most of her work is residential, she still does some commercial design, including several luxury brand cosmetic shops on the Eastern Seaboard. She relocated to Oregon from Florida and settled in Bend during the pandemic after spending a few years in Hood River. “My market is custom homes, so the growth of that market in Bend is a good fit for my services,” she said. “Plus, it’s obviously an amazing place to live.”
Bringing Walls to Life
Perdomo uses a variety of techniques and materials including Italian plasters and an array of specialized materials to create trendsetting decorative finishes.
Perdomo’s work can be nuanced for subtle, elevated sophistication or bold for impactful designs. Finishes range from fun to formal, or from modern to traditional. As an inhabitant of the high desert, she finds ample inspiration from Central Oregon’s natural environment for bringing the outside themes into each home.
Decorative plaster is a favorite material of Perdomo’s for making an upscale, sophisticated statement. Walls and fireplace features can be made to look like concrete, stone and even wallpaper. She can also create accent work in places such as a primary bedroom or fireplace surround.
Her work is best showcased when a homeowner incorporates custom walls throughout. “It takes the home to a whole new level,” she said, adding that it allows both her and her clients to get more playful with smaller spaces, such as a powder room or an accent wall. Unconventional designs are some of her favorites because they allow her to showcase her artistic skills and create visual impact for her clients.
More typical projects take anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks, or up to a month for a whole-house custom plaster finish.
Beyond custom decorative plaster work with an infinite number of finishes, she can create any design with paint, including murals. She mocks up samples to guarantee she has captured the client’s vision. Once she and her client finalize design and finishes, it’s a matter of getting to work and making magic happen.
Perdomo made magic happen in the Bend westside home of Ann Peck who hired her to finish two fireplace surrounds, two bathrooms, a laundry room and a stairwell feature. “She’s a plaster worker who can do anything with color and texture,” Peck said. “The wallpaper design she put in the bathroom was so intricate and detailed that everyone assumes it’s wallpaper. You’d never guess someone could do that by hand.”
For Perdomo, walls are like a blank canvas, and the possibilities are endless.
