For both form and function, a decorative wall finish known as Venetian plaster has been in use since the time of the Roman Empire – and Little Forest Hills resident Ralph Murphy would know. Some say he’s the foremost Venetian plaster expert in the Southwest, but he wouldn’t go that far. “There are people in Phoenix that are pretty good, and a couple of very innovative designers in the Austin area that I could learn from, so Southwest would be a stretch, but I know more about Venetian plaster than any other applicator in the Dallas area.” Murphy has installed more than 100,000 square feet of Venetian plaster – the walls of his own home included – and references in his portfolio include the likes of Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones and billionaire Harold Simmons. He says Venetian plaster didn’t start gaining popularity until sometime around 1996, but the technique was first described in Marcus Vitruvius’ handbook “De Architectura”, written around 27 B.C. Today you can find types of Venetian plaster in paint stores and Home Depots, Murphy says, but some sacrifice beauty for ease of application. As the ancient Vitruvius wrote in his handbook for Roman architects, when well executed, this type of wall finishing “not only shines, but also reflects to the spectators the images falling on it.”