Written by: Peter Briccetti
Walking into Decorative Atelier, you are immediately struck by textures and finishes that you wouldn’t expect to see in an exterior painting studio. In fact, one could be forgiven for thinking that they had walked into a metalworking shop at first glance. Steel, bronze, copper, and iron panels command attention in the entryway, rippling with different finishes and intricate patterning. Luminous washes of gold seem to ripple like the light of a sunrise on still water. Dark, smoldering sheets of iron carry the depth of forged steel with the softness of brushed satin, and aged copper tones drift somewhere between forest green and aquamarine. These finishes are so reminiscent of solid sheets of metal that when you go to pick one up, your body and mind expect far more weight than there actually is.
Decorative Atelier
Marek Mlynar, the creator of this metallic symphony, stands in the center of his workspace smiling in the way he often does when visitors can’t believe what their own senses are telling them. Marek wants to change the way we think about painting in the Gallatin Valley. He started painting when he was seven years old as an apprentice to his father in Slovakia. He started working with stencils, hand-brushing, and began learning the art of mixing paints.
The profession of painting varies widely around the world. In the United States, painting is often seen as a necessary task to complete when moving into a new home, something many Americans are willing to take a shot at themselves if they have the time and patience. In Europe, however, professional painting is a delicate art with thousands of years of pedigree and prestige. Unlike in North America, there’s also a robust educational infrastructure in place, and it often takes most of a lifetime to become a master of the art.
“WE WORK WITH EACH CLIENT TO BUILD THE PERFECT METALS FOR EACH FINISH. BECAUSE YOU CAN MIX ALLOYS TOGETHER, THERE’S NO END TO WHAT YOU CAN CREATE.“
Marek has put years of work and training into his education, most recently at the prestigious Van Der Kelen Institut Superieur De Peinture in Brussels. There, he spent months learning how to master faux finishes—the ancient art of precisely mimicking the appearance of fine finishes such as marble, wood, stone, or plaster with paint.
These finishes can create the appearance of extremely heavy or expensive materials without needing to bring in a crane to place a 10-ton piece of marble at a build site. Mastercraft level faux finishes can be almost entirely identical to the real thing, often requiring another master craftsman’s inspection to tell the difference. Many European estates and country homes incorporate faux finishes into their designs, adding an artistic flourish while sidestepping financial and logistical challenges.
-TEXTURED LIQUID METAL WHITE BRONZE, PATINATED ▼
-TEXTURED LIQUID METAL BRONZE, PATINATED ▲
Decorative Atelier applies this philosophy to their flagship offering: designer liquid metal finishes. Liquid metal is a coating made from a binder mixed with real powdered metals like brass, bronze, copper, silver, and gold that will adhere to virtually any surface. Using this process, Marek’s team can make any surface in a house—indoors or outdoors—appear to be made of solid metal.
Many homebuyers are interested in bronze or steel cabinetry in their kitchens but are deterred by the significant cost and weight. A liquid metal finished cabinet set carries all the attractive properties of the real thing but weighs and costs a fraction of the original. The finished product retains all of the durability and beautiful aging advantages of a solid metal piece because a thick exterior layer of it is actually made with the material.
Decorative Atelier founder, Marek Mlynar has put years of work and training into his education, most recently at the prestigious Van Der Kelen Institut Superieur De Peinture in Brussels.
Liquid metal truly shines in its versatility, as the end result is limited only by the artist’s creativity. Surfaces can be polished to anything from a rough matte texture to a mirror-like sheen. Patinas and burnishes add another layer of personality: verdigris greens, warm antiqued browns, and smoky oxide blues nestle into crevices, giving depth and history.
Every liquid metal piece is truly custom.
-FAUX CUBAN AND STRAIGHT MAHOGANY, PAINTED ON 5’ X 3’ PANEL ▼
-FAUX GRAND ANTIQUE MARBLE , PAINTED ON 5’ X 3’ PANEL ▲
“We work with each client to build the perfect metals for each finish,” says Marek. “Because you can mix alloys together, there’s no end to what you can create.”
He uses various proprietary methods to manipulate texture and pattern to replicate classic surfaces—like his lightly pockmarked stainless steel gunmetal finish, or a glowing alligator-hide patterned copper. The results speak for themselves; Decorative Atelier’s liquid metal finishes are all one-of-a-kind patterned solutions for very specific problems.
-HIGH GLOSS CEILING IN FINE PAINTS OF EUROPE, CORSA RESTAURANT, JACKSON HOLE ▲
Beyond the liquid metal and faux finishes, Decorative Atelier also offers a suite of state-of-the-art custom painting options.
Marek and his team often use a specialized ‘all-natural’ quartz-based paint, made almost entirely from silica particles, limewaters, and a natural binder to create a resilient and non-toxic finish.
-EXTERIOR SOLID WOODEN DOOR, 10’ X 4 ’, COATED IN LIQUID METAL MANGANESE & PATINATED ▼
They also advocate for the use of high-quality, eco-friendly 2K paint for interior trim and cabinetry scenarios. This type of two-part system offers superior resistance due to the chemical curing process, making it highly durable and chemical- and solvent-resistant. Traditional paints can continue releasing chemicals and toxins long after they have been applied. Once the curing process for 2K paint is finished, the chemical process is complete.
Marek takes a classical European and artisanal approach to painting. Each job is done in close communication with the client and with an eye to the long-term value and longevity of the piece. While many painters are concerned with doing a job as cheaply as possible, Decorative Atelier strives to save its clients’ money in the long term by creating art that will hold its beauty without significant maintenance for decades or longer.
BEYOND THE LIQUID METAL AND FAUX FINISHES, DECORATIVE ATELIER ALSO OFFERS A SUITE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART CUSTOM PAINTING OPTIONS.
MAREK AND HIS TEAM OFTEN USE A SPECIALIZED ‘ALL-NATURAL’ QUARTZ-BASED PAINT, MADE ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM SILICA PARTICLES, LIMEWATERS, AND A NATURAL BINDER TO CREATE A RESILIENT AND NON-TOXIC FINISH.
Marek’s liquid metal finishes solve a unique problem for clients who are interested in a custom metal statement that works well both inside and outside the home. Regardless of what materials their treatments are applied to, these finishes are solid gold in their own unique way.
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