Create Your Own Willy Guhl-Style Planter!

April 01 2024, by Danielle Knip, 3 min reading time

Renowned for their distinctive texture and timeless elegance, Willy Guhl's planters have graced modernist landscapes for decades. Crafted by the renowned Swiss designer, Willy Guhl, these planters are celebrated for their minimalist yet sophisticated design, blending seamlessly with both indoor and outdoor settings. In this article, we will be teaching you how to create an authentic Italian wrapped finish inspired by Willy Guhl planters!

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Step 1: Cut Your Caproni Plaster Wrap To Size

Wrap your pot in the Caproni Plaster Wrap, ensuring it covers around your clay pot. It does not have to align perfectly. Fold the Caproni Wrap over the top into the pot to help secure it. While protective gloves are not required, they are recommended to protect your nails.

Step 2: Apply Caproni Plaster Wrap

Apply water to the surface by dabbing and pouncing with a synthetic brush, ensuring the Caproni Plaster Wrap becomes saturated as you work around the entire surface, including the inside. Seam concerns are unnecessary at this stage.

Step 3: Trim The Caproni Plaster Wrap

Cut off any excess wrap from the bottom of the pot.

Step 4: Smooth Out Finish

Once your Caproni Plaster Wrap is in place from using the pouncing technique with your brush, it's time to smooth out the surface. Dip your fingers in water and begin rubbing them over the surface to smooth it out. As you do this, you'll notice the weave of the wrap disappearing. Alternate between pouncing with the brush and smoothing with your fingers until you achieve the desired texture. Then, allow it to dry!

Step 5: Mix Your Toscana Milk Paint Colors

You'll work with three colors of Toscana Milk Paint: Calais Green, Venetian Green, and a custom shade made by mixing Calais Green with a quarter teaspoon of Noir. Ensure your milk paint is even thinner than usual, aiming for a dilution greater than the typical 1:1 water to milk paint ratio. The consistency should be quite watery.

Step 6: Apply Toscana Milk Paint

Using a natural chip brush, begin by applying Calais Green as the base color. Then, layer on the Noir-Calais custom color and Venetian Green.

Step 7: Dab And Blend Between Coats

Dampen a lint-free rag with a small amount of water, then begin blending the paint by gently dabbing it.

Step 8: Stain The Surface Using Greenery

Using cabbage, grass, moss, or your preferred greenery, rub it onto the top and bottom of the pot using an agate, glass, or any hard surface to apply pressure and stain the surface. This imparts a natural green hue to your pot.