In this episode, we delve into the rich tapestry of how sacred spaces, material traditions, and early industrial pigments intersected in the story of interior surfaces. We begin by revisiting how in ancient and medieval times, pigments and paints were not mere decoration but deeply symbolic — tied to sacred rituals, spiritual spaces and the interplay of light and material. Then we transition into how the rise of industrial chemistry and mass‐production transformed that symbolic world, turning ornate pigment methods into something commodified — and hazardous.

You’ll follow the journey from cathedral frescoes and sacred iconography, into wallpapered parlours and factories churning out pigments with heavy metals. We’ll ask: How did the reverence once given to paint become undermined by exposure and toxicity? How does that history help us understand the surfaces in our own homes — what they mean, what they contain, and what they cost?

For designers, wellness-minded homeowners, and architecture-history buffs, this episode reveals:

* The spiritual and cultural foundations of paint and pigment in sacred architecture.

* How the transition to mass-produced finishes changed not just cost and accessibility, but health and experience.

* The hidden “poisons” behind the beauty — when status symbols became health hazards.

* What lessons this legacy holds for specifying healthy, meaningful finishes today.

Tune in and uncover the layered story of saints, paints, and poisons — because the surfaces in your space carry more than colour; they carry history.

Read the full article here.

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