#146 Tardis – Limewash Paint

#146 Tardis – Limewash Paint

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#146 Tardis – Limewash Paint

#146 Tardis – Limewash Paint

€1,00

Deep blue with icy coolness. Tardis is a noble, dark, yet remarkably airy shade – like the interior of an old police-box telephone booth standing in fog, or moonlight filtering through the heart of a glacier. It’s profoundly deep, almost navy, but never turns black or heavy – it always carries that signature cool translucency and mysterious lightness.

* The coverage indicated below applies to a single coat. For optimal results, Limewash is traditionally applied in 2–3 coats.

Size

Limewash Paint ZUBRA from A to Z

How to create the Limewash effect — a 4-step guide

Step 1: Primer (PrepCoat) — mandatory

Our ZUBRA COLORS PrepCoat is specially designed for Limewash and other water-based lime paints. It does two things at once:

  1. Increases adhesion (acts as a universal primer);
  2. Balances surface absorption so the paint can properly “soak into” the substrate — this is the key to achieving the Limewash effect.

How to choose the application method:

  • White smooth surfaces → dilute PrepCoat with ~20% water.
  • Dark walls / colored surfaces → do not dilute; cover completely to “neutralize” the underlying color. May need additional second layer of PrepCoat if the dark color still appears on the wall.
  • Plasterboard with joint compound → apply 2 coats:first coat: ~20% water, to even out the different absorption levels of the board and the joint compound.second coat: undiluted. This will equalize the absorption differences between the board and the joint compound.

Tools: brush, roller, or spray.

Note on other primers: the Limewash effect depends 40% on the right primer. You can test other primers at your own risk — always make a small test with our paint on your wall first.

Step 2: Primer drying time

Wait at least 6–8 hours. Even if the surface feels “dry to the touch,” there may still be moisture inside. Painting too early can mix the layers and ruin the effect.

Step 3: Painting with Limewash paint

Use only a brush (a wall brush or our double Limewash brush). A roller won’t create the Limewash effect — it will look flat and lose the intended texture of the technique.

The paint is ready to use — do not dilute it.

Technique:

  • Paint chaotically, spreading the paint across the wall.
  • Don’t paint “cloud shapes” like in online tutorials — it’s easy to overdo it and lose the natural look.
  • The standard is 2 coats (with a 6–8 hour break between each).
  • 3 coats: recommended if you want smoother transitions or when using near-white (very light) shades where the primer might show through.

Why does the “cloud effect” appear?

Limewash is slightly transparent. The difference between the primer color and the paint color, combined with areas where more or less paint is applied with the brush, creates irregular, mineral-like transitions.

What will you see after the first coat?

  • With darker or neutral colors, edges and streaks may appear sharp — that’s normal. They will even out after the second (or sometimes third) coat.
  • With near-white colors, a third coat is sometimes needed because the light paint and white primer can create a flat appearance.

Working with two colors (options):

  • Layered: 1st coat darker, 2nd coat lighter → subtle “show-through” and depth.
  • Two colors on one brush: special effect; we recommend it mainly for a single accent wall, not for large surfaces (on big areas it can look too “handcrafted”).

Important: Before ordering full liters, get 250 ml testers and check the color, number of coats, and possible combination of two shades. It’s the only reliable way to see how your wall will “come to life.”

Step 4: Protective coating (optional)

Natural Limewash finish = no sealer:

  • the surface is stable (doesn’t dust or stain your hands),
  • retains a deep, mineral matte finish.

Downside: it’s not washable — stains are usually fixed by repainting a thin “patch.”

With protective matte sealer:

  • Plus: higher resistance to dirt and moisture (e.g., around hidden doors or splash zones).
  • Downsides: slightly darkens the color and changes the matte character; it’s a thin “film” that can be damaged by aggressive cleaning.
  • For direct contact with water (e.g., showers), a two-component polyurethane sealer is required — a different category of protection.

Recommendation:
apply the sealer only where it’s truly needed. You can always consult us for advice on the right product and technique.

Additional tips

  • Do not dilute the paint (it’s perfectly prepared for brush application).
  • Use 250 ml testers before any larger order — this lets you check the color in your lighting and on your wall texture.
  • Limewash paint is odorless and safe for households, children, and pets.
  • If you really want to use a different primer than ours — make a test with Limewash on your wall before starting the full area.

Tardis

A profound blue carrying the chill of glacial ice and regal depth.
It sits at the edge where royal blue meets frozen midnight navy – intensely dark, yet strangely weightless and full of shifting mystery. Never flat, never heavy; always breathing.

In Limewash the color awakens dramatically: after just two layers, powerful tonal shifts appear – cool cyan glints melting into inky shadows, soft misty clouds, and crystalline fractures that catch and scatter light like hidden veins inside a glacier. The surface feels alive, almost liquid, quietly majestic.

Ideal for contemporary, introspective spaces that dare to be bold: minimalist dark bedrooms, sophisticated living rooms with low lighting, private libraries lined in dark wood, serene home offices, or entryways that instantly command attention and calm.

It loves:

  • crisp white, pale ash gray, and very light concrete tones as contrast
  • cool marble, quartz, polished concrete, brushed steel, satin chrome, smoked glass
  • charcoal linen, deep charcoal wool, matte black accents
  • aged silver, patinated brass, frosted metallics
  • occasional deep jewel tones (emerald, sapphire, amethyst) used sparingly

Tardis is the sensation of standing inside an ancient glacier at twilight – cold air on your skin, infinite blue depths ahead, absolute stillness, and the strange, magnetic feeling that the silence itself is watching you back.