No substitute for experience

As a second-generation painter, John Volante learned early on that there are few things more fulfilling than looking around to see a freshly-painted room which had been made beautiful by his own two hands. Initially, he wasn’t entirely sure what type of work he wanted to do after leaving high school – but it didn’t take long for him to discover that he shared the same passion as his father. While he was mulling over what career path to pursue, John agreed to lend his dad a hand for a few weeks at the family business, Volantes Decorating Service (VDS). And just like that, he was hooked.

While his father had taught him a lot already, John headed straight to TAFE NSW after year 12 wrapped to complete his Certificate III in Painting and Decorating to make things official. He was welcomed into the fold of the business in 1990, and he and his father have been building and growing VDS together ever since. Today, John manages their team of 16 qualified painters and decorators that complete everything from specialised heritage and restoration projects to painting new residential and commercial builds. Not only does VDS create gorgeous decorative finishes, they also provide design and colour consultation services to their clients.

Through their expert skills, product knowledge, trend awareness and uncompromising commitment to quality, VDS has earned quite the reputation – not just among their repeat clients but also by racking up an impressive number of awards. The company has frequently been recognised at the Master Painters Australia NSW Association’s Awards of Excellence, and a number of years, has even taken home the top honour: the Pinnacle Award for Best Overall Project.

Dedication to the craft and attention to detail are clearly qualities that run in the family, but they are also shared by the tradespeople on the VDS team. As the company closes in on fifty years of doing business, John knows that this has been a key to their company’s decades-long success. “I feel our passion and care has created our company ethos and gravitated us to our client base,” he says. “Not accepting a substandard finish pushed us into developing and honing our skills to deliver the best service we can.”

While every project offers a unique experience, John finds bringing the shine back to old gems the most gratifying. “We really enjoy the restoration of period homes where we have to remove multiple layers of paint and end up exposing the most beautiful details in timber or plaster work. It is very rewarding restoring these homes back to their original condition in a way that showcases the craftsmanship.”

One such project was the restoration of a Federation period home in Cremorne, for which VDS received a Pinnacle Award. John says what made it so outstanding went far beyond just picking the right paint colours to suit; it was also about treating and restoring the finishes. “It is a beautiful building and we wanted to respect the heritage architecture, while at the same time providing the contemporary feel the client was after. We started with the original 90-year-old windows, eaves, rafter ends and soffits – which were sanded back to remove over 20 years of failed paint and coatings systems. Then, we began the work on restoring these details to accentuate their beauty and highlighted them through different gloss levels. The result was a beautifully finished harbourside home, which respects its original period of architecture.”

When asked about his favourite project to date, John says there are too many memorable projects to list. “Each has its own story. We enjoy working for repeat clients, we love decorative projects that push detail, we love working alongside talented designers bringing their vision to life and we love seeing the expression on clients’ faces when we deliver their dream home.”

Looking back on his career so far, John says it has been an incredible journey. “It all started when I took some time to help path, and here we are 33 years later. I think this was his plan all along!” he laughs. “It’s flown by, and I still love every Monday morning! We absolutely love what we do, and this resonates through our work – which focuses on detail and quality finishes with the added bonus of working on some of Sydney’s most prestigious properties. Our reputation and 62 industry awards have given me and the team the drive to continue delivering a better project and finish than the last. After all, we are only as good as our last project.”

Despite his extensive experience, there are still plenty of years left in John’s painting and decorating career – and he doubts he will ever hang up his overalls to retire. “It’s too rewarding,” he says. “Completing a project is instantly gratifying. We are involved closely with designers and clients to ensure we achieve what they envisage for their project. We don’t accept that something is not achievable, instead pushing the limits and boundaries to separate us from our competition.”

› To see more of Volantes Decorating Service’s inimitable portfolio and service, visit www.volantesdecoratingservice.com.au.

BlackWhite magazine

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