By Kendall Watson

They can turn a metal door into a handsome mahogany portal or transform a terra cotta tiled floor into travertine marble.

In fact, they can make just about anything look like, well, anything else.

Practicing a trade commonly known as “faux finishing,” Todd and Susan Allemand are still busy sprucing up home furnishings around Kirkland and the Eastside despite declines in home values and a weakening real estate market. Based at a Central Way storefront near Marina Park, Todd and Susan Allemand opened Out of this World Fine Finishes, their decorative painting contracting and retail business, in 2003. Most of their clients are high-end homeowners and commercial properties that continue to invest in home improvements and renovations — seemingly unaffected by the economic downturn.

Out of this World’s work covers a variety of decor: professional-grade plasters, glazes and sealants used to texture and color walls; custom painted patterns, frescos and landscapes; and even furniture to match a desired motif.

With this arsenal of decorating tactics, Todd said the two can create just about any look.

A few years ago the couple opened up an artist’s studio behind their office to display a mock-ups of various designs and patterns for their customers. The studio also doubles as the location for the “Seattle School of Decorative Painting,” paid classes that instruct homeowners and independent contractors in faux finishing techniques.

It wasn’t long ago that the couple worked job sites around the Puget Sound as union carpenters. Todd’s last project was the 42-story IDX Tower in Seattle and Susan’s last commercial work was on the Paine Field aircraft tower in Everett.

But on vacation to Las Vegas a few years ago, the Allemands booked a room at the Venetian Hotel and Casino. Instead of hitting the jackpot, their hotel wound up inspiring a career change.

The Venetian is well known for its fine Italian-style furnishings. The couple were so taken with the room’s decorative finishing that they decided to learn the craft (also known as “faux finishing”) and go into business for themselves. In a matter of months, Todd and Susan, both 38, had opened their specialty home decor business. After running their successful enterprise for five years, the Allemands made a trip to Florence, Italy, to tap into the roots of their creative inspiration.

Moving to Kirkland in 2002, they thought their business would fit in with the “artsy” feel of the downtown galleries and public art. True to their Italian-inspired beginnings, an Italian phrase, “Amici Benvenuti” (“Welcome, friends”), is painted above their storefront window.

Most of Out of this World’s business is contracted for high-end homes and condominiums. They’ve done work on about 20 houses in Kirkland so far, bidding only on homes valued over $3 million. The Allemands are often busy out on jobs, hiked up on scaffolding painting in one of their custom designs or adding gold and silver filigreed plaster work to liven up a dining room or foyer. Starting at about $1,500 for a “powder room,” the prices can range upwards of $100,000 depending on the project size.

The Allemands use durable plasters that are applied in multiple layers can be mixed with a range of metal and mica dust to create a fine sheen to a wall or ceiling.

One of their latest projects — a Bellevue penthouse apartment in the Lincoln Tower — bursts with so much color, the orange and light blue hues from the ceiling work are visible from below on the street.

The concept and products of decorative painting also offers a “green” benefit. The veneers and plasters are water-based and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and the new finishes can be installed on top of existing furnishing, saving the hassle and waste of tearing out the old stuff.

With business doing well, the Allemands are expanding. This year, they opened a kiosk at the Costco Home Store. As part of an aggressive marketing campaign, the couple are also offering classes to Costco members at a discounted rate. A typical three-day tutorial runs at $1,000 per person.

“We keep on learning,” Susan said. “You have to if you want to survive.”