In the mid 1980's I studied with Joanne Day at the Day Studio Workshop in New York and San Francisco.  She introduced me to wall glazing, marbling, wood graining, and gilding and acid etched metals.  The use of various chemical solutions on corrosive metal leaf (e.g. sodium sulfide on dutch metal- fake gold leaf), can create antique one-of-a-kind patinas for furniture, walls, ceilings, architectural inlays, doors, etc.  For more on the possibilities of gilding, check out Sepp Leaf Products.