bright and shiny

I love the look of a bright and shiny (i.e. lacquered) wall. Living in a house that's 60 years old with plaster walls that are somewhat questionable in their constitution, I haven't been able to indulge in a lacquered finished (although I tried it on the ceiling in our living room--not so great). The long, narrow hallway in the pool house would look amazing lacquered white and hung with black and white family photographs. I can already hear the bickering between Alex and me as we try to create a perfect smooth and shiny surface--it would be the wallpaper project allover again. Here's a look at some people who got it right (images from Elle Decor):

Images below from House Beautiful