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Our services
Our specialist surface coverings and finishes give your project the touch of luxury it deserves.
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Venetian plastering
Venetian plastering What is it?
Traditional Venetian plaster is made of a limestone base putty, marble dust and sand. It was used extensively during the Roman Empire to imitate natural stone surfaces inside palazzos, villas and cathedrals. Skilled artisans would apply it to walls and ceilings with a trowel in multiple thin layers to achieve the desired finish. It has a semi-uniform, slightly opaque appearance. It can also be enhanced with bespoke tinted resins to create beautiful tones and gradations of colour.
What are the benefits?
As Venetian plaster is lime-based, it’s one of the most natural materials you can use in your home. It’s non-toxic with very low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it hypoallergenic. The smooth, stone-like finish is incredibly hardwearing and waterproof. It’s breathable because it allows moisture to escape through its porous surface. The lime in the plaster gives it a high pH, which acts as a natural fungicide, so it won’t harbour mould, mildew or algae.
Venetian plaster has real beauty. Its depth of tone, colour gradients and almost luminous finish make it a statement wall covering that speaks of the best kind of understated luxury.
Where can I use it?
Owing to its waterproof yet breathable nature, Venetian plaster is perfect for humid settings, such as bathrooms, wet rooms and steam rooms, as well as any interior or exterior walls. Its shimmering colours and natural warmth also add quiet luxury to any reception room where you want to make a statement.
Did you know?
The Romans used to apply up to 10 coats to achieve the beautiful effect Venetian plaster creates. Nowadays, modern methods mean it only needs (a much less time-consuming!) 3-4 layers.
Moroccan Tadelakt
Moroccan Tadelakt plastering
What is it?
Tadelakt is a traditional decorative plaster that originates in the Marrakesh region of Morocco. It was first used in the 11th century to waterproof the royal Berber cisterns. Like Venetian plaster, it has a limestone base, but with the addition of black soaps made from olives. When these materials are combined, a chemical reaction between the two creates a waterproof membrane, making Tadelakt perfect for wet areas. It is finished with a burnishing tool or traditional river stone to create its cool, silky surface, reminiscent of natural stone, and a soft, opulent satin sheen.
Where can I use it?
Due to its waterproof finish, Moroccan Tadelakt plastering is perfect for bathrooms, wet rooms and steam rooms, where it was traditionally used. It’s flexible enough to be applied to floors, walls and ceilings to create a seamless look. It’s soft sheen and natural warmth work beautifully in either rustic or ultra-modern interiors, adding an extra dimension to any reception room where you want to make a statement. Use it in an ultra-minimalist space with little other decoration and you’ll see it really shine!
What are the benefits?
As Moroccan Tadelakt plaster is lime-based, it’s an all-natural material. It’s non-toxic with very low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making it hypoallergenic. The smooth, stone-like finish is incredibly hardwearing and waterproof. As a seamless surface, there are no nasty grout lines to clean, either. The surface is resistant to mould and is also anti-bacterial, making it perfect for damp areas such as bathrooms, spas and showers. It’s simple to clean with gentle cleaners and water, so it’s low-maintenance too.
Did you know?
The word ‘Tadelakt’ means ‘to rub in’ or ‘massage’ in Arabic. This comes from the final finish, which was traditionally achieved by burnishing the surface with smooth river stones..
Marble plaster
Marble/polished plaster
What is it?
Marble plaster has the same base as Venetian plaster but with added coloured resins or aggregates to mimic the different tones and veining of natural marble. The preparation and application is the same as for Venetian plaster, but it can be given a range of textures. The difference is in the finish. The final coat is burnished (polished) with a special tool that gives the surface the appearance of solid marble, creating a beautiful smooth, tactile finish, glass-like sheen and textural depth. Once finished, the plaster is very hard-wearing with a cool, marble-like feel, known as ‘marmorino’. Like Venetian plaster, it can be enhanced with tinted resins to create bespoke tones and gradations of colour not found in natural marble.
Where can I use it?
As with Venetian plaster, marble plaster is also waterproof and breathable, so is perfect for humid settings such as bathrooms, wet rooms and steam rooms, as well as kitchens or other reception rooms where a hint of luxury is required. In addition to walls and ceilings, it can also be used on structural elements, such as columns and archways, fireplace surrounds and feature walls. It the past it was used this way used to mimic high-quality stone that would have been too expensive or heavy to use in its natural form. Marble plaster’s glossy finish, shimmering colours, tonal depths and natural warmth will make a statement wherever you chose to use it.
What are the benefits?
Marble plaster has the benefit of being much more cost-effective than solid marble, but is equally hardwearing. Unlike traditional cement, it’s less prone to shrinkage and cracking. Seal it with wax to repel dirt and that’s it! It will develop a beautiful patina with age and only needs rewaxing every couple of years to maintain its good looks. The huge range of colours we offer means you can have the luxury of any marble finish you desire but at a fraction of the cost.
What are the benefits?
A type of marble plaster known as ‘scagliola’ (from ‘scaglia’, an Alpine Italian dialect for limestone) first appeared in Britain during the 17th century. A rare and beautiful surviving example is the fireplace in the Queen’s Closet at Ham House in Surrey.
Moroccan Tadelakt
Microcement
What is it?
Microcement is a modern, cement-based decorative material with added resins and pigments. It was developed in the 1950s as an alternative to conventional concrete for flooring repairs in industrial contexts. The application process involves mixing cement with sand and water. This creates a smooth slurry that is poured into moulds, just like traditional concrete.
Where can I use it?
Modern microcement is extremely versatile and can be used to make anything from large scale structural elements such as seamless floors, walls or staircases in open-plan spaces to kitchen worktops, tables or even built-in shelving. You can even build an entire bathroom out of it, including the sink and bath!
What are the benefits?
The structure of microcement makes it ideal for creating surfaces with excellent thermal conducting properties, such as flooring. It is compatible with underfloor heating systems, too.
It is anti-slip, hardwearing and can be installed in much thinner layers than traditional concrete, typically 2-3mm thick. It’s low-maintenance, easy to clean, and is resistant to water and bacteria.
When installed, microcement’s seamless finish is a sleeker alternative to tiles and makes any space feel bigger. It comes in a huge range of colours and finishes, bespoke to your project, so it’s the perfect choice for retail and commercial settings, too, where brand specifications need to be maintained.
Did you know?
There’s no need to remove previous surfaces before installing microcement – we can install it on top of existing concrete screed floors, liquid screed floors, existing sound tiles and concrete stairs.
Luxury bathrooms
Luxury bathrooms
With our luxury bathroom service, you can combine any or all of our services to make your dream bathroom a reality. Whether it’s the clean, sleek lines of an ultra-modern space, or the luxury spa feel of floor-to-ceiling Tadelakt plastering to create a serene retreat, we can help you achieve the lap of luxury in your home.
Arrange a meeting with us to discuss your requirements. We can help you choose which of our wall and floor coverings is best for you and advise on colours, textures and finishes. Then we’ll come out to see your project and take detailed measurements. From these, we will prepare a bespoke costing for you and send out handcrafted sample(s) of your chosen finish(es). Once you’ve approved them, both sides will sign a contract and we’ll get to work making your space your space.
paint effects
Luxury paint effects
To finish off your project in style, we offer a luxury paint effects service. Our skilled decorators will custom-design a finish to fit the exact look you want. We can offer a range of textures, colour combinations, paint blends and dramatic luxury effects you simply can’t buy off the shelf. Our finishes are bespoke to you, whether it’s a metallic, textured style or a soft, glowing pearlised effect. We also offer wood effect or stone finishes, and our experienced decorators are knowledgeable enough to know what will work for you and your space. This service is suitable for walls, floors and feature furniture.
