Luxury beachfront home showcases concrete-look finishes

This luxury three-storey home at Avoca Beach in NSW demonstrates the versatility of plaster for creating contemporary concrete-look finishes.

The stunning new beachfront residence features extensive use of Rockcote Velvetina, applied by hand to create a consistent concrete look for both the interior and exterior. A smooth and seamless finish is used as a feature around oversized windows and doors in bedrooms and living areas, with the same look repeated on the inside and outside of the home.

On the exterior, east-facing walls visible from the balcony showcase the plaster finish, extending from the Alucobond eaves down three floors, ultimately abutting spotted gum timber decking.

Internally, the finish transforms a U-shaped staircase, complemented by glass balustrades, timber treads and black stringers.

Check out the gallery below:

Creating a contemporary concrete finish

Handcrafted plaster finishes were considered for the project when the standard off-form concrete walls specified by the architect didn’t produce the desired effect. As I was already on site applying exterior render, the builder approached me to discuss alternative options.

I suggested polished plaster would be ideal for delivering the clean, contemporary look sought by the clients and the builder enthusiastically agreed.

The intention was to create a reflective, highly polished finish with an evident patina to bring a unique character to the walls. A bespoke concrete colour was created for the project to complement the polished concrete floors, extensive glass, high ceilings and timber throughout the home.

A five-step application process was required to create a high polished, long-lasting finish. The home faces south-east and is in close proximity to the ocean so two coats of RockCote Repel were applied to protect the finish from the extreme coastal environment.

The results speak for themselves and both the builder and home owners were very happy with the finished product.

A powder room with the ‘WOW factor

Designed for entertaining, the home has magnificent living and entertaining areas, complete with cinema style viewing.

The home owners wanted to make an impact with their second-floor guest powder room. The brief was to create a tile-free finish that had the ‘wow’ factor and would be a talking point among guests.

Venetian Plaster was chosen for its lavish polished appearance and generous patina. After several colour consultations, a beige base colour was chosen, with the patina producing lighter and darker shades for an attractive effect.