The earthy beauty of a bespoke textured finish

There’s a certain earthy beauty about textured render walls. Intriguing and charming, they invite us to reach out and touch, to explore the composition with multiple senses.

The owners of this brand-new home at Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast sought a cost-effective look that captured the essence of a patina in a more textured finish.

Inspired by a barn but with a contemporary twist, the large living area features cathedral ceilings with exposed timber roof trusses, upcycled barn doors and a concrete floor. Large windows open out to valley and bushland views, and cast soft, natural light onto the walls.

Check out the gallery below

An industrial rustic look

Experimenting with different products and colour combinations, I developed a truly bespoke multi-tone textured finish using RockCote Earthen Render and hemp.

Creative trowel work with the natural clay render and heavily textured hemp combine for an industrial, rustic look with the appearance of a patina. For added durability and protection, RockCote Repel was applied over the rendered walls.

Working with large surfaces like this takes care and planning. It’s important to know the product and how it behaves as well as work efficiently to ensure continuity across the entire surface.

The day I finished this project, the home owner was showing her friends around their new home. After the grand tour, she came to see me to say how much she loved the finish. Husband Ben concurs, and left this review on my Google business page:


“Couldn’t be happier. Occasionally in a building project you come across a truly exceptional tradesman – Chris is one of these. Cannot recommend his services highly enough.”


Creating bespoke and unusual finishes is my speciality and passion. I’m constantly experimenting with different renders and plasters in my workshop, developing exciting new finishes and combinations. If you have a certain look in mind for your project or would like to talk about a truly unique aesthetic for your home, office, café or restaurant, please get in touch.

Photography: Glenn Zocher