Choosing finishes for the many components inside a home is a daunting task, just ask any proud owner of newly built or renovated home. Unless a homeowner is particularly creative, undertaking the task of choosing finishes without the guidance of a qualfied interior designer can temp one to go the safe route and only choose finishes that are considered “standard”. While there is nothing wrong with that, there are myriad creative and interesting options available to help set your space apart from the others while improving the value of your home at the same time. Finishes allow you to inject a sense of depth and personality into your living space.
There are many finishes available on the market today which you can have some fun with. We have shared some of those with you below.
Concrete
Ever a favourite in the Caribbean for its reasonably ‘hurricane-proof’ characteristics, concrete is so much more than a construction material to be hidden from view. It’s making its way into kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and offices, and being fashioned into everything from sinks and countertops to furniture. It is completely versatile allowing endless options for shape, size, colour, style and texture; it can be personalised by inlaying tiles, personal items or fossils; it can be polished to reveal embedded rocks, sand or coloured glass; and it can look ultra contemporary or old and rustic as if it were 2,000 years old (and everything in-between). Concrete is a natural product and therefore susceptible to staining and chipping, although chips are easy to repair (and almost undetectable). Through the application of an appropriate sealant concrete becomes virtually stain-proof. It’s important to note that concrete is heavy! Check whether your substrate requires additional support – ie cabinets beneath a concrete counter may need extra reinforcement.
Wallpaper
Once out of favour, wallpaper has made a serious comeback. There are an infinite number of designs available on the market, made even more interesting by technological innovations allowing paper designers free reign with only their imagination holding them back – from metal and mother of pearl to good old fashioned patterned paper. A favourite at IDG is glass beaded wallpaper with which you can do almost anything – a solid colour, a pattern, or as we have done you can supply your own image and have it imposed on the paper for a custom masterpiece. Paper an entire room, including the ceiling, for some serious impact. Or for a more subtle approach, paper just one wall in the room. The beauty of today’s wallpaper is that it’s completely adaptable and can be used on columns, ceilings, furniture insets, display cases and, of course, walls. Consider the location of your intended application and check that the composition of the paper is suitable such as avoiding woven grass papers in steamy bathrooms!
Glass & Mirrors
One of the advantages of both glass and mirror is that they can blend very well with other types of materials and they help create a bright and airy atmosphere. Well positioned glass and/or mirror can have a significant impact in smaller areas by creating the illusion of space and enhancing the available light. Glass in particular is a multi faceted product that has many uses, and does not have to be completely clear or colourless! It can take many forms including etched, frosted, fused colour (opaque or transparent), metallic colours, textured, inter-layered with mesh/natural fibres/veneers/metals – you get the idea. Think outside the box with both of these products, for example rather than a standard hinged door for your bathroom, install a frosted glass sliding panel with the word “bathroom” stencilled in clear glass (or any other word/poem/quote that you like...). Or consider a mirrored backsplash in your kitchen, adding a sense of depth that is easy to maintain! Be cautious when considering mirror placement – they can be unappealing when reflecting a blank wall or unattractive furniture and can cause unnecessary glare in a room.
Leather
Thanks to ingenious product designers, we need no longer be scared to use leather in the home – many are now practical (water, stain and fade repellent) and workable through careful selection of hides and the use of aniline dye (water based) and pigment (oil based). There are some exquisite leather products available that can be incorporated into almost any design – create a custom headboard with woven leather, wrap interior doors in embossed leather with a nail-head trim, or keep it simple by applying textured leather tiles to a wall in the home. Be aware that leather isn’t for everyone, given its natural properties, but used in an appropriate way it should patina beautifully and last a lifetime. As Teddy Edelman, founder of Edelman Leather, says about leather’s timelessness, “Quality leather doesn’t wear out; it wears in.”
A word from the wise for the creatives out there, while it is fun to add interest through the use of varied materials, be careful that you use them properly and for their intended purpose. Doing research to understand the benefits and draw backs of using particular products will avoid any surprises down the road. For example, understand the characteristics of certain stones - lemon juice on a Carrara marble counter will result in a permanent etch and while some would consider this the addition of character, others would consider it a disaster!
