If you have been perusing home decorating magazines, online sites, or home furnishing catalogs lately, you surely have noticed that cement walls are trending. Here are a few pics from the current Restoration Hardware catalog:
This look is everywhere, and because I started to get requests for this urban finish, I decided I better get into the studio and create a variety of Cement Look Finishes. So, back in November of 2014, after extensive research, I did just that. Here is a sampling, and as always, just click on any photo to enlarge to see the details.
This is a smooth finish done with two colors of a soft metallic plaster. I find that most of my residential clients like the look of a textured finish, but are a bit hesitant to put a lot of texture on their walls. A finish like this is a good option. It has a lot of movement and interest, but is smooth to the touch.
This finish is done in horizontal stripes and has a semi-rough texture to it.
A combination of textured products, plasters and glazes creates this rough textured finish.
Here’s another rough textured finish that brings in some browns and blacks with the grays.
I wanted to bring in some color and sparkle to contrast with the rough cement look texture, so I used some blue foil in random areas, before applying the plaster, texture and glaze.
Below, a matte, relatively smooth bands contrast with bands of foil.
These types of finishes are great for accent walls, but can also be used in an entire room as featured in this Family Room I recently did. The contrast of the smooth tiled fireplace wall works well with this heavily textured cement look finish. Eventually, some rustic shelving will be installed on both sides of the fireplace.
