We've just completed an interesting new project in Dublin.  The client is a fashion designer and the architect is Donal Colfer.

The other finishes used in the design are terrazzo, walnut and glass, so that while this interior is very contemporary, it still feels warm and relaxing, and does not sacrifice the softness that can often be lost in a very modern scheme.

Talking with Donal, I knew exactly the look he wanted to achieve.  First of all, the finish had to be calming.  My initial thought was Japanese shikkui, but we also wanted it to have a slightly industrial feel, while suggesting the look of tadelakt.

I knew we weren't going to achieve this using a ready-mixed marmorino.  We were going to have to take this back - way back!

So instead of using air-hardening lime putty, we used natural hydraulic lime, and instead of just marble dust, we used a blend of marble dust and limestone in various granulations up to 0.9.  To this we added a few handfuls of river sand and just a smidge of secret ingredients X, Y and Z...

For pigment, we chose natural raw umber and a spot of black oxide.

The process was as follows:

- first layer applied randomly to create a suction coat
- second layer applied as the first, but scoured with a yellow pine float
- third layer: one hand of the material
- fourth layer: rework third layer with half-a-hand
- polish

The polishing is the tricky bit because of the limestone and river sand; if you're not careful you'll get a bruised, dark finish.

The final layer is a coat of encaustic wax.

This has to be one of my favourite finishes.  It's so soft and calm, and to anyone who knows what they're looking at, it's obvious that it hasn't come ready-mixed from a tub. A finish you make yourself from scratch has a totally different look.  Maybe not everybody's cup of tea, but I love it.