Emotive subtlety

Polished plaster has a certain character that’s hard to look past, especially when it comes to feature applications. In this case, Ambitec’s Suave Polished Plaster introduces a minimal finish to a room of elegantly unfolding layers.

Ambitec Suave Polished Plaster in Beautiful Black creates a subtle feature about the fireplace. Image: Sam Hartnett

The heart of this Westmere home designed by Evelyn McNamara Architects is accessed via a glazed stair that leads down from street level to a south-facing lower floor. The journey down is one of noticeable lightness; a significant juxtaposition to the jewel in the crown — the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen space where warmth and tactility exude across layer and material.

It is a meeting of materials that articulates a beautiful sense of calm. A concrete floor sits beneath a timber-lined ceiling; in between marble is juxtaposed with accents of black, adding depth and focus to this palette of luxurious warmth. Perhaps the most subtle but evocative inclusion is the Ambitec Suave Polished Plaster — a decadent addition above the fireplace, which is mirrored in the bar.

Ambitec Suave Polished Plaster in Beautiful Black provides an elegant backdrop for the bar. Image: Sam Hartnett

Using the Ambitec colourway Beautiful Black, the feature presents a quiet backdrop within a melodic space. As light falls onto the plaster, the textural finish comes into its own; a moody appeal articulated in the movement of light across its surface. Ambitec’s Suave Polished Plaster can be finished to create surfaces from silky smooth to heavily distressed, and is available in 80 colourways.

Latest video features

In the Coromandel, a home with a humble profile and a thoughtful design makes the most of a stunning location.

Built with awe-inspiring attention to detail, this Arrowtown home is a fresh interpretation of a familiar Otago rural vernacular.

This sculptural Northland bach is a perfect north arrow on a remote farm high above the sea.

With the sun on its bow and the community at its stern, this is a house in which the elements are always front of mind.

Trending articles

Design News

The solar effect

Clean, green energy has never been more accessible, and, when it comes to rooftop solar installations, the myriad benefits are hard to look past.

Design News

Poolside in the city

This contemporary villa renovation in central Auckland offers a joyous distinction between old and new, and a beautiful harmony of form, material, texture, and experience.

Homes

Rugged elegance

Located among grand, expansive neighbours, this modest holiday home by Andrew Meiring Architects had to find confidence and gravitas from smart, sculptural moves.

Design News

Tonal clarity

In the dunes of Te Ārai, this coastal retreat was designed with two aims: to make its presence known and to sit quietly with its