Materials that age well
Why we favour stone, timber and honest finishes that look better with time, not worse.
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Materials that age well tend to be natural and solid all the way through: stone, timber, brick and metals that develop a patina. They wear in rather than wear out, so a home looks more settled after ten years, not more tired.
Wear in, not wear out
Some materials look their best on the day they're installed. Others get better with time. We lean towards the second kind: materials that are natural and solid all the way through, so a knock or a scratch becomes part of the character rather than damage.
What we reach for
- Stone: honed rather than polished, so marks soften into it
- Timber: oiled or lightly finished, so it can be refreshed rather than replaced
- Brick and render: durable, quiet backdrops that weather gracefully
- Metals with a patina: brass and bronze tones that deepen with use
A home should look more settled after ten years, not more tired.
In practice
At Thomas House, pale timber and stone keep the interiors calm and warm. At Glass House, stone, timber and dark joinery sit beneath a double-height ceiling and will only soften with time.
A note on budget
Good materials don't have to mean expensive ones everywhere. We'd rather use a few honest materials well, and spend where hands and eyes land every day.
Considering a project?
We take on a small number of new homes and renovations each year.
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Tell us about your project, what you have in mind and when you'd like to begin. Every project starts with a conversation.