Luxury new-build interior finishes in Richmond upon Thames

The brief

London Roc asked us to deliver the interior decoration of two luxury new-build homes in Richmond upon Thames. These were high-specification houses built for buyers who expect a flawless finish from the day they move in, so the decoration had to match the quality of the architecture, the joinery and the materials around it.

The scope covered every room in both houses: walls, ceilings, woodwork and joinery, plus the oak staircases and handrails that run through the heart of each home. As a new build decorating contractor, our job was to take each house from bare, freshly plastered surfaces to a finish that was ready to photograph, show and sell.

The challenge

Luxury new builds leave nowhere for poor workmanship to hide. Large rooms, generous ceiling heights and big windows let in raking light that shows every lap mark, roller stipple or uneven cut-in line. New plaster also needs the right preparation: painted too soon, or without a proper mist coat, it can flash, crack or peel within months.

Each house also needed two very different kinds of finish. Wide walls and ceilings suited a sprayed finish for speed and smoothness, while detailed joinery, edges and natural timber called for traditional brush and roller work. The oak staircases were a feature in their own right and needed to be protected throughout the job, then finished by hand at the end.

Our approach

We planned the decoration around the build programme so that each area was ready when the other trades needed it, and so that finished surfaces were not damaged by follow-on work.

• Preparation first. New plaster was left to dry properly, then mist coated and filled, with every wall and ceiling checked under work lights before the finish coats went on
• Spray finishing on large surfaces. We used airless spray finishing on walls and ceilings to give an even, lap-free finish across the open-plan spaces
• Traditional finishes where it matters. Cutting in, woodwork, skirting, architraves and doors were finished by brush for crisp lines and a hard-wearing, hand-laid finish
• Oak staircases and handrails. The oak treads, strings and handrails were protected during the works, then carefully prepared and oiled by hand to bring out the grain and give a durable, premium finish
• Clean, protected site. Floors, glazing and fitted joinery were masked and sheeted throughout, and every room was left clean at the end of each stage

Combining spray and traditional finishes

Spraying and brushing are not competing methods; on a high-end new build they work best together. Spraying gives large walls and ceilings a smooth, factory-like finish with no roller marks, and it is fast, which keeps the programme moving. Brushwork gives the precision needed where colours meet, around joinery and on detailed woodwork.

Using both on the same project meant the homes received the speed and smoothness of a sprayed finish with the sharp detail of hand-finished decorating. It is the same approach we take on residential decorating projects across London and Surrey where the client wants a showroom standard.

The result

Both homes were finished to the high standard expected of luxury new builds in Richmond upon Thames, with smooth walls and ceilings, crisp cut-in lines and joinery that looks as good close up as it does across the room. The hand-oiled oak staircases became one of the stand-out features of each house.

The finished interiors were ready for photography, viewings and handover, giving the developer homes that reflected the quality of the build.

Planning a new-build development?

We decorate new-build homes, show homes and developments for developers and main contractors across London and Surrey, working to your programme from mist coat to final sign-off. Get in touch to discuss your next scheme.