I'm with Travis...I would absolutely add MUCH taller accessories...replace the short vase with pure drama with ceiling high branches that would cast awesome shadows. Where the stone piece is (which is awesome) I would do an arch tall statue. I also think the lighting can be improved, which is essential in this kind of space. The dark floor perhaps is casting the wrong kind of shadowing...I'd like to see honed marble. I'd give my right arm for such a space!!!

Hi all, it's now 2020! I'm at render stage and would love it to be white but the renderer I spoke with this morning said to think long and hard about 'white! as it gets dirty very easily especially taking into account the recent dust-storm, not to mention the ash and smoke from the ongoing bushfires. I would like to know: how your respective white renders are coming along in regards to appearance, staining and maintenance; and what type of render and render finish do you have? I am looking at a sandy Rokcote acrylic render. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi Eric, Internally, wall finishes are usually a two part system. The first part is called the float, and is a single coat of cement render with a smooth - ish finish. It is then usually covered with a white plaster called the set. When talking to plasterers, it is called float and set and is usually around $18m2 + GST depending on job size. If it is only a wall then you will be probably paying a day rate or hourly rate and it will work out higher as they can't get a good amount of materials up vs the setup etc... If you only want the cement render finish, it is called a sand finish. I still do a two coat method as it gives a better and stronger finish. External sand finish is around $22m2 + GST on a single storey... again, job size is relevant. Other items such as metal corner beads ( I do all the time) and corbels or mouldings are usually a linear metre rate. Hope that helps... Cheers

Hi if you've got a lot of chasing it is tough to conceal unless patched very well. You don't need to set an entire house (unless of course you've chased every wall). We take each case as it comes depending on the surrounding render condition ie is the brickwork/render fretting already (powdery). If so, we strip it off and put it down as one of those costs where you don't see any benefit but need to do. If not, look at the location and see if it will be very visible in natural light. A good plasterer can make it look pretty smooth and if he can't quite get it then even that can be concealed with flat paint.... Or you strip back that wall only and float and set it completely. Alternatively, when faced with patches that have no hope of repair / lots of light and multiple substrates I dry line every time ie I gyprock straight over the walls /structure / steel and create a new fresh surface. Cheers