Design. Partnership. Expertise.

Stand 471 | Business Design Centre, London | 3–5 February

Surface Design Show is one of the most important dates in the calendar for architects, interior designers and specifiers seeking material innovation and meaningful design solutions. This February, Ideal Work is proud to be exhibiting at the 2026 edition of the show, where we will be showcasing our luxury decorative finishes and sharing how they can support creative, high-performance projects across residential and commercial environments.

You will find us at Stand 471, where our team will be on hand to discuss materials, applications and design possibilities.

Showcasing design and innovation.

At Surface Design Show 2026, Ideal Work will present a curated selection of its most sought-after systems, each developed to offer design freedom without compromising on durability or performance.

Visitors will be able to explore:

• Microtopping®, our ultra-thin micro cement known for its versatility across floors, walls and bespoke elements
• Architop®, designed to deliver the look, feel and performance of polished concrete, ideal for high traffic environments
• Solidro, our latest high-performance waterproof micro finish, engineered for strength, stain resistance and rapid installation
• Terrae-Calce, a natural lime-based finish valued for its breathability, depth and refined surface character, bringing the tradition of Venetian architecture to contemporary design
• Rasico® and Rasico® Touch, a seamless and durable microcement, offering expressive textures for outdoor environments

Together, these systems demonstrate how surfaces can become an integral part of architectural storytelling, supporting both aesthetic ambition and technical demands.

Designed through collaboration

At the heart of Ideal Work is a collaborative approach. Our systems are developed through close dialogue with architects, interior designers and our network of highly trained specialist applicators. This partnership-led model allows us to respond to real project needs, from material performance and sustainability to bespoke colour development and surface texture.

Our UK team works closely with designers from early concept through to installation, providing technical guidance, samples and application expertise to ensure every surface achieves its full potential.

As Nicole Kreel of Ideal Work UK explains, our materials are not just finishes. They are creative tools that allow designers to realise their creative ambition and enrich the experience of the space.

Visit us at Stand 471

Surface Design Show offers a valuable opportunity to see our materials up close, understand their qualities and discuss how they can be applied in future projects. At Stand 471, visitors can expect to see a range of finishes, explore textures and colour options, and speak directly with the Ideal Work UK team about upcoming schemes.

Whether you are working on a commercial interior, hospitality space, workplace environment or residential project, we invite you to discover how Ideal Work systems can support your next design.

Event details

Surface Design Show 2026
3–5 February 2026
Business Design Centre, London
Stand 471

The latest addition to our portfolio of rock-solid micro finishes.

Project Overview:

Question: What system can we engineer that is

• fully waterproof and stain-resistant; scratch, abrasion, and impact resistant;
• fast and cost-effective application; eco-friendly;
• tailored for every space and budget;
• wide colour range and custom finishes;
• On trend, bold colours that pop?

Answer: Solidro

Challenges:

Polished concrete is a popular choice for its industrial elegance and sleek aesthetic. For many architects, interior designers, and homeowners, a priority is achieving this look with the minimum amount of installation time, disruption, and cost, whilst at the same time achieving a highly durable and low maintenance finish which accommodates our demanding modern lifestyles. Other priorities are around environmental impact, non-toxicity, and sustainability.

Solution:

Solidro—A Modern Micro Finish for Real-World Spaces Developed as a high-performance micro finish, Solidro was specifically designed to address these common challenges while delivering a seamless, durable, and visually versatile surface. Whether applied to walls, floors, or bespoke furniture, Solidro offers a refined style with outstanding performance across all applications.

Solidro – Bold colours that pop.
This is due to the technical features of the system, which allow us to obtain bright colours.

The application process:

Three Tailored Application Levels

Solidro has been designed with three levels of application to suit a variety of needs and budgets:

1. Easy Wall – A stylish, decorative finish for interiors.
2. Standard – A balanced solution offering durability and style, ideal for high-use areas in the home.
3. High Performance – Commercial-grade resistance for the most demanding spaces.

This tiered approach allows professionals to achieve the right level of performance without over-engineering or overspending.

Fast, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Installation

One of the biggest concerns with many premium finishes is the time and cost of installation. Solidro has been developed to simplify the process offering:

• Rapid drying time (ready for the next coat in just 3–4 hours)
• No need for extensive sanding between layers
• Ready-to-use—no time wasted on preparation
• Non-toxic formulation improves health and safety for applicators.
  The result is lower labour costs, faster project completion, and a better working environment for tradespeople.

Where Solidro Shines:

Solidro’s versatility makes it ideal for a wide range of environments:

• Kitchens: Seamless, stain-resistant surfaces for floors, walls, and countertops.
• Bathrooms and Wetrooms: Waterproof finishes with a luxurious aesthetic.
• Living Areas and Hallways: Hard-wearing yet refined surfaces for high-traffic areas.
• Furniture: Custom tables, benches, and built-in pieces.
• Commercial Settings: Durable, fast-installing finishes for businesses where prolonged downtime is not an option.

Waterproof

Stain Resistant

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Limitless Design Flexibility

Solidro is available in a wide range of colours and can be custom-mixed to any RAL or NCS shade on request. Whether the vision is warm and earthy or cool and contemporary, Solidro provides the freedom to create truly bespoke interiors.

Learn More about Solidro

Conclusion: A New Standard in Surface Finishes

Solidro was developed in response to a clear need in the market—a way to achieve seamless durability with low-maintenance. Today, it represents a surface solution that delivers longevity, speed, cost-efficiency, and creative freedom. Whether you are designing a modern family home, a boutique retail space, or a high-end hospitality venue, Solidro offers the performance and beauty to meet your vision with confidence.

Click here to download a PDF of this case study.

Creating an elegant, contemporary, and luminous interior with Terrae-Calce

Project Overview:

The client wanted to achieve a contemporary yet timeless aesthetic, emphasising simplicity, refinement, and maximising natural light diffusion. The interior designer was tasked with selecting a wall finish to enhance the space’s visual softness while maintaining durability and sustainability. Terrae-Calce, a 100% natural lime-based wall finish, was chosen for its ability to provide a luminous, textural surface that harmonises beautifully with modern design principles.

Challenges:

The client desired an interior that felt contemporary and inviting, avoiding the starkness often associated with minimalist designs. Additionally, sustainability was a key consideration, requiring a material with low environmental impact, natural breathability, and a soft, organic appearance. The finish needed to be applied seamlessly across large wall surfaces while ensuring a refined, uniform texture.

Solution:

Terrae-Calce was selected for its unique composition of lime and natural aggregates, which create a smooth yet subtly variegated surface.

The application process:

• Surface Preparation: Walls were primed with a base coat of natural lime-based marble aggregates to ensure optimal adhesion and long-term durability.
• Hand-Trowelled Application: The Terrae-Calce finish was applied in fine layers, creating a depth of texture while maintaining a seamless appearance. The use of natural pigments produces luminous colour even in the palest of tones.
• Soft Burnishing: To enhance its luminous quality, the surface was gently burnished, creating a refined, matte sheen that interacts beautifully with natural and artificial light.
• Final Protective Treatment: A breathable, natural sealant was applied to protect the surface while preserving the gorgeous aesthetics of the material.

Terrae-Calce Natural pigments and aggregates

Results:

The finished interior exuded a quiet sophistication, balancing contemporary minimalism with a soft, organic touch. The Terrae-Calce walls delivered:

• A refined, luminous aesthetic: The natural mineral composition subtly reflected light, creating an inviting glow throughout the space.
• Seamless, soft texture: The hand-applied finish ensured a consistent yet dynamic surface, free from harsh lines or artificial uniformity.
• Sustainability and breathability: As a 100% natural product, Terrae-Calce contributed to improved indoor air quality, absorbing and releasing moisture to maintain a comfortable environment.
• Durability with timeless appeal: The finish proved highly resilient, and will maintain its beauty over time with minimal maintenance.

Client Feedback:

The homeowner expressed deep satisfaction with the results, noting that the walls felt “alive” due to their subtle variations in tone and texture. The designer praised the finish for its ability to blend effortlessly with both contemporary furniture and natural materials, achieving the desired balance between refinement and warmth.

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Terrae-Calce has 8 natural pigment-based colours. Different shades can be obtained depending on the amount of pigment added to lime (10, 20, 40 80g). Terrae-Calce colours are part of Ideal Work’s Art of Harmony colour scheme.

Learn More about Terrae-Calce

Conclusion:

Terrae-Calce demonstrated its exceptional versatility as a contemporary wall finish, offering a perfect fusion of simplicity, softness, and luminosity. This case study highlights how natural materials can be seamlessly integrated into modern interiors, enhancing both aesthetics and environmental responsibility. Great materials are only successful when applied with skill and artisty and the credit for realising a perfect marriage between the potential of the product and the vision of the designer and the client is down to the expertise and skill of the team at Texture Painting in Belgium.

Click here to download a PDF of this case study.

Enhancing Spaces with Microcement

When it comes to design, modern wall texture finishes play a pivotal role in creating stylish spaces. Among the plethora of options available, microcement stands out as a versatile and sought-after choice for contemporary walls. In this article, we will explore the versatility of microcement as we delve into the world of decorative interior wall finishes. This luxury material can transform your living spaces with unique textures, creating stunning visual effects that designers adore.

Why Do People Love Textured Walls?

Textured walls have gained immense popularity in recent years, captivating the attention of designers. Homeowners love the wide variety of aesthetics that textured walls can bring to their home with modern materials that are easy to clean and maintain. So, what makes modern textured wall finishes so appealing?

• Visual Interest and Depth: Textured walls add a dynamic element to a room, instantly elevating its visual appeal. The interplay of light and shadow on textured surfaces creates depth and dimension, thereby transforming an ordinary wall into a stunning focal point.
  
• Adding Personality and Character: Texture on walls allows individuals to infuse their spaces with personality and character. With a wide range of textured finishes available, homeowners can choose one that aligns with their style preferences and overall design theme. Add a cosy and rustic feel, or a sleek and modern edge. Both can be achieved with modern wall textures.
  
• Acoustic Benefits: Textured walls have the added advantage of improving acoustic properties within a room. The textured surface helps to diffuse sound waves, therefore reducing echoes and minimising noise transmission. This makes textured walls particularly desirable in restaurants, retail spaces, and open-plan living or work spaces, where sound control is essential for creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment.
  
• Durable and Low Maintenance: Textured wall finishes using modern materials like microcement offer not only aesthetic appeal but also durability and low maintenance. Unlike plaster, the textured Microtopping® will last for years to come with almost no deterioration caused by wear and tear. Easy to clean, your walls will remain as beautiful as on day one.

Microcement: An Introduction to Luxury Wall Finishes

Microcement, also known as micro-concrete, is a decorative material that is increasingly popular among those seeking to create a smooth polished concrete aesthetic. Microtopping® is a high quality, versatile material consisting of a cementitious mixture combined with polymers. It creates a thin (2-3mm) finish that adheres to various surfaces, including walls. Microtopping®’s versatility allows designers to also create unique textures impossible to achieve with other microcements. The result is a seamless, elegant, and luxurious finish that adds visual interest to exterior and interior spaces. Utilising the thin application of Ideal Work’s microcement, designers have the flexibility to incorporate it just about anywhere. This includes installation over existing tiles, plasterboard, drylining, cement board, and plyboard, or to revive cracked concrete surfaces.

Modern Textured Wall Finishes with Microcement

One of the key advantages of Ideal Work’s microcement, compared to many others, is its ability to create appealing textured finishes to walls. With its application, designers can achieve a wide range of textures, from rough and industrial to smooth and sleek. By using techniques such as troweling, layering, or stenciling, Ideal Work’s microcement systems can emulate the appearance of natural materials like concrete, stone, metal, and decorative plaster finishes. Weather-resistant and UV-stable, Ideal Work’s Microtopping® and Rasico® are beautiful and practical choices for adding texture to walls, both inside and out. This versatility allows designers to unleash their creativity. It offers virtually endless possibilities for unique interior wall finishes linking seamlessly to the exterior.

Camila Rodrigues, Lead Interior Designer at COR London, used three Ideal Work systems to bring the flavours and colours of Mexico to life in London’s Cavita restaurant. She infused her urban-chic design scheme into the space with textured Rasico® on the walls, smooth Microtopping® on the bar and distressed Acid Stain® on the ceilings.

Rodrigues says, “Cavita’s surfaces needed to be durable but still feel warm and playful. The evocative colours and rustic wall textures we achieved with Ideal Work’s systems helped create visual depth and a welcoming atmosphere. The client appreciates how hard-wearing the surfaces are. I am thrilled with the chic Mexican aesthetic they evoke.”

Types of Modern Wall Finishes

Microcement opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to internal wall finishes. Whether you seek a rustic look, an urban-industrial vibe, or a refined and polished aesthetic, microcement can deliver the desired effect.

Some popular textured wall finishes include:

Raw Concrete Finish

Emulating the raw beauty of concrete, a raw concrete wall finish adds an edgy and contemporary vibe to any space. Microtopping® is an excellent choice for a raw concrete aesthetic because it is easy to maintain, UV stable and highly durable. It provides the look and feel of concrete in just a couple of millimeters of depth.

Venetian Plaster Finish

With a smooth and polished texture, this finish exudes elegance and luxury, reminiscent of traditional Italian plasterwork. An excellent option for creating a Venetian plaster finish, Ideal Work’s Microtopping® comes in myriad colours and can achieve both matte and shiny finishes, according to the designer’s vision. (Click for a colour chart.)

Oxidised or Shiny Metal Finish

For those seeking an industrial appeal, an Acid Stain over Microtopping®, or oxidised metal finish can achieve a weathered, rusted effect, adding character to your walls. Purometallo® is a luxurious and durable alternative to installing metal wall surfaces. It produces an alluring metallic finish on almost any surface. From a gold effect metal feature wall to a copper shiny staircase, Purometallo® is sure to create a conversation starter in your home, restaurant, retail space, or office.

Distressed Finish

By deliberately creating imperfections or distressed patterns, this finish offers a vintage and worn-in charm. Skilfully playing with colour and application techniques, Ideal Work’s Microtopping® will produce a distressed wall finish that creates a unique focal point in any room.

Unique Patterned Finishes

Adding textures and patterns to walls has become a popular design choice in recent years because it can showcase individual style and create depth. Use Microtopping® to create appealing patterns or stenciled designs. Alternatively, opt for Rasico® to achieve sought-after wall textures such as flame patterns, tree-bark texture, or woven aesthetics.

Examples of modern textured wall finishes include:

Ideas for Using Modern Wall Texture Finishes:

Texture on walls can dramatically transform the atmosphere of a room, adding depth and visual interest. With microcement, interior designers have the freedom to explore various concepts. Here are a few inspiring ideas for using modern wall texture finishes:

• Feature Walls. Create a statement by applying microcement to a single wall, highlighting its unique texture and finish. This technique is particularly effective in living rooms, bedrooms, or offices.
• Accent Details. Incorporate microcement as a design element, such as paneling or borders, to add subtle texture and visual appeal.
• Room Dividers and Partitions. Utilise microcement to create functional and aesthetically pleasing room dividers, separators, or enclosures. These additions can enhance the overall design and bring a touch of modernity to open-plan spaces.
• Mixed Materials. Combine microcement with other materials, such as wood or glass, to achieve a harmonious blend of textures and create a captivating visual contrast.

When it comes to decorative wall finishes, microcement shines as a top choice for designers and homeowners creating modern and luxurious spaces. Its versatility and ability to create unique textured wall finishes make it a favorite among design professionals. Whether you’re looking to achieve a raw industrial look, a polished Venetian plaster finish, or something entirely unique, microcement from Ideal Work offers an array of possibilities. Embrace the world of microcement’s modern wall texture finishes and transform your walls into captivating works of art.