Clayworks

In this special lookbook sponsored by natural finishes brand Clayworks, we’ve selected 10 interiors from our archives that feature walls finished with the brand’s clay plaster.Clay finishes are a healthy, breathable alternative to paints or wallpaper on internal walls and ceilings. Naturally pigmented and free of toxic ingredients, they are made of natural materials, do not require painting and are compostable.
Clayworks’ plaster finishes are manufactured in Cornwall, England. Here are 10 homes, restaurants and offices that showcase their products.

Porteous’ Studio, Edinburgh, by Izat Arundell
Design studio Izat Arundell converted this former blacksmith’s workshop in Edinburgh into a compact apartment with a muted material palette.
Clay-based plaster was applied to the walls to create a calm tone, with a simple palette of stone and wood used to create an overall natural feel.
Find out more about Porteous’ Studio ›

Birch and Clay Refugio, London, by Rise Design Studio
As its name suggests, this renovated and extended London flat called Birch and Clay Refugio makes extensive use of clay finishes.
The kitchen features light grey plaster walls, while a calming light grey-green shade was used for the master bedroom and a light pastel pink in the children’s bedroom.
Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›

Sticks n Sushi, London, by Norm Architects
This London sushi restaurant by Danish studio Norm Architects was designed to have a series of spaces each with its own atmosphere.
Light clay finishes were used in the larger, more open restaurant spaces, with darker tones applied to create a more intimate feel in the private dining areas.
Find out more about Sticks n Sushi ›

Devon Passivhaus, Devon, McLean Quinlan
This low-rise Passivhaus home by McLean Quinlan is set behind a red-brick wall that obscures the textured interiors and art-filled hidden courtyard.
The studio aimed to create a “serene” environment inside the home by pairing rough sawn oak flooring with clay plaster walls and charred wood cabinetry.
Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›

Dulong store, Copenhagen, by Norm Architects
Norm Architects combined natural materials to create a calm finish for this jewellery showroom in Copenhagen, which was informed by modernist artists’ studios.
The studio used a light clay plaster with a smooth finish as the backdrop for the store that has oak flooring and travertine furniture.
Find out more about Dulong store ›

Barbican apartment, London, by Takero Shimazaki Architects
Takero Shimazaki Architects was informed by a client with strong ties with Japan for the interiors of this apartment in central London’s Barbican estate.
Throughout the flat, the studio aimed to balance Japanese architectural language with the concrete structure of the brutalist Barbican complex. Walls finished with clay were combined with tatami mats and numerous timber finishes.
Find out more about Barbican apartment ›

Hoof cafe, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, by Bone
Design studio Bone used rustic clay plaster for the walls of this cafe in the United Arab Emirates as part of its design that aims to recall horse stalls.
Named Hoof, the spartan cafe was furnished with blocky hand-brushed steel counters to contrast the naturally finished walls.
Find out more about Hoof cafe ›

Highgate home, London, by House of Grey
Interiors studio House of Grey chose the furnishings and finishes of this London home with the health of its occupants and the health of the planet in mind.
Along with custom-designed timber furniture and a bed upholstered using coconut husk fibres, the home’s walls are finished with natural clay.
Find out more about Highgate house ›

Leaf House, London, by Szczepaniak Astridge
Designed to be a peaceful retreat in south London, this loft extension contains a master bedroom focused on a wooden bath with views across London.
Japanese interior design, as well as sustainability, was important for the choice of materials used in the loft, which has clay covering its roof and walls.
Find out more about Leaf House ›

Clay House, London, by Simon Astridge 
Architect Simon Astridge uses layers of coarse clay to line the walls of this one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a Victorian mid-terraced property in London.
Appropriately named Clay House, the material was used to give an unfinished appearance to the walls and ceilings of the open plan living space and create a calm atmosphere in the bedroom.
Find out more about Clay House ›
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing green kitchen interiors, peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.
This lookbook was produced by Dezeen for Clayworks as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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