Wanting to create wow-factor and break out of the suburban mould, we used an innovative product called Cemintel to clad this client’s new home. The design brief for the Adelaide home on the edge of a man-made lake, was “raw and sleek”.  Everything in West Lakes is rendered and cream coloured. The clients wanted something that was a bit more industrial and different from the norm.

When the homeowners saw Cemintel’s Territory Quarry Urban Grey cladding panels – they were hooked.  A natural yet contemporary option, Urban Grey has the raw concrete look – a chic addition to the latest residential and commercial design.  The prefinished panels also have a NichiGuard coating with an anti-staining, self-cleaning function, so no finishing is needed and it’s low maintenance.

Our client, Greg, says he loves the Urban Grey for its quality, style and durability. “It looks good and substantial and like it will last a long time. There’s a quality to it; even before it was installed, it looked structural,” he says.

“Because we live on the water the elements can be brutal so we wanted a product that could withstand that and allow the house to age gracefully.  Overall, we love the look, the fact that it’s got a product guarantee and that it’s virtually maintenance free.”

Moving from a Federation style home – with coffered ceilings and French doors – to a contemporary, open plan design was an exciting prospect for the homeowners who’d last embarked on a building project 20 years ago.

“We wanted it to be very simple but we also wanted to tie in some rustic elements,” Greg says.

“We’ve chosen aluminium windows and the eaves are timber composite to give a natural look and complement the Urban Grey panels nicely.

“We’ve also had a horticulturalist organise a mostly Australian native perennial garden. The look of the garden against the contemporary style of the home is beautiful.”

Greg says his neighbours love the look of the home.

“It’s not a monolith. It blends in and complements everything else on in the area,” he says.

“We get comments about how great it looks every day. People wanted to buy the house before it was finished. We’ve had letters in our letterbox and we’re often humbled when people ask if we’d consider selling.”

But Greg and Chantelle have no plans to move out. “We absolutely love it, it’s a really special space. It’s got a lovely ambiance about it and a lovely feel.”