Marble handles on dark wood wardrobe doors

Materials · 19 October 2026

3 things we no longer use

And what we use instead.

01 White inside laminate

We prefer light wood or grey. Bonus points if it has a fabric texture.

White inside laminate wardrobe — No longer

White laminate wardrobe shelves — No longer

Light wood wardrobe interior — Light wood

Drawer lined in fabric texture laminate — Fabric texture

02 Stucco texture paint

It gets dirty in our climate and is hard to maintain. We prefer a light wallpaper or lime plaster.

Why lime plaster:

It breathes, so moisture leaves the wall instead of getting trapped
It naturally resists mould and mildew
A soft, matte finish that ages well
Marks and small cracks can be patched without redoing the whole wall
No strong paint smell or harsh chemicals

Stucco texture paint feature wall — No longer

Dirt collecting on stucco texture paint — No longer

Lime plaster walls by a staircase — Lime plaster

Green lime plaster wall — Lime plaster, in colour

03 Plain chrome hardware

Handles and fittings can turn from a practical necessity (an eyesore) into statements and accents. Consider brass or brushed nickel finishes instead, for a little oomph.

Plain chrome cabinet handles — No longer

Brushed nickel drawer handle — Brushed nickel

Black and bronze wardrobe handles — Statement handles