Journal
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
Cast brass wardrobe pulls
Brass
Black and bronze wardrobe handles
Statement handles