Dulux Acratex: The texture and finishes set to define Australian architecture and design

As the intersection of exterior and interior environments has become a key guiding principle within residential and commercial design, architects and designers require coating solutions that excel equally in aesthetics as they do in performance.

GALLERY  

Looking to the year ahead, Dulux Acratex foresees the design community embracing natural finishes, richly tactile surfaces, and nuanced palettes, layering depth, warmth and expressive detail across residential and commercial projects alike.

Today’s design demands go beyond protection and decoration. Highperformance, multi-functional, and sustainable finishes now play an integral role in architectural expression. In response to this, Georgina Raudon, Marketing Manager of Dulux Acratex explains that designers are increasingly moving away from monolithic façades in favour of layered, mixed-material compositions that introduce depth, rhythm and visual nuance. “We’re seeing a growing focus on seamless indoor–outdoor connectivity, with finishes and textures extending across thresholds to create cohesive, fluid living environments. From a colour perspective, palettes are becoming more grounded and restrained. Earthy neutrals, mineral tones and soft beiges, taupes and greys dominate, selected for their ability to respond to light, landscape and climate.”

Continuing to describe these trends, Raudon adds, “Designers are also gravitating toward concrete and cement aesthetics – often seeking the visual character of these materials without relying on a concrete substrate – alongside tactile wall finishes such as microcement which celebrates subtle imperfections and surface variation, while creating fluidity between interior and exterior spaces.

Responding to these evolving design priorities, Dulux Acratex offers a considered suite of finishes that enable architects and designers to achieve harmony across texture, colour and materiality. Designed for use on both interior and exterior surfaces, the breadth and versatility of the range balances expressive design potential with the durability and environmental performance required of contemporary architecture.

The Dulux Acratex range includes an array of on-trend finishes such as the concrete range Dulux Acratex AcraStone (previously MicroCement), its Venetian Plaster collection – which responds to the growing desire for tactile surfaces – and textured Roll-On finishes, such as Mediterranean Classique, Tuscany Fine and Marmarino Naturale, offering limestone, travertine, and other natural stone textures. The Dulux Acratex

AcraShield Concrete range further extends these possibilities, offering a smooth, softly mottled finish inspired by Venetian plaster techniques and contemporary concrete aesthetics

Together, Dulux Acratex’s finishes provide architects and designers with a singular destination to explore finishes that bring material depth, architectural clarity and long-term performance to the built environment. With a foundation built on research and innovation, Dulux Acratex began with professional render systems and high-performance, flexible acrylic coatings, offering a multitude of coating and cladding solutions from the ground up. Beyond its extensive suite of textural and natural finishes,

Dulux Acratex also provides end-to-end support for its Roofing Systems, Waterproofing and Protective Membrane Systems, including AcraSkin; and Cladding systems, featuring the newly launched StoneShield Cladding System.

PROJECT CREDITS
Product: DULUX ACRATEX VENETIAN® PLASTER POLISHED STUCCO
Colour: TINTED TO DULUX NATURAL WHITE™
Photographer: TOP VIEW MEDIA

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