Tadelakt: "Hard as Stone and Soft as Silk"

The first time I saw tadelakt was in St. Tropez, France, several years ago. I was immediately transfixed by the pearlescent, translucent, hand-rubbed-all-the-way-to-glossy, impervious-to-water finish. I had never seen anything like it before, and rarely have since. I had stumbled upon one of the oldest and most treasured plaster finishes in the world. The art of tadelakt is 4,000 years old, and comes from Morocco.

Designers in France are using it today for its silky texture and indescribable patina, which are unmatched by any other plaster finish available. It is absolutely stunning.

Tadelakt functions extremely well in wet areas and can form a seamless, monolithic finish to back splashes, countertops and sinks in kitchen, bathroom, shower and powder room areas. Made from natural hydraulic lime, quartz and marble powder, tadelakt is white in color and can be pigmented using natural earth pigments.

The tadelakt process is deceptively simple. A natural powder paste is applied to the surface, then polished with a smooth stone. This is repeated seven times. Finally, the surface is sealed by rubbing with a black olive oil soap.

To fully appreciate it's allure, it is said that you have to caress it. I couldn't agree more!

Satiny Coral Tadelakt Finish on

Integrated Shelves in

French Kitchen

A Parisian Salle de Bain Finished in

Black and Taupe Tadelakt

Tadelakt Taupe Walls in

Parisian Salle de Bain

Tadelakt Taupe Walls in

Parisian Water Closet

Charcoal Grey Integral Tadelakt Bathtub in

Parisian Bathroom

Tadelakt Red Shower Walls in

Chic Provencal Salle de Bain

Tadelakt Red Sculptural Bowl in

Provence, France

Creme Tadelakt Walls in Parisian Salle de Bain

Gorgeous Tadelakt

Parisian Salle de Bain

Beautiful Tadelakt Red and Gold Backsplash and

Integral Sink in Provence, France

Tadelakt Grey Countertops and

Shelves in Parisian Kitchen

Tadelakt Backsplash, Countertop and Integral Sink in

Provence, France

Tadelakt plaster finish would be gorgeous and luxurious in our American homes. I can see it working beautifully in chic Napa and Sonoma wine country homes.

If you have seen tadelakt installed here, I would love to see pictures!

Resources:

Les Valayans

Paris

Vancouver

Website

Photos Courtesy of Traditions du Maroc
and Maroc Design in
Paris and Avignon, France

.......

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

Friends in High, Green Places

Liz Goldsmith. She is a renaissance woman. She knows what is good for you and your home long before you do. And she is brilliantly well connected to boot. 

If you like the new look of my blog, it's thanks to her. She took my blog to school...to the graduate class in e-commerce she teaches at Florida State University. That class of very hip, bright and with-it students took their time to study my blog and came up with great ideas and suggestions, some of which I have already incorporated. I am looking forward to a group shot of this remarkable class, in particular Brittany C. Jones and Amanda Conseur. Many thanks!

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