Top 5 Materials We Love in 2026

Materials set the tone long before furniture arrives. The right surface can soften light, sharpen details, and make a space feel quietly expensive. In 2026 we’re seeing clients move toward finishes that are tactile, enduring, and beautifully understated. Here are five materials we’re specifying more than ever, and why they work so well in high end homes.

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1. Calacatta & Arabescato Marble
   Used well, marble reads timeless, not flashy. We favour bookmatched slabs for islands and feature walls, honed finishes for softness, and careful detailing around drips and edges. It’s the kind of material that elevates a room instantly, especially with warm timber and brushed metalwork.
2. Quarter Sawn Oak
   Oak remains the backbone of modern British interiors, but the cut matters. Quarter sawn boards give a calmer grain, better stability, and a more architectural feel across floors, stair treads, and joinery. We love it in natural tones with a matte finish that wears in gracefully.
3. Microcement
   Microcement brings seamlessness without feeling clinical. It’s ideal for wet rooms, utility spaces, and contemporary extensions where you want continuity between zones. The best results come from preparation and experienced application, so the surface stays refined, not patchy.
4. Bronze and Brushed Brass
   Warm metals add depth without shouting. Bronze, brushed brass, and patinated finishes work beautifully on taps, handles, trims, and lighting, especially against stone and off whites. The key is consistency: one metal family across the home, used with restraint.
5. Timber Cladding
   We’re specifying more external timber cladding for extensions and garden facing elevations because it softens architecture and sits naturally in a London garden context. Done right, it creates a warm contrast to brick and glazing, and it weathers with character while keeping the build feeling premium.

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A final note
Great materials only look expensive when the build is executed at the same level. Detailing, alignment, junctions, and lighting are what turn a good finish into a truly considered home.

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