Areas We Cover
Plasterer South Kensington and Kensington W8
South Kensington and the southern streets of Kensington W8 are defined by white stucco terraces, garden squares and mansion flats. Onslow Gardens, Onslow Square, Queen's Gate, Thurloe Square, Harrington Gardens and the Georgian frontages of Kensington Square are among the most carefully conserved streets in the Royal Borough. Choice Finishes provides heritage lime plastering, fibrous cornice restoration, render matching, basement tanking and polished plaster for homeowners, architects and designers here.
Project Media
Selected Heritage Work
Stucco terraces and garden squares
The tall fronts of Queen's Gate and Onslow Gardens, and the smaller houses of Thurloe Square and Kensington Square, were built with lime and need breathable materials when repaired. Inside, that means lime plaster and lath repair where original fabric survives; outside, render matching that keeps the white streetscape weathertight without softening mouldings and string courses. Many houses are listed, so we agree materials with architects and conservation officers before starting.
Mansion flats and converted houses
Much of South Kensington is now flats, in mansion blocks around Cromwell Road and Harrington Gardens and in floor-by-floor conversions of larger terraces. We work to building rules and agreed hours, protect common parts and joinery, and sequence the job so occupied flats stay usable. Re-skimming for kitchens and bathrooms sits alongside decorative finishes for halls and reception rooms.
Cornice and fibrous plaster restoration
South Kensington reception rooms were designed around enriched cornices, ceiling roses and sometimes arches. Where sections have cracked, been boxed in or lost, we take moulds from surviving profiles, cast new fibrous sections to match and finish the enrichment by hand after fixing. That is the approach we used throughout the ornamental restoration at Lancaster Gate in Bayswater, a three-year programme set out in our Lancaster Gate case study.
Lime plaster for listed interiors
Stripping walls back to brick is rarely the first choice. We repair in lime where the background is sound and replaster only where it has failed, because lime stays vapour-permeable in solid masonry and compatible with the ornament above. At Lancaster Gate we installed 4,000m² of traditional lime plaster, with riven timber lath where the original was beyond repair. Our lime plastering page explains the systems we use.
Polished plaster in period rooms
Tall reception rooms and wide stairwells suit polished plaster. At Lancaster Gate we burnished grassello di calce, a lime putty plaster, on vaulted ceilings in blue and bay windows in cream, chosen to sit beside traditional lime and ornament rather than read as a modern coating. Here we also apply Venetian plaster and Marmorino to walls and Tadelakt to showers when correctly detailed. Our polished plaster service page covers the range and our on-site sampling.
Basements and rear extensions
Basement excavations are common under South Kensington terraces, and tanking has to be right before any internal finish. As we carry out both, we can take the waterproofing through to the plaster. Rear extensions call for traditional plastering and render kept sympathetic to the listed house.
Working in Kensington W8
We are used to the Royal Borough's listed buildings and conservation-area controls: agreeing specifications, protecting period features and coordinating with other trades on live sites. Our wider work, towards Kensington Palace Gardens and Holland Park, is on our Kensington area page.
Plastering Services in South Kensington
Our plasterers in South Kensington deliver every specialism below, across South Kensington and the rest of London.
Lime Plastering
Traditional lime plaster restoration for heritage and listed buildings.
Tadelakt
Waterproof Moroccan lime plaster for bathrooms and feature walls.
Cornice Restoration
Matched cornice, ceiling rose and enriched plaster repairs for period interiors.
Fibrous Plastering
Bespoke cast mouldings, arches and ornamental plasterwork.
Cornice Repair & Fibrous Plaster
Cornice repairs, matched profiles, ceiling roses and traditional ornamental plasterwork.
Plastering
Full-service plastering for every project, from skimming to bespoke finishes.
Traditional Plastering
Skimming, re-skimming and wall & ceiling finishing.
External Rendering
Sand and cement, lime, silicone and monocouche render for heritage buildings, refurbishments and new builds.
Tanking & Waterproofing
Basement tanking and below-ground waterproofing systems.
Damp Proofing
Diagnosis-led damp repairs, salt-damaged plaster removal and appropriate replastering.
Polished Plaster
Venetian, Marmorino and Tadelakt decorative polished finishes.
Microcement
Seamless microcement floors, walls and wet rooms.
Other Areas We Cover
Frequently asked questions
Yes. We take moulds from surviving original profiles, cast matching fibrous sections and finish the enrichment by hand, the same process we used across Lancaster Gate.
Solid walls built with lime need breathable materials. We repair original lime plaster where sound and replaster in lime where it has failed, agreeing the specification with your architect and conservation officer.
Yes. Venetian plaster, Marmorino and grassello all suit period rooms and stairwells. We sample on site before committing to a full room.
Get in Touch
Planning a project in South Kensington?
Send us drawings or photographs and tell us about the property, its listed status and the work you have in mind. Call 07854 393865 or email choicefinishesltd@gmail.com. We typically respond within one business day.
Get a QuoteCall 07854 393865