Cemcrete’s Artisanal Finishes are Perfect for The Artisanal Dining Experience

Dining has now more than ever become an experience, rather than just nibbling on a plate of food. Guests are thirsting for an aesthetically pleasing space as well as tasty menu options. South African restaurants are moving away from mundane and stereotypical finishes and are creating spaces that are as artisanal as the dishes they create. We showcase two artisanal restaurants that used Cemcrete’s distinctive finishes.

Pauls’ Homemade Ice-Cream Like any other gourmet cuisine, Paul’s sees ice-cream as an art and they treat their art with respect, without cutting corners. They believe that the legitimacy of their craftsmanship is based on the undivided and “hands on” attention that every batch of ice-cream receives through the production process. Cemcrete also values the craftsmanship of applying a cement-based finish and therefore it was the perfect choice for the finishes of the stores in Rivonia and Hyde Park.

The Rivonia Branch

The Hyde Park Branch

Cemcrete also values the craftsmanship of applying a cement-based finish and therefore it was the perfect choice for the finishes of the stores in Rivonia and Hyde Park. Designer of both stores, Anne MacLauchlan from Foundation Design, used SatinCrete Pewter for the wall application as well as the front of the counters, and CreteCote Shale for the floors in the Rivonia store. The Hyde Park store had a unique feature from South African illustrator, Karabo Poppy, whose artwork formed the centrepiece of this specific store.

MacLauchlan continued to incorporate Cemcrete finishes into the store by making use of 3D cut polystyrene panels coated with SatinCrete Pewter to form the backsplash and counter-fronts of the store. Cemcrete’s products were meticulously applied by Cherubinos, one of Cemcrete’s Gauteng Licensed Contractors. Check out Paul’s Rivonia branch, right outside the Sandton Gautrain station and Paul’s Hyde Park branch featuring Karabo Poppy’s intriguing illustrations!

Harbour House One of Cape Town’s oldest restaurants and an iconic Heritage building has been restored and transformed into the beautiful new Harbour House. Keeping the original form and structure of the building, the space features a white interior with Cemcrete cement-based floors, rustic stone walls and floor-to-ceiling windows, with sweeping views of the valley and the Constantiaberg mountain range from pretty much every seat in the house. Stone walls, Cemcrete floors, herringbone brickwork and fresh, white interiors complement the rustic feel of the space. For the flooring Cemcrete’s Colour Hardener in the colour Stone was used, adding the perfect casual yet trendy vibe to the new design. Cement finishes are not uniform in colour, this adds to the adaptable earthy aesthetic of the finish.

The nature of a cement finish lies in its application and physical properties, as the finish is applied, so its moisture is absorbed at different rates into the substrate. The final outcome is a finish with natural mottling and subtle movement. Read more about Harbour House here. Cemcrete’s finishes are fully customisable, durable and available in a variety of various textures and colours – perfect for creating your unique space.

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