apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think that you can achieve the look with Durorock. Think sheet-rock but made of cement. (cement board?)
The only problem is that it's heavy and to cut it, you need to use a score-knife and trim the exposed mesh after that.

i hope this helps!

regards,

joel pirela
www.blueantstudio.com

http://www.decoratingchallenge.com/show224.htm (with a quick tutorial)
http://davesgarden.com/place/t/641023/ (for REAL concrete, not just a faux effect)
http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=200568 (a tutorial based on the Debbie Travis' Painted House concrete bathroom episode)

Hope this helps, like MANY things in reconditioning space, I think this is a trial and error project. GOOD LUCK and post pics!

I don't know what's in the picture but if you want it to look like concrete you can use a product called Skimstone.

It's sold in paint stores and online.

It looks like cement because it is cement. You apply it with a trowel, but it's just a skim-coat. It was designed to allow people to make decorative cement floors but I've seen it used to refinish counter tops and it can look awesome.

The manufacturer claims it can be used on walls too (venetian plaster will work too)

http://www.modernmastersinc.com/products.aspx?pl=SKM

The closest "Certified Training Center" to NYC is in Chatham NJ (I have no idea how close/far that is)

http://www.dundean.com/classes_main.shtml


In NYC, Janovic carries it, so you can see it in person. No doubt they can give you other ideas too.

http://www.janovic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=37

Not sure what that *exact* material is in the photo, but stone veneer meant for architectural cladding will give you a similar effect. For ideas, try

www.stonepanels.com

http://www.clarkpacific.com/products/architectural/natural-stone-panel.html

Riktha,
There are actual concrete tiles manufactured like this. I don't have a source off the top of my head, but I remember seeing a company from the U.K. that makes large format concrete tiles, even bigger than these (if in fact they are concrete tiles).

If you want something close to this, a panel effect, there are definitely large porcelain tiles that you could get for this. They've started to make large rectangular tiles like 2' x 4' and larger.

Great idea, but based in Berlin/Germany: wallpaper looking like concrete @ Betontapete.

Proposed DIY:
Cover wall with stucco mesh screwed through drywall into the studs. Cover floor with plastic. Skim coat wall with mortar, leaving desired texture. Admire wads of cash still present in wallet.

It won't look like unfinished concrete, it will be unfinished concrete!

I used very similar materials in my house. The product is called Viroc and is made from wood, rubber, and concrete. It is rot resistant, waterproof (I used it in my shower as well), and really cool looking. It resembles drywall and comes in 4 by 8 sheets and various thicknesses. It can be cut with a standard tablesaw. You need to buy it through a distributor, which I found in a few minutes online. Peace

I wonder if you could just paint that Skimstone product onto foam panels, then mount those to the wall. They couldn't weigh more than a few pounds, and that way you wouldn't damage the wall itself.

One downside to a cement surface though is noise. That stuff really reflects sound. I'm thinking foam panels wrapped in a cement-colored fabric, maybe a velour, might be a better option.

The material is cement board for use under tile floors; available at home depot, etc...

sunspot42 you beat me to it: "I'm thinking foam panels wrapped in a cement-colored fabric, maybe a velour, might be a better option".

thanks you guys for all your inputs! The fabric foam wrapped panels seem like a very nice idea. Why dint i ever think of this???
Also i will go to home depot to check the cement board stuff.
Thanks again!

Riktha, will you post photos when you've made your wall, whichever way you go?

sure will!