An interior renewal in Brighton
A full interior repaint of a family home in Bayside — considered colour, clean lines and a calm, gallery-like backdrop for the owners' growing art collection.
Read case study
Sixth Generation
Finishing Practice
Bayside & Melbourne
Lorne & Surf Coast
About us
Surface is a Melbourne finishing practice, working between trade, art and design.
SURFACE is an artist-led practice — six generations of painters, and every person on the team came to the trade through the arts. It shows in how we think about colour, light and the feel of a finished room.
We guide the design process from first colour to final finish, across almost any substrate in the built environment — and where a space calls for it, we source the artists and artworks to complete it.
Our Services
External timber is always exposed to sun, rain and changing weather. Over time, coatings fade and break down, surface growth can develop, and moisture can begin to find its way into vulnerable edges, joints and end grain.
SURFACE offers planned timber maintenance to keep exterior details looking good and performing as they should. A regular program of inspection, cleaning, preparation and recoating helps address wear early—before it becomes a larger restoration job.
Learn more about maintenance plansWalls, ceilings, trims and feature rooms finished cleanly, with minimal disruption to your home. Outside, weatherproof finishes for facades, eaves, fences and outdoor surfaces — prepared and applied to last.
Learn moreRepair, patching and refinishing of damaged or aged surfaces to bring them back to their best.
Learn moreLimewash, mineral paint, polished plaster, textured render, patina and bespoke decorative work — the finishes that give a space its character, applied by hand.
Learn moreCoordinated painting programs for apartments, common areas and managed properties.
Bespoke murals and decorative finishes, working closely with you to realise a specific creative vision.
Our process
Clear communication at every step
From the first conversation to the final coat, we keep things simple, transparent, and stress-free. You'll know exactly what to expect at every stage of your project.
01Phone consultation
Tell us about your project, your goals, and your timeline. We'll answer your questions, discuss your options, and determine the best next steps for your home or business.
02On-site walkthrough
We'll visit your property to assess the scope of work, inspect surfaces, discuss colours and finishes, and identify any preparation required before painting begins.
03Detailed estimate
Rather than a vague list of rooms and numbers, each quote is presented as a clear visual project page: what is being painted, how surfaces will be prepared, finishes and options, and the approach from start to finish. It is a more considered way to begin—transparent, detailed and easy to refer back to.
Areas we service
Based between Bayside and Lorne, we service Melbourne and the greater Surf Coast.
Bayside
- Brighton
- Brighton East
- Hampton
- Sandringham
- Black Rock
- Beaumaris
- Highett
- Cheltenham
Surf Coast
- Torquay
- Jan Juc
- Bells Beach
- Anglesea
- Aireys Inlet
- Fairhaven
- Lorne
- Apollo Bay
Surrounding areas
- Banyule
- Boroondara
- Darebin
- Glen Eira
- Port Phillip
- Stonnington
- Whitehorse
- Yarra
“We couldn't be happier with the result. The team was punctual, professional, and paid incredible attention to detail. Our home feels completely refreshed, and the finish is flawless.”
Case studies
Latest from the studio.
A coastal restoration in Lorne
A six-week exterior revival of a weather-worn beach house above the Great Ocean Road — colour-matched, weather-proofed and brought back to life with the detail of a heritage repaint.
Read case studyMaintain the finish. Protect the timber.
A planned approach to exterior timber — regular inspection, cleaning, preparation and recoating on a set schedule, so details stay protected and small issues are caught long before they become a full restoration.
Read case study
Specialty surface treatments
Beyond conventional paint, a growing part of our work is in specialist finishes — breathable limewashes, textured and polished renders, reactive metallic patinas and mineral coatings drawn from houses like Keim, Resene and Porter's Paints. Each is chosen for the substrate, the architecture and the character a space is reaching for.
Read case studyWhy coastal homes need more care
On the coast, a finish works harder than it does anywhere else. Salt, wind-driven moisture and unfiltered UV break coatings down years faster than the same system would inland — which is exactly why a planned maintenance rhythm matters more here, both for the building and for the budget.
Read case study
Get in touch
Start your project.
Tell us a little about your home or project and we'll be in touch to talk through the details.