In architectural homes, texture has become as vital as form or light. Surfaces don’t just exist - they call out to be touched, they whisper stories of how they were found, how shadows fall, how a room breathes under human touch. When the hard structure of a home meets the soft and textured finishes of it’s interior design, a richer sensory experience is born.

Workroom’s Dunraven project captures this beautifully. John Bornas explains “these choices are about achieving a balance within the spaces we create. Whether it’s playing with a specific material that a client is interested in or aiming to elicit a certain emotional response, the team at Workroom ensures a harmonious blend of elements.” In that house, the juxtaposition of off‑form concrete walls with warm oak, fine upholstery, and carefully selected curtains underscores how texture softens and humanises the hard shell of the architecture.

In Adam Kane’s Walnut House you’ll find the perfect example of the use of texture to balance grandeur with warmth. Central to this was the use of light‑coloured linen sheers in the living and kitchen wings, paired with block‑out roller blinds in the bedrooms, all concealed within recessed pelmets for clean lines. The 5.2m high raked ceilings, could have created a stark imposing space but when combined with warm walnut joinery and an understated palette of natural materials the feeling is of calm and space to breathe.

This same approach to contrasting textures play out in interiors where harder, cooler materials dominate. One home by Biasol features pale travertine, fluted concrete, steel and natural stone, forming a sleek, refined backdrop. Here, Lovelight installed full-height sheer curtains to filter daylight and offset the weight of these materials. By softening the palette, the furnishings introduced movement and tactility - both key to humanising the space and inviting deeper connection.

In another project by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture, the expression of contrast is more theatrical. Across double-storey volumes and oversized glazing, soft wool sheers in gentle blush and dove grey tones were installed to provide both privacy and warmth. These treatments float between rooms like veils, breaking up scale and allowing light to diffuse gradually. This deliberate softness acts in dialogue with the project’s bolder moves - polished concrete floors, brickwork and custom steel-framed openings - forming a textural rhythm that plays throughout the home.

Textural contrast is also essential in homes where heritage character meets new intervention. One such home, renovated by Fiona Lynch, combines original brickwork and timber beams with custom joinery and bold architectural additions. Window treatments were specified to align with this palette: soft-fold linen curtains to add grace and flow to rooms with strong horizontal lines, and motorised block-out rollers that disappear when not in use. This ensures that furnishings serve both period charm and modern functionality without competing with the structure.

In a more coastal context, the team at Studio Esteta embraced a quieter expression of contrast - pairing delicate sheer fabrics with clean architectural geometry. Here, the furnishings are intentionally understated, selected to mirror the softness of sand and sea without drawing focus. Despite this minimalism, they anchor the rooms and provide essential balance, cooling off the visual heat of robust finishes like render and stone.

It is through these kinds of collaborations that Lovelight contributes to the layering of textures in each of our clients’ spaces. We work closely with architects and designers to understand not only what materials are being used, but how they are experienced. It’s not just about adding softness, it’s about choosing the right tone, opacity, and texture to enhance what already exists and to ensure every element of the home feels considered, connected, and complete.