February 16th 2018

If you watched the last season of The Block you’ll probably have noticed COLORBOND® steel’s sexy new Matt finish on the exterior of the contestants’ studios.

I’m excited by this new direction for COLORBOND® steel, which comes in direct response to the move we’ve seen towards matt finishes – both in exteriors and interiors (in cookware, appliances, technological gadgets, on benchtops, and in kitchen cabinetry profiles).

The focus of modern living has shifted firmly to sustainability and environmental sensitivity and these days we are much more inclined to be sympathetic to – or reflect – our surrounding environment. COLORBOND® steel’s palette has always been inspired by the colours of the Australian environment, but with some home owners now preferring to use texture and tone to create a point of difference, matt finish takes that synergy with the environment one step further, shifting the focus of attention firmly onto the design profile of our products and buildings.

Matt finishes allow our exteriors to work with the environment – to be embraced by the environment – while subtly enhancing the classic forms of the architecture so that our buildings don’t blend entirely into the background.

Of course, when you’re installing roofing, walling, gutters, fascia or downpipes you need to be confident that COLORBOND® steel Matt will offer the same resistance to environmental wear and tear as the standard range. The COLORBOND® steel Matt range features BlueScope’s Activate® technology providing enhanced corrosion resistance. Tested for over a decade, COLORBOND® steel Matt has been designed to withstand our harsh Australian environment. The result is a product which maintains its Matt finish, looking even better for longer.

And, COLORBOND® steel Matt’s colour range means there are a number of options for incorporating Matt finishes into your exteriors.

Select one of the paler shades such as Surfmist®, Dune® or Shale Grey™ and you can create harmony between your building and the canopy of a eucalyptus forest or a sun-drenched beachscape. Or, if you’re looking to enhance or highlight the architectural features of your home, the Monument® and Basalt® shades are perfect for creating a dramatic effect. This season of The Block demonstrated that approach, with the contestants using COLORBOND® steel Matt to accentuate and enhance the angles of their studio buildings – achieving evolving effects as sun and shadows hit the building throughout the day – highlighting different angles and features.

A third approach is to mix COLORBOND® steel Matt and COLORBOND® steel to achieve a three-dimensional look. Select a colour from the COLORBOND® steel Matt palette, for example Monument® Matt, and combine gloss and matt finishes to highlight the architectural profile of your building. This also places focus on the textural appearance, as it changes throughout the day with different light levels and shadows.

Matt exteriors create interest that I love. Whether you’re using matt in your home’s interior or exterior, there is an understated elegance to the finish that is gaining real momentum. I like to think of COLORBOND® steel Matt as the unsung, or reticent, hero of design, showcasing clean lines and contemporary form and ensuring the architecture is always the star of the show.

*I teamed up with BlueScope to bring you this post.

COLORBOND®, Activate®, BlueScope, the BlueScope brand mark and ® colour names are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited. TM colour names are trade marks of
BlueScope Steel Limited.