Rockland’s growth is easy to read from the river: wave after wave of new builds stepping back from the Ottawa River waterfront, twenty-five minutes east of downtown. Clarence-Rockland families tend to buy new, build smart and personalize hard — and a hand-finished wall is one of the few upgrades that makes a new-construction interior feel genuinely one of a kind.
Limewash for new-build interiors
Fresh drywall is the perfect canvas for limewash. Hand-brushed in overlapping passes, it gives big open-plan walls a soft, cloud-like depth that changes with the river light through the day — a world away from the flat grey-beige these interiors usually start with. Mineral-based and VOC-free, it’s also a healthy choice for young families.
Venetian plaster as the signature surface
For the wall everyone sees — the fireplace, the dining room, the wall behind the bed — venetian plaster delivers a polished, stone-like finish with real depth. It’s the difference between a house that was bought and a home that was designed.
Microcement where water lives
Microcement wraps showers, bathroom walls and floors in one continuous waterproof surface. No grout lines, no tile joints — just clean, seamless material. It’s also a striking, durable option for basement floors and laundry rooms.
Colour, decided in your own light
River light is strong and changeable, and it makes paint chips lie. Every Rockland project includes physical sample boards — brushed and trowelled in the actual colours you’re considering — left with you long enough to watch them through a morning and an evening. It’s the only honest way to choose a mineral finish, and it’s included in the price of the work.
How it works from our Ottawa studio
We travel from our Ottawa studio at 2183 Carling Ave (inside the Alteriors showroom, visits by appointment) to projects across the region. Most quotes start with photos or a short video of your space — free, with no site visit needed. For larger Rockland projects we come out for an on-site consultation and bring physical sample boards so you can judge colour and texture on your own walls, in your own light. Highway 174 makes Clarence-Rockland one of our fastest trips from the studio.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work in both English and French?
Absolutely — bienvenue. A good portion of our Clarence-Rockland clients prefer to talk through their project in French, and that’s no problem at any stage from quote to final walkthrough.
Our house is brand new. Do the walls need special preparation?
New drywall just needs the right primer and a sound paint base — we handle preparation ourselves as part of every job, so there’s nothing you need to arrange beforehand.
Which rooms give the most impact for the budget?
In Rockland’s newer floor plans, the main-floor great room wall and the primary ensuite consistently deliver the most impact — one limewashed or plastered feature wall changes how the whole level feels.
Ready to see samples in your own light? Call or text 613-255-1512 or email info@designerwallfinishes.com for a free quote on your Rockland project. We reply the same day.