It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when lime-based paints began their quiet takeover of Singaporean interiors, but one thing is certain: textured surfaces have found their place and they’re not going anywhere. At Noble Surfaces, however, texture is more than just a visual trend. Co-founder Jason sat down with us in this edition of In Conversation to unpack the deeper story behind their artisanal, eco-conscious lime-based finishes and how magic happens when it meets carefully-planned lighting, bringing depth, movement, and dimension to the walls they coat.
And as a partner at Rooms by Sol Luminaire®, Noble Surfaces is immersed in a uniquely collaborative space where lighting, hardware, and surface specialists converge. For Jason and his team, this has sparked a fresh wave of experimentation and learning. Textures are no longer considered in isolation, but as part of a dynamic ecosystem of materials, tones, and technologies. The result? Wall finishes that don’t just complement a space, but respond to it, transforming under different light sources and evolving throughout the day.
Pictured Above: Halo V2
Since Noble Surfaces was founded, we've seen significant changes in the local market, particularly in terms of customer awareness and demand for sustainable and eco-friendly building materials. When we first started, the market was primarily focused on conventional paints and plasters, which often came with harsh chemicals and a negative environmental impact. Over time, however, there’s been a growing shift toward more natural and sustainable alternatives, driven by an increasing awareness of environmental issues and a desire for healthier living spaces.
As people become more conscious of their environmental footprint, we’ve seen a greater acceptance and demand for lime-based products like ours, which are non-toxic, biodegradable, and have long-term benefits like improving indoor air quality and regulating humidity. This shift has been exciting for us, as it has allowed us to position Noble Surfaces as a trusted leader in the market for eco-friendly paint and plaster solutions.
Our journey into incorporating benefits like dehumidifying and odour-removing properties into our wall textures started with a deep understanding of the natural qualities of lime and its historical use in construction. Lime-based materials have been used for centuries for their ability to regulate humidity and maintain a healthy indoor environment. We wanted to tap into these natural, time-tested benefits to enhance the performance of our products in modern settings.
By focusing on these benefits, we not only offer a superior product in terms of performance and longevity but also promote healthier living spaces. The ability of our products to help control humidity and eliminate odours makes them ideal for homes, schools, hospitals, and other spaces where air quality and comfort are top priorities, especially in Singapore with higher humidity.
Pictured Above: Halo Gypsum(left), Halo V2(right)
Yes, being eco-friendly and sustainable is a core principle of our brand. We specialise in lime paint and plaster products, which are environmentally friendly because they are made from natural, non-toxic ingredients. Lime-based products are biodegradable, energy-efficient in production, and improve indoor air quality by allowing buildings to breathe.
Maintaining sustainability is important to us because we understand the significant impact the construction and finishing industry can have on the environment. By choosing lime-based products, we're helping our customers create healthier, more sustainable living spaces and also reducing the carbon footprint of building materials. It's our responsibility to contribute to a greener future, and this commitment aligns with the growing demand for eco-conscious choices in construction and interior design.
Understand your space’s purpose. High-traffic areas like hallways or living rooms benefit from durable, easy-to-clean finishes, while feature walls in bedrooms or dining areas can afford more expressive, textured treatments.
Lighting also matters, as natural and artificial lighting dramatically affects how texture and colour appear. Textured finishes, for example, interact with light to create depth and movement, which is something that flat paint can’t replicate. We often recommend testing samples on-site under different lighting conditions.
Last, aesthetics are important, but maintenance should never be an afterthought. We advise clients on finishes that balance beauty with practicality. For instance, our Kabel’s line includes water and stain-resistant, mould-resistant paint and plasters that age gracefully with minimal upkeep.
Being in a shared showroom with other premium home solution providers has deepened our appreciation for how wall finishes interact with other elements in a space. We now consider not just texture and colour, but how our finishes harmonise with lighting temperatures, natural materials, and even smart home functionality.
Customers can now experience everything side-by-side in one curated space, giving us immediate, unfiltered feedback. Not only can they see how different materials come together in one space, but this direct exposure helps us identify trends and preferences early, whether it’s a growing demand for matte finishes that pair well with warm lighting or interest in more sustainable, breathable materials.
Co-retailing also opens up a creative dialogue. For instance, we’ve worked with lighting specialists to understand how different wall textures absorb or reflect light, and we’ve adjusted our R&D to explore new finishes that enhance ambient lighting effects.
At the end of the day, our space at Rooms by Sol Luminaire® helps us craft a finish that complements a specific handle or plays off the shadows cast by a designer pendant light. That level of integration has become part of our design DNA.
We always recommend that designers and lighting specialists collaborate early in the planning stage. At Noble Surfaces, we often work with lighting consultants to ensure our finishes are shown in their best light. This includes playing with texture to bring out subtle variations in our artisanal plasters, using directional lighting to enhance or soften the look of walls, and understanding how different surfaces, be it matte or glossy, can reflect and diffuse light.
Don’t rely on a single light source. Combine ambient, task, and accent lighting to create depth and balance. This layered approach allows textures to ‘come alive’ at different times of the day.
Pictured Above: Halo Gypsum
Yes, we’re seeing more and more homeowners and designers using lighting as a storytelling tool to elevate our textured finishes in really creative ways.
Designers often use raking light, where the light source runs nearly parallel to the wall, to cast subtle shadows that emphasise the texture’s depth and character. It’s a simple technique that brings out the richness in finishes like lime plaster or Marmorino.
We’re also seeing an exciting integration of smart lighting. Homeowners are programming light scenes that shift throughout the day, so a textured feature wall might look soft and natural in warm daylight tones, then transform into something more sculptural and moody under cooler, evening settings.
Cove and recessed lighting have also become a popular approach. Installed just above a textured wall, they create a beautiful wash of light that grazes the surface and gives the finish a subtle, almost glowing presence—perfect for spaces like entryways or powder rooms.
Some clients have even pushed boundaries with coloured LEDs, using lighting as a form of artistic expression. A soft amber glow or a bold indigo wash can completely shift the wall’s personality depending on the occasion or mood.
Yes, certain textures definitely respond differently depending on the type of lighting—natural versus artificial—and understanding that can help make smarter design choices.
In naturally lit spaces, textures with a matte, mineral quality like limewash or Venetian plaster tend to perform beautifully. The soft, diffused daylight brings out their subtle tonal variations and depth without overpowering the surface. These finishes almost ‘breathe’ with the daylight, evolving as the sun shifts throughout the day, which adds a lot of character and warmth to a room.
In contrast, spaces that rely heavily on artificial light, like corridors, powder rooms, or evening-oriented lounges, often benefit from smoother or slightly reflective textures. These can catch and bounce light in more controlled ways, especially when paired with directional or ambient lighting. A polished Marmorino, for example, can pick up soft highlights from a warm LED and add a quiet sophistication to the space.
Our recent collaboration with SPIN Fan was a great success, and we're now exploring new ideas moving forward. Currently, we also have a line of products from Kabel that will be progressively launched in the local market.
Noble Surfaces is moving towards becoming a design authority in the wall and surface space, to be more than a product provider, but also a creative partner in the storytelling of interiors.
We see ourselves expanding in two key directions: deepening innovation and broadening collaboration. On the innovation front, we’re continuing to invest in R&D to develop new finishes that respond to evolving lifestyle needs like wellness-conscious materials, sustainable formulations, and smart surface integration that work seamlessly with lighting and tech.
At the same time, we're growing our design partnerships. Our presence at Rooms by Sol Luminaire® is just the beginning. We’re looking to collaborate more closely with architects, interior designers, and even artists to turn walls into expressive, multi-sensory experiences.
Another big focus for us is education and experience. We want to demystify textured finishes and empower both homeowners and professionals to explore them with confidence. That means more immersive showrooms, curated sample libraries, and interactive tools to help clients visualise textures in their own spaces.
Ultimately, we envision Noble Surfaces as the go-to name for anyone who wants to elevate their interiors through thoughtful, tactile design and to be a key part of how surfaces are experienced, not just seen.
