At Alternative Surfaces, we specialise in transforming spaces with high-quality X-Bond Microcement finishes. These residential and commercial projects across Melbourne showcase the versatility, durability, and beauty of X-Bond. Our microcement installations are tailored to meet the unique vision of our clients — whether it’s a seamless bathroom renovation, a stylish hospitality venue, or a practical retail space. Read on to explore our craftsmanship and get inspired for your next project!

Commercial

Viktoria & Woods, Chadstone

Design: GOLDEN / Photography: Timothy Kaye / More words here.

A high-end brand needs an elegant home. The Viktoria and Woods Flagship Chadstone store is as timeless and chic as the label’s designs. The floors are finished in X-Bond ‘Umber’, which carries a warm brown undertone, chosen to complement an earthy and neutral palette. Luxurious touches include a statement marble countertop and the iconic Puffy Chair. Sophisticated and modern yet simple and classic; here, the core principles of Vik & Woods design are brought to life through architecture.

Viktoria & Woods, Chadstone microcement flooring

Society Dining, Melbourne CBD

Design: Russell & George / Photography: Sean Fennesy / More words here.

Featuring three different drinking and dining destinations, Society is probably Melbourne’s most glamorous hospitality space. Our favourite venue is their signature bar, The Lounge, which is all about the drama. A mirrored ceiling, chain-link curtains, moodily backlit marble… It’s the kind of suave, glitzy hideout where you’d expect to find James Bond ordering a martini.

South.St, Chadstone

Design: Studio Gray Scale / Photography: Christine Wood

‘Streetwear, reinvented’ — South.St’s motto calls for retail stores that are cool and contemporary. Metal finishes, stark black fixtures, and a bright colour palette make the Chadstone space feel ultra-sleek. Industrial yet inviting was the aim, according to the designers, who wanted the space to feel like a warehouse. X-Bond Microcement flooring replicates the weathered concrete look they sought after, but with the benefit of being applied straight over the existing flooring material to make this retail refurbishment easier.

Winnings Appliances, Richmond & Chadstone

Design: Cera Stribley / Read our interview with the designers here.

Our team has installed X-Bond to two different Winning Appliances locations. In a conversation with Jessica Coulter, the Senior Interior Designer at Cera Stribley, we learned why X-Bond was specified. One of the reasons included a need for enduring and bespoke materials, which aligned with a highly textural and luxurious vision. Another concern was creating a warm, inviting retail experience while using raw, industrial materials — thus seeking X-Bond as a gentler alternative to concrete.

Aurum Display Garden, Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Landscape Design: Mint Design / Build: TLC Pools / Photography: Erik Holt

Aurum means gold in Latin, a very fitting name for this award-winning garden which took home gold medals in multiple categories at the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Clearly, lush greenery and an X-Bond Microcement pool deck are a golden combination. With hints of Hollywood style, Aurum reimagines modernist and art deco design principles for the contemporary homeowner. It’s designed to represent everyone’s ideal garden, bold luxury brought down to earth.

Residential

Troye Sivan’s Bathroom, Carlton

Design: Flack Studio / Photography by Anson Smart

For good reason, this pop icon’s terrace house went viral after its Architectural Digest video tour. The restoration sought to preserve the original design’s bohemian spirit (it was the home of architect John Mockridge) while creating something fresh and personal for its new owner. It’s a space inspired by design principles from different corners of the globe; unquestionably Australian but with strong ties to Californian midcentury modernism and wabi-sabi, underscored by vintage Art Deco furniture. X-Bond was used to bring the all-pink bathroom to life, installed by our team in a custom wall shade.

Sussex Street, Melbourne

Design: Mancini Made / Photography: Peter Clarke / Read our interview with the designers here.

A reflection of modern family living, where less is more and functionality is key. Low-maintenance materials and a light-filled, warm, welcoming atmosphere were the main priorities in this project. The clients were keen on a hard floor surface, something similar to polished concrete but that didn’t feel starkly out of place. X-Bond was the solution; a super resilient, waterproofed and stain-resistant surface that’s easy to clean for high-traffic, messy areas like kitchens.

Glenmorgan House, Brunswick

Architecture / Design: Bryant Alsop & R&Co Design

Brunswick is filled with humble old terrace houses, which are being brought back to life one-by-one in clever renovations. This transformation swapped dark, pokey spaces with a profound sense of light and volume. Warmth, flexibility, and textural interest were key requirements for this family-friendly space. A seamless, grout-free X-Bond Microcement shower was a perfect match for statement marble. In the kitchen, look closely at the rangehood… Yep, also X-Bond.

Sorrento House, Mornington Peninsula

Architecture: DiBartolo Architects / Build: Alt Construction / Photography: Flvr Creative

About an hour outside of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula (where our team takes on select projects) is this 19th century cottage makeover. Elements of the original home are preserved throughout, like the original limestone walls and a (long defunct) water well from the 1800s. The result of careful restorations, the new home is a Mediterranean-inspired oasis, featuring our custom hand-finished surfaces almost everywhere.