Renowned interior designer Amber Lewis has sent shockwaves through the design community with a candid announcement about her upcoming residential project. The founder of Amber Interiors, celebrated for her signature California-cool aesthetic that has influenced countless homeowners and designers, declared that not a single wall in her new house will feature plaster finishes. This revelation came through a recent Instagram Reel where Lewis openly acknowledged her own role in popularizing the textured treatment, stating, 'I'm probably part to blame,' before explaining her dramatic shift away from the material she once championed.

Lewis's relationship with plaster has been central to her design identity over the past decade. Her effortless blend of neutral plaster walls with natural materials and vintage finds helped define a generation of interior style, making the matte, organic finish a go-to choice for designers seeking warmth and character. The treatment became synonymous with elevated, laid-back luxury, appearing not just on walls but on kitchen cabinetry, range hoods, and fireplace surrounds. Her willingness to publicly reject the trend she helped create demonstrates a refreshing honesty about the cyclical nature of design movements and the importance of evolution in creative work.

The designer's primary critique centers on overuse and lack of intentionality. In her video, Lewis explained that when plaster becomes the default texture for every surface in a home, the effect loses its impact and 'all tends to fall flat.' She maintains that she still appreciates plaster in small, thoughtful doses, but the trend of covering entire homes in the material has diluted its special qualities. This saturation has transformed what was once a distinctive choice into a predictable fallback, prompting Lewis to seek out more unique textural alternatives for her personal space.

Among the solutions Lewis suggests is cork, a material that offers both visual warmth and practical benefits. The natural substance provides excellent sound dampening properties while creating a soft, cozy atmosphere perfect for bedrooms, living areas, and dining nooks. Designer Stephanie Savage's Los Angeles home showcases cork's versatility, allowing her to pin inspiration directly to her walls. For those unable to install actual cork, wallpaper that mimics the texture offers an accessible alternative, as demonstrated in a lounge designed by Huniford Design Studio.

Wood paneling represents another alternative that Lewis's announcement has brought back into the conversation. Far from the dated basement rec rooms many associate with the material, contemporary applications of wood paneling can feel fresh and sophisticated. Designer Sarah Weichel of Studio Swike transformed a former builder-grade bathroom using leftover panels to create DIY wainscoting with British-inspired results. She advises homeowners to wait 24 hours before forming an opinion on stain choices, as the color can shift as it dries and acclimates to the space.

The third option gaining traction is painted stone, particularly in renovation projects where existing dark stonework needs brightening. In a Scottish cottage featured by Domino, designers preserved an original stone wall by painting it white, embracing both sustainability and historical preservation. This approach maintains the textural interest of stone while updating the aesthetic to feel lighter and more contemporary. As Lewis leads the charge toward more diverse wall treatments, the design world is taking note that the era of all-plaster everything is giving way to more personalized, context-specific choices that better reflect individual style and architectural character.