facebook
twitter
pinterest
linkedin

Café Royale Concrete Stain Project Gallery | Real Customer Transformations

Discover how homeowners and contractors used Direct Colors Café Royale stains to bring warmth and elegance to their concrete. From patios to driveways, these real customer projects showcase the rich versatility of this timeless brown tone.

Antiquing Stain Trial Kit Tutorial

Stamped patio restored with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain, showing rich brown tones and natural stone texture.
Stamped patio restored with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain, showing rich brown tones and natural stone texture

Stamped Patio Revival with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain

This neglected stamped patio got a complete refresh with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain and EasySeal™ Satin, transforming a dull surface into a warm, inviting outdoor space.

Faded, discolored stamped concrete patio and walkway before staining.
Before: The neglected patio was faded and covered with efflorescence.
Outdoor living area and stamped patio refinished in Café Royale
After: Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain added depth and warmth to the concrete

Project Info:

  • Project Completed In: 4 day(s)
  • Estimate of Square Footage: 400 sq. ft.
  • Project Description: 400 square feet of a stamped concrete patio that had been neglected by the previous owners for years. Aside from extreme discoloration, we also had a large amount of clean up and prep work to do regarding efflorescence that had formed. After thorough prep work, we got to staining after a consultation with Direct Colors. It’s amazing how night and day the patio looks and we are so pleased that we not only found Direct Colors, but that we have preserved additional life on our outdoor space.
  • Personal Tips:
    Applying on a shady day will not only make you sweat less, but ensures the product goes further for you. My regret is applying in 95 degree heat where it dried almost instantaneously on contact.
  • Direct Colors Products Used:
    1 Gal. Cafe Royale DIY Antiquing™ & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
    1 Gal. Cafe Royale Antiquing™ & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
ProClean Degreaser™
ProClean Degreaser™
Spiked Shoes for Etching and Staining Concrete Floors
Spiked Shoes
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
EasySeal™ Satin
EasySeal™ Satin

Transforming Gray Retaining Walls with Café Royale EasyTint™

This large Verti-Block retaining wall went from dull gray to stunningly warm with Café Royale EasyTint™ Satin, adding depth and elegance to a once lifeless surface.

DIYer applying Cafe Royale EasyTint Tinted Sealer to a concrete wall using a good quality sprayer
The homeowner used a sprayer to apply EasyTint™, proving that even large projects can be tackled with ease.
Retaining wall finished with Café Royale EasyTint™ Satin, showing rich brown tones and natural stone texture.
Retaining wall finished with EasyTint™, showing rich brown tones and natural stone texture.

Project Info:

  • Project Completed In: 7 day(s)
  • Estimate of Square Footage: 1000 sq. ft.
  • Project Description:
    We have several large retaining walls construct with Vertablock. The grey concrete color was bland and soul sucking. I have wanted to stain the block from the start but was intimidated by the scope of the project. I was so excited to come across your EasyTint product. Stain and sealer in one!! It was what I needed to take the leap and I’m so excited I did.
  • Personal Tips:
    Any one can do it!
    Use a good sprayer and wait for a calm day.
    Less is more. Drips ( vertical surface) are your enemy. You can always come back and add more color to some areas.
    Even the satin finish has some sheen to it.
  • Direct Colors Products Used:
    5 Gal. Cafe Royale EasyTint™ Satin
ProClean Degreaser™
ProClean Degreaser™
EasyTint™ Cafe Royale
EasyTint™ Cafe Royale
EasySeal™ Satin
EasySeal™ Satin

Paver Walkway Restored with Café Royale Portico™ Stain

This faded paver walkway was revived with Café Royale Portico™ Stain, restoring deep, uniform color and long-lasting protection.

Paver walkway with efflorescence and fading before staining with Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain
Before: The paver walkway had heavy efflorescence and worn color from weather exposure
Paver walkway refreshed with Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain, showcasing rich brown tones and a smooth sealed finish.
After: Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain brought out a warm, even tone and revitalized the overall look of the walkway

Note: These project photos are shared by real Direct Colors customers to showcase authentic results. Because our stains are semi-transparent, final color will vary based on your concrete’s original tone and condition. Always test on a small area first to confirm your desired look before full application.


Paver Driveway Revived with Café Royale Portico™ Stain

This homeowner used Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain to bring rich, earthy warmth and renewed vibrancy to their faded driveway surface.

Full view of a paver driveway stained in Café Royale, highlighting a rich, natural tone and restored finish.
Café Royale Portico™ Stain adds warmth and life back to these faded driveway pavers.
Close-up of paver driveway refreshed with Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain, showing even color and subtle sheen.
After application, the paver surface looks rich and refreshed
  • Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
  • Estimate of Square Footage: 200 sq. ft.
  • Project Description: The homeowner wanted to refresh their paver driveway that had lost its original color from years of sun exposure. Using Café Royale Portico™ Paver Stain, they achieved a balanced, natural tone that revived the overall curb appeal of their home. This easy, DIY-friendly solution gave their driveway a professional, long-lasting finish without replacing a single paver.
  • Personal Tips: Prep is everything! Clean thoroughly before applying to ensure even absorption and vibrant results
  • Direct Colors Products Used:
    Portico™ Stain Trial Kit: Driftwood, Aztec Brown, Cafe Royale
    1 Gal. Cafe Royale Portico™ & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
ProClean Degreaser™
ProClean Degreaser™
Spiked Shoes for Etching and Staining Concrete Floors
Spiked Shoes
Portico™ Cafe Royale
Portico™ Cafe Royale
EasySeal™ Satin
EasySeal™ Satin

Cracked & Scratched Patio Refresh

An 8-year-old stamped patio with cracks and fading was brought back to life using Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain and EasySeal™ Satin for a refreshed, durable finish.

Homeowner applying Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain to worn stamped patio using a pump sprayer
The homeowner applies Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain with a pump sprayer for even coverage
Patio after staining with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain, revealing rich brown tones and texture.
Patio after staining with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain
Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain restored color and depth to the worn concrete surface
Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain restored color and depth to the worn concrete surface
A cozy, revitalized patio sealed with EasySeal™ Satin
A cozy, revitalized patio sealed with EasySeal™ Satin—ready to enjoy again for years to come
  • Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
  • Estimate of Square Footage: 200 sq. ft.
  • Project Description:
    We had a stamped/stained back patio that was approx. 8 years old and multiple cracks and scratches. We wanted to refresh but didn’t really know how. We googled “restraining stamped concrete” and the Direct Color video came up. The video was extremely helpful and made the process easy.
  • Personal Tips:
    Purchase a good pump sprayer. The first one we used dripped around the nozzle and even thought it didn’t hurt our patio and I could see it being a problem on an interior or more detailed project.
  • Direct Colors Products Used:
    Antiquing™ Stain Trial Kit: Cumin, Aztec Brown, Cafe Royale
    1 Gal. Cafe Royale Antiquing™ & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
ProClean Degreaser™
ProClean Degreaser™
Spiked Shoes for Etching and Staining Concrete Floors
Spiked Shoes
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
EasySeal™ Satin
EasySeal™ Satin

Quikrete Paver Patio Stained with Café Royale, Olive & Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains

This unique patio transformation used a blend of Café Royale, Olive, and Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains to bring natural, multi-tone depth to Quikrete pavers.

Stamped concrete patio before staining, showing a light gray surface
Before: The stamped concrete patio was plain and lacked visual dimension
Stamped concrete patio finished with Café Royale, Olive, and Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains, featuring rich, layered tones that mimic natural stone.
After: A custom blend of Café Royale, Olive, and Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains created a beautiful stone-inspired finish.

Project Info:

  • Project Completed In: 3 day(s)
  • Estimate of Square Footage: 200 sq. ft.
  • Project Description:
    This homeowner wanted to give their stamped concrete patio the look of natural flagstone while keeping the durability of concrete. Using a custom combination of Café Royale, Olive, and Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains, they achieved an earthy, variegated color scheme that complements the surrounding stone wall and landscaping. The subtle balance of warm Café Royale and cool Olive and Charcoal tones created a timeless, organic aesthetic that blends seamlessly into the garden setting.
    Customer Tip:
    Blending stain colors adds incredible dimension — test your mix on a small section first for the perfect tone.
  • Direct Colors Products Used:
    1 Gal. Cafe Royale DIY Antiquing™ & EasySeal™ Satin Kit
    1 Qt. Charcoal Antiquing™ Stain
    1 Qt. Olive Antiquing™ Stain
ProClean Degreaser™
ProClean Degreaser™
Spiked Shoes for Etching and Staining Concrete Floors
Spiked Shoes
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
Antiquing™ Cafe Royale
EasySeal™ Satin
EasySeal™ Satin

Quikrete Paver Patio Stained with Café Royale, Olive & Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains

This unique patio transformation used a blend of Café Royale, Olive, and Charcoal Antiquing™ Stains to bring natural, multi-tone depth to Quikrete pavers.

Wood-grain stamped concrete patio stained with Café Royale EasyTint™, featuring rich brown tones and a satin finish.
This stamped concrete patio mimics the warmth of real wood after being tinted with Café Royale EasyTint™, offering both beauty and long-lasting protection
Broom-finished concrete patio stained with Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain, featuring a rich, warm brown tone near a pool and fountain.
Café Royale Antiquing™ Stain brings new life to this broom-finished patio, adding warmth and depth that complement the home’s outdoor features

Café Royale EasyTint™, a Stain-and-Sealer-in-One Solution for Walls, Hardscapes & Vertical Surfaces

From decorative retaining walls to vertical concrete facades, Café Royale EasyTint™ delivers rich, natural color and long-lasting protection on any hardscape surface.

Stamped concrete retaining wall finished with Café Royale EasyTint™ tinted sealer, showing deep golden-brown tones and a natural stone texture beside green plants
Café Royale EasyTint™ turned this dull retaining wall into a warm, stone-like focal point that beautifully complements the surrounding garden
Retaining wall finished with Café Royale EasyTint™ Satin, showing rich brown tones and natural stone texture
Retaining wall finished with Café Royale EasyTint™ Satin
Large lakeside concrete retaining wall stained with Café Royale EasyTint™, featuring warm tan and brown tones that mimic natural stone under a tree-lined landscape.
This lakefront retaining wall got a complete color makeover with Café Royale EasyTint™, achieving a warm, cohesive tone that enhances the property’s natural charm
The homeowner turned to Café Royale EasyTint™, a stain-and-sealer-in-one solution, to give it a more organic and inviting look.
The homeowner turned to Café Royale EasyTint™, a stain-and-sealer-in-one solution, to give it a more organic and inviting look.

Enter The DIY Contest and Win!