Reminiscent of the Mediterranean, terracotta-toned materials in the bathroom evoke a visceral connection to nature and a sense of tranquillity. This feature explores how seven designers have harnessed these warm and grounding hues in the bathroom through textured tiles or plaster finishes.
As part of our exclusive film series, renowned Australian architect John Wardle invited est living inside his family’s tranquil coastal retreat on the Victorian Surf Coast. The home’s signature earthy palette, which inspired its name, ‘Burnt Earth House,’ extends into the terracotta-toned bathrooms. In the primary ensuite, exposed Krause brick walls and terracotta floor tiles complement a freestanding clay-coloured custom-made bathtub by Cotto Manetti. An angled timber ceiling adds texture and warmth, contrasted by the powder-coated metal sink support designed by Wardle to be a very particular shade of ‘French delivery van grey’.
Overlooking Sydney Harbour, interior designer Tamsin Johnson breathed new life into this weathered modernist residence. Due to its proximity to the ocean, the home features a generously proportioned bathing area. The space is enveloped in rich, terracotta-toned marble tiles that extend across the walls, floors, and built-in bench, evocative of a contemporary hammam.
Alexander House, the home of esteemed Sydney-based architects Alexander &CO., epitomises the studio’s commitment to integrating personal well-being into the workplace. The space has a range of wellness amenities, including an indoor steam shower, outdoor shower, ice bath and pool. The indoor steam shower features terracotta-pink marble bricks, designed to contrast with the textured concrete floors and green marble shower stool.
Studio Andrew Trotter’s Villa Cardo drinks in the rich landscape of Puglia, serving as a heartfelt tribute to the region and its heritage. In one of the bathrooms, dusty terracotta walls and sandy stone floors offer an innate feeling of seclusion akin to a desert, alongside a bespoke sink crafted from terrazzo sourced in Southern Spain. This blend of elements creates a meditative environment, encouraging reflection and relaxation against the evocative backdrop of Puglia.
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects transformed an early-1900s residence in Sydney’s eastern suburbs by introducing a bold red-brick rear pavilion redefining the home’s character. This striking addition harmonises with the home’s signature red palette, evident in the powder room’s warm terracotta walls and its custom-designed marble vanity.
Kennedy Nolan designed this home on the south coast of Victoria as a peaceful refuge for a multi-generational family. The large-footprint residence features several bathrooms in vivid, earthy colour palettes. In the bathroom pictured, sunset hues like terracotta and different shades of pink create a design that reflects the warmth and beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Olive Grove House is nestled in a secluded valley in Spain’s Valencian Community, surrounded by olive trees and rich, red earth. Balzar Arquitectos chose terracotta as the home’s primary colour to pay homage to the Mediterranean climate and its natural palette, applying terracotta-toned limewash mortar to both the exterior and interior walls. This cohesive design is extended into the bathrooms, where Iranian red travertine is used to clad the walls, deepening the connection between the interior spaces and their vivid natural surroundings.
