Pioneering a new language of surface design, Klay Tiles are redefining the contemporary poolscape through their distinctive texture, beauty and performance.
In this feature, we explore three Australian homes that use Klay Tiles to create unique atmospheres, illustrating the brand’s creative potential, elevated functionality and design innovation.
In partnership with Klay Tiles.
For most, a pool is often experienced as a whole—the water’s colour, the surrounding landscaping, the atmosphere it creates. Rarely do people stop to consider the surface beneath the water, yet it’s here that a pool’s personality truly begins to take shape. The right tile can transform light, reflection and depth, quietly influencing how an outdoor area feels.
Klay Tiles bring this subtle but powerful element to the forefront. With their rich textures, nuanced colours and meticulous finishes, they allow designers to craft pools that feel considered and expressive. Beyond aesthetics, the tiles are engineered for enduring performance, combining durability with the sophistication expected of contemporary design.
It’s this balance of material intelligence, visual refinement and architectural sensitivity that sets Klay apart. In the hands of skilled designers, their surfaces do more than line a pool—they help define it, connecting water, home and landscape into a cohesive, immersive outdoor experience. The following three homes exemplify the creative potential of Klay Tiles in practice.
Coppin House by Tom Robertson Architects & Kate Patterson Landscape Design
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country / Melbourne, Australia
Located in Melbourne’s south-east, Coppin House balances modern convenience with a considered respect for its heritage context. Stepping into the outdoor spaces, this balance becomes immediately apparent. Designed collaboratively by Melbourne-based architecture firm Tom Robertson Architects and landscape designer Kate Patterson, the garden was shaped around the rhythms of an active young family who spend much of their time outdoors. “The rear garden in particular reflects this focus,” Patterson says. A generous lawn and robust planting palette support everything from everyday ball games—“and the occasional dive-bomb!”—to relaxed family time, while the internal courtyards invite quieter moments of pause.
The pool anchors the backyard, designed to feel both expressive and effortless within the broader landscape. A small, sectioned-off area at the front provides a place to lounge when the family wants to remain in the water without swimming, while subtle material choices elevate the space without overwhelming it. “We chose Klay’s Residential tile in powder blue to contribute to the fresh and youthful atmosphere,” Robertson says. “It aligned with the clean and bright architectural palette, with the colour and scale helping to create a luxurious, modern appeal.”
Patterson adds, “The soft blue of the pool tiles is a happy one.” With the home’s rear façade offering strong shadow play and layered geometry, the pool and garden were designed to complement rather than compete. The result is a family-centred outdoor environment that feels balanced, durable and quietly refined.
Anchoring the rear garden, Coppin House’s pool is lined with Klay’s Residential Powder Blue tiles, introducing a fresh, youthful tone that harmonises with the greenery and versatile lawn. | Photography by Tom Ross
The Pavilion by Jared Poole Design
Yugambeh Country / Gold Coast, Australia
Set against the uninterrupted backdrop of one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after beaches, The Pavilion by Queensland-based architecture practice Jared Poole Design is a study in coastal refinement. Brought to life by construction company DB Build, expansive archways, courtyards and lush planting shape the outdoor spaces into a sequence of intimate, calm environments, where architecture, landscape and water feel seamlessly connected. Positioned along the home’s axis, the pool forms the heart of this composition, framing unbroken ocean views and reflecting the home’s sculptural geometry.
“Rather than treating the pool as a separate feature, it was conceived as a reflective plane—an extension of the home’s sculptural architecture,” Poole explains. The choice of Klay’s Amano Ice Blue tiles reinforces this vision. “We wanted a surface that responds beautifully to natural light, soft and luminous, never overpowering, and that would integrate seamlessly with the home’s white-rendered forms and natural stone detailing.” Its gentle tonal variation and handcrafted quality allow the water to appear calm and crystalline, complementing the garden’s greenery and the tactile stone and plaster finishes.
Reflecting and refracting the coastal light, the pool creates a serene dialogue between sky, water and sand. The slip-resistant tiles also ensure the area remains safe and practical for everyday use. The result is a refined outdoor environment that balances elegance and liveability, where every detail—from construction to material choice—enhances the home’s quiet sophistication.
Photography courtesy of Jared Poole Design
Beyond visual beauty, the slip-resistant Klay Amano Ice Blue mosaics ensure safety around the pool, balancing beachfront elegance with practicality in The Pavilion. | Photography courtesy of Jared Poole Design
“Beyond their visual presence, Klay's Amano – Ice Blue mosaics offer exceptional performance. Manufactured in Germany, Klay’s premium mosaics are suitable for full saltwater and chlorine immersion, ensuring both longevity and durability in a harsh coastal environment.”
– Jared Poole, Architect
Photography courtesy of Jared Poole Design
Photography courtesy of Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture
Balwyn House by Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country / Melbourne, Australia
Positioned in Melbourne’s tree-lined, inner-eastern suburb of Balwyn, Balwyn House draws inspiration from its verdant surroundings, shaping a home and garden that harmonise with the suburb’s character. Designed collaboratively with Mazzei Homes and Webster Architecture, Melbourne-based landscape architect Nathan Burkett crafted the outdoor spaces to support daily family life, offering areas for both active swimming and quiet relaxation. “We wanted the garden and pool to read as a single, harmonious composition, one that allowed the family to transition effortlessly between indoors and outdoors.,” Burkett explains. Dense planting and layered greenery frame the garden, creating pockets of privacy, while the pool’s surrounding natural moat introduces subtle separation without disrupting the overall sense of cohesion.
Sunk into the ground, the pool forms the heart of the garden, creating a moody, immersive atmosphere. A lap area, spillover spa and two negative edges allow it to function as both a recreational amenity and a visual focal point. Timber and stone edging appears to float around the water, while an adjacent undercover seating area connects through floor-to-ceiling doors, offering views from both inside and out so the pool can be enjoyed visually as much as physically.
“Because the pool is raised and highly visible, the tile needed to perform beautifully from every angle—from the waterline through to the external face of the structure—and Klay Tiles were integral from the outset,” Burkett says. In particular, Klay’s Residential Jade Green tiles offered that perfect balance, their deep green-blue hues complementing the surrounding palette. “They perform exceptionally well under constant exposure to water, sunlight and foot traffic, and their smooth surface makes them a smart choice for swimmers because they mitigate cuts and scratches,” he continues.
The resulting environment is layered, functional and intimate. From inside the home, the pool reflects light and movement into the interiors; outside, it anchors the garden, inviting everyday use while drawing the eye through the surrounding greenery. Every detail—from planting to materials—has been carefully considered, creating a space that feels quietly refined, purposeful and entirely at home.
Photography courtesy of Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture
“Klay's Jade Green tile provided the perfect balance: its clarity, colour depth and refined edges allow the pool to function as a striking architectural feature while maintaining a natural, inviting quality.”
– Nathan Burkett, Landscape Designer
Klay’s Residential Jade Green tiles reveal deep green-blue tones that subtly shift throughout the day, capturing light and movement to create a dynamic focal point that harmonises with the surrounding garden. | Photography courtesy of Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture
