Back to the Earth: Fired Up Over Terra Cotta
The rustic baked-earth colors and textures of this clay-based material are having their time in the sun
Maybe the antidote to modern-day stress is to be found in a calm and comforting home environment, which could be why we are embracing an earthier aesthetic there. By using more unrefined and natural materials, we hope to build links that help us connect physically rather than just digitally to our world. What could be closer to nature than terra cotta, literally “baked earth”? A rich, warm and ancient material, it’s enjoying a resurgence as we get back to basics. See how to add its glow to your home.
Hang on to that floor. Do you have a terra-cotta tile floor still lingering from the ’80s? Stop before you call in the jackhammers. It’s often true that if you keep something long enough, it comes back into fashion, and you may have a treasure. It could also be your decor, not the floor, that dates the room. New finishes for terra-cotta are tending toward a more matte look rather than a high shine, so investigate a resurface before you demolish.
Designer Bronwyn Poole from Touch Interiors decided to keep the original terra-cotta tiles in a family room when she renovated her dated Sydney home. With the addition of crisp white furniture and walls, increased natural light, and fresh eclectic fabrics, the warm, tactile tiles ground the room and give it a bright, clean and modern feel.
Dig it in the garden. There’s never been a better material for outdoor container plants than hardy terra cotta. Centuries-old gardens all over the world flaunt the timeless beauty of old terra-cotta pots, moss-encrusted and streaked with age and still standing strong. For a modern look, steer clear of traditional footed urns and instead group smaller pots in a variety of funky shapes. The creator of this container garden combined mixed plantings with recycled slate paving and a rust-effect painted wall.
Left unsealed, terra cotta develops a weathered patina and interesting colors as water leaches organisms from the soil, bringing them out to the exterior surface. Contrast the mellow earthiness of old pots with distinctively shaped large-leaved plants, such as spiky succulents. See how terra cotta has been used to transform this tiny courtyard garden.
Build a terra-cotta wall. New building products are tapping into a renewed interest in energy-saving, durable, low-maintenance materials with recyclable components and an organic appearance. Cladding systems such as Terracade, a clay facade system made from natural and recycled materials, are an example of what’s finding its way to residential exteriors. Combined with elements like wood, stone and brick, and contrasted with hard textures like concrete and steel, these terra-cotta facades show how contemporary an old material can be.
Warm up the bathroom. Terra-cotta tiles in the bathroom? Terra cotta is highly absorbent in its untreated state and generally not a first choice for wet areas. A good quality sealant solves the porosity problem — the process may have to be repeated every year or two, but it’s a small price to pay for lasting beauty.
Among the hard, functional materials generally found in bathrooms, terra-cotta tiles in new slim shapes, laid in vertical and horizontal stack formations rather than traditional brick bond, give an inviting warmth and modern edge to wet rooms.
Among the hard, functional materials generally found in bathrooms, terra-cotta tiles in new slim shapes, laid in vertical and horizontal stack formations rather than traditional brick bond, give an inviting warmth and modern edge to wet rooms.
Pick colors to complement. The clay from which terra cotta comes determines its colors, and the wide tonal range makes it very versatile. There’s almost no limit to the color palette that terra cotta enables. Dulux’s 2017 predictions prescribe “a color cure” for digital exhaustion, a remedy for our overloaded senses. The Sentience palette takes its cues from the effects created by earthy materials like clay, minerals, stone and wood, a natural fit for terra cotta, with reds, burgundies and browns thrown in with the zest of bright blues and yellows.
Boost your digital detox with a soothing neutral palette in textures that invite physical contact. Smooth terra-cotta tiles with a waxy finish harmonize with natural wood, chocolate and driftwood gray, freshened with white and touches of greenery. Some wear and tear adds charm, so don’t get too fussy — terra cotta is a material that will grow with you. See how texture adds attitude to a neutral color scheme.
Change shape. A popular shape for terra-cotta tiles in the ’80s was a 6- to 8-inch square with tumbled edges. Take a more up-to-date approach with poly-sided shapes — small-format hexagonal or octagonal tiles add the interest and texture our homes are looking for. The kaleidoscope of tones means that a damaged tile can be replaced without having to match it exactly. Tinted grout is another fashion-first option to give a contemporary look to terra cotta.
Put terra cotta on top. Modern terra-cotta roof tiles are strong, are frost- and salt-resistant, have high color retention and provide insulation. Rainwater runoff from terra-cotta tiles is also suitable for domestic reuse. You can choose modern profiles for contemporary homes, or traditional curved Mediterranean styles for down-to-earth rustic houses.
Blend in. Respecting a building’s context has become something of a modern architectural mantra. Homes that sit unobtrusively in their setting, reaching a friendly hand to their surroundings through materials, structure and color, are often singled out for design accolades.
See how architect Luigi Rosselli interpreted the outback context of this workers’ accommodation on a remote cattle station with the use of rammed earth and clay — the spirit of terra cotta at its most rugged.
See how architect Luigi Rosselli interpreted the outback context of this workers’ accommodation on a remote cattle station with the use of rammed earth and clay — the spirit of terra cotta at its most rugged.
To connect a casual beachy home to its surroundings, terra-cotta floors are a practical choice for vacation living and have a lovely underfoot feel. Temper the warm tones of a terra-cotta floor with cool whites, tropical greenery, sandy rattan and sisal, and touches of blue to create an affinity with the colors and textures of the outside environment. Pale sage greens are a beautiful natural-toned companion to a baked-earth floor.
Embrace terra-cotta tones. Terra cotta is a material, but the term also is frequently used to describe a color. Our mental image of terra cotta depends on how we’ve experienced it in the past. Travels in Spain, Italy or Morocco may evoke a sun-faded pinkish cinnamon-brown. Pink-spectrum terra-cotta shades are right on trend today as we explore the palettes of pinks, peaches and rosy pastels. Although many people find those pinks to be a little quiet and low-key, terra-cotta pinks, with earthy brown undertones, have weight, energy and a tactile warmth.
For others, terra cotta is the intense toasted paprika orange of sunset in Arizona’s red rock country. Introduce it in chunky hand-woven rugs with natural vegetable dyes and tribal graphics, textural woven wallpapers, and textiles in organic fabrics like heavy coarse linens and homespun wool.
Give handmade a big hand. How nice, in a world of mass-produced goods, to find something that bears a human fingerprint. Many terra-cotta articles are still artisan-made, like these stunning fired-earth clay bead chandeliers. They epitomize our growing desire to make our homes places where we connect with real materials and real people. Made by women of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal community, beads from local clay are hand-rolled, sun-dried, kiln-fired and dyed to make unique lampshades with a human story.
Tell us: How would terra cotta fit into your home? Do you have a favorite terra-cotta object that brings you joy? Share with us in the Comments.
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Tell us: How would terra cotta fit into your home? Do you have a favorite terra-cotta object that brings you joy? Share with us in the Comments.
More
Nail Your Curb Appeal: Mediterranean Style
7 Ways to Add Mediterranean Elegance to Your Home