THE TERRAZZO TREND

GIVE YOUR BATHROOM AN INSTANT UPDATE WITH THIS STYLISH SURFACE THAT ADDS DYNAMISM IN SPADES

- Linda Clayton

SAVING GRACES

Get your terrazzo hit for less with lookalike porcelain tiles, which are around half the price of traditional terrazzo per square metre and low-key on the maintenance front, too. ‘Traditional terrazzo often has limitations associated with cost and also the thickness of the tiles that can affect their usage,’ explains Louisa Morgan, marketing director, Mandarin Stone. ‘Terrazzo-inspired porcelain tiles are the perfect way to enjoy the visual impact of traditional terrazzo but with all the practicalities of a porcelain tile. Cleverly printed graphics on porcelain create a very durable material, available in minimal thicknesses and with no maintenance.’

Shard Green porcelain tiles (on wall), £50.40sq m; Pebble Green porcelain tiles (on floor), £50.40sq m, all Mandarin Stone

FIT FOR PURPOSE

Terrazzo comes in many forms, but the main types of authentic terrazzo are cement or resin-based. For this bathroom in The Siren Hotel, Detroit, design development firm ASH NYC cleverly combined both types of terrazzo according to use. The flooring is a cementitious terrazzo, which feels soft underfoot and is extremely durable but requires annual resealing. The chequerboard installation is a smart visual technique for diluting terrazzo’s bold impact. The eye-catching basin is resin-based terrazzo, which comes in bright colours and has a smoother, hygienic finish that’s easy to clean and less prone to cracks than cement-based terrazzo, with no sealing required.

Design by ASH NYC in The Siren Hotel, Detroit. The basin is custom made; try Altrock for similar. The Siren Terrazzo collection floor tiles, from £308.40sq m, Balineum