Terrazzo tiles History
Despite the fact that terrazzo is perceived by many as a separate type of tile, it is more correct to say that it is not a material as such, but a technology. And its roots go back to antiquity – the authors of the method are considered to be the ancient Greeks, who first thought of pouring lime or clay on the stone chips.
Ancient Roman masters borrowed the idea later, when after the construction of buildings they had to find the use of remains of marble. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the technology was lost forever.
Terrazzo in the modern sense appeared in the Republic of Venice around the fourteenth century, where local craftsmen miraculously preserved the craft. There it received the name terrazzo.
The essence of technology is simple: small pieces of marble, a granite or other materials are added in a cement binder mass, then this mix is filled in the prepared surface and carefully polished. If necessary, the resulting coating is cut.
Terrazzo tiles Material Features
Today, terrazzo cladding is most often used in “complex” rooms where the choice of finishing materials is limited. Due to its composition and manufacturing method, this material has a number of advantages.
- Resistant to moisture and temperature variations
- Durability and strength
- Easy to clean
- Beautiful natural colours
- Easy installation
- The possibility of pouring the mixture into any shape during the manufacturing process
- Good waterproofing
- Long service life
By the way, it is not necessary to use pure terrazzo for finishing. Melbourne tilers can find entire collections of porcelain tiles and tiles with prints in a similar style. In this case, the colour palette is greatly expanded, since the original technique is limited to natural colours of cement and rock fragments are mostly shades of gray and beige from almost white to the darkest.
Terrazzo tiles in the kitchen
In the kitchen, in addition to finishing the walls or floor, you can line the apron with Venetian tiles – you get a stylish and yet not garish accent. It’s a great option for a budget-friendly but stylish kitchen tiling you can find wall aprons in this style in any price segment.
The mottled pattern also looks good on a benchtop, especially in contrast to a plain kitchen unit. An interesting technique is to use the same finish on both the apron and benchtop to contrast with the rest of the furniture.
The Venetian pattern also looks great as a floor covering. The combination of a mosaic floor with plain furniture and trim provides an interesting effect. And if you want more brightness, the terrazzo floor can also be paired with an apron.
Terrazzo tiles in lounge
Tiles or porcelain stoneware are ideal for hallways, as these materials are dirt-resistant and easy to clean, which is especially important when they’re near the front door. As the interior of entrance halls is usually quite calm, it can be enhanced by finishes with a noble natural pattern.
As in the bathroom, the tiles in the entrance area can be either neutral or with a bright splash of stone, depending on whether they serve as a background or an accent.
With what to combine Terrazzo tiles
The main danger of using an active pattern in an interior is that it can be overdone and produce an unwanted ‘101 Dalmatians effect’. To avoid excessive staining, such an active covering is better diluted with other finishing materials and the right choice of colours.
Natural wood and stone; concrete or marble stoneware; simple paint and decorative plaster; smooth, plain wallpaper (suitable for corridors or kitchens); and other tiles work well with Venetian tiles.
As far as colours are concerned, terrazzo tiles offer plenty of room for experimentation. Thanks to the combination of bright colours in the covering itself, you can safely duplicate them in other interior elements, but remember the rule of three primary colours.
Furniture and décor in the same style can support the ornamentation. But in this case, it should be one or two items with a pattern at the most, so that the interior doesn’t look garish and overly motley.
If the room is decorated in calm tones, the natural pattern will make the monochrome finish look more voluminous and interesting.
