Are there any design choices or elements that you really like but aren’t sure how you’d feel about them in your own home? That’s terrazzo for me. It looks great, but I always feel like I’d end up wanting to change it and it’s not something that would come out easily. Anyways, let’s look at some beautiful pictures of terrazzo and I’ll try to figure out why I get so hung up on it.
What is Terrazzo?
Terrazzo is a composite material made with marble, granite, glass, or quartz chips set into cement. It can be poured in place or pre-cast and can be used for flooring, countertops, tile, and more.
Terrazzo actually dates back to very early civilizations, but the modern version we’re familiar with originated in Venice, Italy over 500 years ago. Venetian mosaic workers would take leftover marble remnants from their projects and mix it with cement for terraces and projects in their own homes. The process developed and changed over time, and led to the terrazzo that we know today.
It’s really quite versatile and incredibly durable, which is one of the reasons it can be so appealing as a design element. And now that we’ve had a little history lesson, let’s look at some pretty pictures.
This garage project from Kate Balsis & Concrete Collaborative uses terrazzo and green concrete tiles to create a checkerboard pattern. It’s a very cool update to a usually-overlooked space. Click here to see the rest of the project!
Maggie Glendenning of Maggie & Co. Studio built this spec-home in St. George, Utah and wanted to channel the mid-century modern homes in the area. She chose light-colored terrazzo floors for most of the home’s 3,400 sq. ft., and created a very inviting space filled with light and pops of color. Check out the full project here!
In this photo from Linette Dai Design, terrazzo countertops serve as a very durable surface for this kid’s bathroom re-design. It adds a fun twist to the space, and sits on top of a beautiful vanity with lots of storage. To see the rest of this project and more of Linette’s work, click here!
I featured this picture at the top of the article, but wanted to put it down here as well to talk about the terrazzo. This highlights terrazzo in tile format and shows how it can be applied to walls in addition to floors and countertops. It’s a beautiful, fun bathroom, and I personally love the tile on the shower and tub. The rest of this project by Blueprint Architects does not disappoint, check it out here!
And last but not least, this beautiful kitchen and dining room with terrazzo floors. I found this project in an article on Domino, and much to my surprise, the homeowner is actually on Substack! The Venetian Pantry is a beautiful Substack publication, and features Martina’s incredible home, which you can see more of here!
In Conclusion…
After putting this together, I have definitely grown to appreciate terrazzo more. And maybe I just didn’t understand it.
I may not use it as flooring or wall tile, and my personal taste leans more towards the neutral options, but a terrazzo garage would be pretty awesome. And the durability of a terrazzo countertop is actually pretty intriguing.
Maybe one day, whenever my home renovation dreams come to life, I’ll have terrazzo on my list of possibilities. It’s really quite stunning!
*This post was originally posted on my Substack publication, The Homebody. Click here to check it out and follow along or subscribe!