What do airports, schools, hospitals, and 16th century Venice have in common? And what does this have to do with kitchen design? Hello to terrazzo. It's a material you've probably encountered hundreds of times. It's also a material that we're starting to see in kitchens everywhere.
Yes, that terrazzo–the colorful, durable, and lifelong star of commercial flooring and outdoor spaces around the world–is making its way into homes. I absolutely support that.
What exactly is terrazzo?
Great question. You know those shiny acre floors of multi-colored spots, speckles and lumpy floors you see in large public spaces. something Are they scattered throughout? That is terrazzo. Although it has existed for centuries, it became modern in the 1500s, when Venetian mosaicists began using leftover marble to create terraces. Since then, the material's popularity has waxed and waned, but today it may be most closely associated with midcentury modern style. But now it's making a century comeback in kitchen islands, countertops, flooring, backsplashes, and more. I recently attended Coverings 2024, the global tile show in Atlanta (see my recap here!). And no doubt he realized one important point. wherever.
I flip houses (and kitchens!) for a living, and the first time I noticed terrazzo was in the bathroom of a renovated 1920s house in Detroit, where I found terrazzo under several layers of flooring. That's when I found it hiding. We've seen beautiful terrazzo floors in some of Motown's stunning 1920s architecture, but finding it in this home felt like a treasure trove.
Katherine Buhle, Louisville Tile's vice president of brand operations, says terrazzo definitely had its moment about a century ago. It was all the rage in the '50s and his '60s, remained popular into the '70s, and now we're witnessing it again. . This time, she added, it's not only coming to outdoor and commercial spaces, but also things like kitchen (and bathroom!) floors and counters. And the assemblages, blocks of marble and glass that look like confetti, are thicker this round, leaning into current color trends like muted roses and greens.
Why is terrazzo attracting so much attention now?
Buhle says there has been “a lot of interest” in all of the terrazzo in the showroom lately. While she's gaining traction as a greener and more sustainable option, Buhle believes its growing popularity also stems from an explosion of fascination with mid-century modern furniture. And it's not just the kitchen. This unique pattern appears on everything from lamps to notebooks (even contact paper, which I recently used). But for those who want to go all out, it can easily become a fixture in the kitchen design.
Now, true commercial terrazzo, the type that is poured into place, is “incredibly expensive,” she says. But I fell down the rabbit hole while considering terrazzo for my new kitchen and was ecstatic to discover there were some options that didn't require a second mortgage. Additionally, I was surprised by the versatility of the options.
I also met Lauriel Leonard at Coverings and immediately fell in love with her company DEX by GATE's terrazzo products. At their booth, seashells were included in the aggregate baked into the terrazzo. And it's not limited to marble. They used wine bottle glass, zinc, and even keepsakes like dog tags on the client's terrazzo. (Here in Louisville, where mirror balls are manufactured, I've seen pieces of mirror balls in them!).
When it comes to aggregate color, shape and size, the options are “really endless,” Leonard says. The company's terrazzo product line, which features countertops, can be matched to Benjamin's Moore color of binder (cement that envelops aggregate), allowing clients to choose their own adventures with aggregate. It's just endless. Perfect for those who want to design their own kitchen down to the last detail.
Where to buy Terrazzo (on a budget!)
But where do you start if you're not ready for a completely custom counter or floor? The easiest entry is with tile. My local shop, Buehre's Louisville Tile (which has showrooms in several states), had an amazing selection of products when I stopped by a while ago, and the store is always adding more. I'm also drooling over his Concrete Collaborative products, but Zia Tile also has his gorgeous terrazzo tiles. If you prefer to shop from the comfort of your couch, many popular online tile retailers also sell terrazzo, including Wayfair, Lowe's, and The Home Depot. (Amazon also has plenty of budget-friendly peel-and-stick terrazzo options to get the same look for less.)
Nexus Adhesive 12 Inch Vinyl Floor Tile
$20.48 on Amazon
After all, terrazzo is known to last a lifetime, so there's no need to rush into choosing it. We hope you have plenty of time to choose exactly the colors and style that are perfect for your kitchen. From the looks of it, it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
Buy: Terrazzo Contact Paper for Countertops, Waterproof Adhesive, $9.99
