Adding a little character to your home is a surefire way to make it feel more welcoming and memorable. And what better things could a cottage be? Character can be added through furniture and decor choice, but it can also be added in a more permanent (and enduring) way through fixtures and finishes like cabinetry, trim and even tile.
And one tile maker has made creating character-filled tiles steeped in rustic elegance a key part of their mission. ARTO, a family-run brick and tile maker based out of southern California, has produced handcrafted tiles with locally sourced materials since 1966.
ARTO’s Tierra Madre Tile in the Clara Glaze
One of the highlights of their tile collection is their new Tierra Madre tile in their Clara glaze. The tile, whose name translates to ‘Mother Earth,’ shows off the rugged imperfections of terra cotta tile by glazing the rougher back side, rather than the smoother front. The vibrant glaze seeps into the cracks and highlights them, making them a part of the tile’s beauty rather than something to be hidden or covered up.
The tile comes in a variety of colorways, from muted mango to shimmering pearl. ARTO’s Tierra Madre tile in the Clara glaze is also far more durable than other terra cotta tiles thanks to its unique firing process. This allows it to be used in places in the home that receive a lot of use and moisture exposure, like bathrooms and kitchens.
How To Use Clara Tile In Your Own Home
To add some down-to-earth elegance in your own home, consider installing some tile from the Clara collection. Thanks to its hardiness, it’s a great pick for high-use areas like bathrooms and kitchens whose finish choices may not receive as much love as other parts of the home.
For a show-stopping effect, consider covering a shower or entire accent wall with Tierra Madre tile. This will work really well in homes that are filled with that classic, old-world style.
For a subtler effect, consider creating a small mosaic with the high-fired terracotta tile or add a few rows of them to the wall space above your bathroom sink.
Though there’s definitely a bit more elbow grease involved when installing tile when compared to adding a new throw pillow or two, the rich, character-seeped effect it will leave your home with will be all the more noteworthy too.
Learn more about ARTO’s Tierra Madre tile in the Clara Glaze here, and check out the rest of what they have to offer here.
