A highly detailed tiling project completed throughout Di and Tim’s new coastal home at Clarks Beach – bringing together handmade tiles, precision herringbone patterns, heated bathroom floors and exterior porcelain paving.

Designed by Jessica Valentine, the home called for a carefully coordinated installation across the kitchen, scullery, ensuite, main bathroom, laundry and covered exterior terrace.

Having previously completed three smaller projects for Di and Tim, Tiletex was trusted to deliver the extensive tilework for their forever home.

Project Overview

Location: Clarks Beach, Auckland

Project: Luxury new-build coastal home

Interior design: Jessica Valentine

Tile installation: Tiletex Limited

Services: Tiling, waterproofing and under-tile heating

Specialist work: Zellige tiles, herringbone feature walls, checkerboard floors and raised exterior paving

Kitchen & Scullery

Handmade Character on a Dramatic Scale

The kitchen and adjoining scullery were finished with handmade black Moroccan Zellige tiles, creating a rich, reflective surface against the dark cabinetry and warm brass detailing.

Rather than being restricted to a conventional splashback, the tiles extend across the full kitchen wall and continue throughout the scullery. Their hand-finished surfaces, irregular edges and subtle variations give the installation depth and character as light moves across the glazed finish.

Installing handmade Zellige tiles across such large areas demanded careful planning. Each tile was individually positioned to maintain balanced grout lines while preserving the natural variation that makes this material distinctive.

Particular attention was given to the cabinetry, shelving, windows, worktops and internal corners, ensuring the tiled surfaces remained visually balanced throughout both connected spaces.

The result is bold and deeply personal – a kitchen that feels completely at home alongside Di and Tim’s collected ceramics, antique furniture and warm timber flooring.

Luxury Ensuite

Bold Colour, Pattern and Precision

Designed by Jessica Valentine, this highly individual ensuite combines bold colour, contrasting patterns and carefully selected finishes.

The floor features black-and-white, full-bodied porcelain tiles manufactured in France by Winckelmans. Installed in a classic checkerboard pattern, the tiles continue throughout the room and into the walk-through shower.

Matt black wall tiles provide a restrained backdrop for handmade emerald-green ceramic tiles from Middle Earth Tiles. Installed in a detailed herringbone pattern, the green tiles bring colour, movement and a richly varied handcrafted finish to the bath and shower areas.

Tiletex was responsible for translating the design into a precise and durable installation. The checkerboard floor was centred and balanced around the room’s walls, openings, dividing structures and freestanding bath.

The Middle Earth tiles were individually sorted and blended to distribute their natural colour and surface variation. Each herringbone section was carefully set out to maintain symmetry and strong vertical centre lines across the feature walls.

A concealed walk-through shower removes the need for a conventional glass enclosure. Full-height matt black tiling defines the shower walls, while illuminated recessed shelving incorporates the emerald herringbone tiles as a practical and highly detailed feature.

Freestanding Bath and Herringbone Feature Wall

Black Bath with Green Feature Tiling

Main Bathroom

A Compact Bathroom with Strong Detail

The main bathroom carries the home’s distinctive material palette into a smaller, more intimate space.

Handmade emerald-green ceramic tiles from Middle Earth Tiles extend behind the vanity and throughout the walk-through shower in a precisely set-out herringbone pattern.

Matt black wall tiles define the shower structure, while black-and-white Winckelmans full-bodied porcelain tiles continue the checkerboard floor used elsewhere in the home.

The compact layout required careful coordination between different patterns, wall planes and finished heights. The checkerboard shower floor was centred and framed by a matt black border, while illuminated recessed shelving highlights the handmade green tiles.

Main Bathroom Walk-Through Shower

Laundry

Handmade Texture in a Practical Space

The laundry continues the home’s use of bold, handcrafted materials with full-height Moroccan Zellige tiling.

The handmade tiles extend along the main wall and around the laundry sink and window. Their irregular edges, colour variation and undulating glazed surfaces contrast with the precisely detailed dark cabinetry and warm parquet flooring.

Each tile was individually positioned to balance its natural variation while maintaining consistent overall lines around the cabinetry, switches, window and internal corners.

Full-Height Zellige Tiled Laundry

Covered Exterior Terrace

Precision Porcelain Paving Above the Coast

The home’s black-and-white palette continues onto the large covered terrace overlooking Clarks Beach.

The 20 mm-thick, 600 × 600 mm exterior porcelain pavers were installed in an expansive checkerboard pattern. Their textured surface provides the durability and slip resistance required for an exterior coastal environment.

Rather than being bonded directly to the concrete, the pavers were installed over a Nurajack raised pedestal system. This created a level finished surface while allowing water to drain freely beneath the tiles.

Establishing the supporting structure required detailed height adjustment across the entire terrace. The checkerboard pattern was then set out to remain balanced across the space and align cleanly with the house, sliding-door openings and glass balustrade.

Clarks Beach Coastal Terrace

Behind the Finished Surfaces

Preparation Built for Long-Term Performance

The finished tilework is only as reliable as the preparation beneath it.

Tiletex completed the substrate preparation, under-tile heating, shower falls, waterproofing and tile installation using compatible systems selected for long-term performance.

Wet areas were carefully formed and waterproofed, with particular attention given to corners, penetrations, recessed shelving and floor-to-wall junctions. Under-tile heating was planned around the room layouts, tested and encapsulated before tiling.

Detailed photographic records were maintained throughout the project, documenting the work that can no longer be seen beneath the finished surfaces.

Client Testimonial

“Stu from Tiletex was recommended to us and completed three smaller tile jobs for us a few years ago, so he was the natural choice for our final big project – our Clarks Beach forever home.

The man is a perfectionist at his craft. Some of our work was very intricate, and we can’t speak highly enough of his workmanship. He’s also a clean and tidy worker, has respect for our home environment and is so easy to get along with. Nothing is too much trouble.

Stu is definitely the man we would recommend for your next perfect tile job, however big or small.”

— Di & Tim Reynolds, Clarks Beach

Planning a Detailed Tiling Project?

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation, precision tiling project or complete tiled interior, contact Tiletex early to discuss the design, preparation and installation requirements.

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