In decoration, almost everything returns. A few years ago gold was fashionable reserved only for Christmas, furniture from the 70s was removed from the houses as if they had fleas, and velvet was considered something dandy… now we see velvet and gold in the fashionable places and 70s furniture is the object of desire not only by series and movie producers, but by all those who want to give their home a modern and vintage touch.
Even the elements that cause or caused the most rejection are coming back with a vengeance. This is the case of terrazzo. A material that was installed on the floors of thousands of homes in this country during the boom of the 70s, filling rooms with maroon, black, gray and neutral tones, hallways and doorways.
Spain, covered by terrazzo
In those decades, all of Spain was an immense terrazzo park. And although its use was abused, the truth is that there are portals in Spain in the mid-20th century that are authentic wonders that should be protected.
Terrazzo derives from the Italian word terrace, and its origin must be sought in the mid-fifteenth century in the Serenissima Republic of Venice. When working marble, construction workers took advantage of the leftover pieces, mixed them with clay and goat’s milk and used the result to pave the terraces of their houses.
Over time, compaction and polishing were improved. And due to its durability and brightness, it was used as flooring in palaces and Italian homes.
Thus, until the 20th century when terrazzo became strong as cladding in Spanish homes and portals thanks to be economical and shock resistant being manufactured with a cement base and small marble granules, accompanied by other materials to give it the finishes that we have all seen in the houses of our parents and grandparents.
But after years of dominance, the era of terrazzo has come to an end. The weariness of seeing it in thousands of houses and the arrival of new coverings and platforms made it fall into oblivion by architects, interior designers and decorators, although it is still present in a significant percentage of homes throughout the country.
A new life in the 21st century
But after years of abandonment, oblivion and even rejection, terrazzo is back with a bang. It was back in 2017 when, to the horror of many, terrazzo began to reappear timidly. Magazines and deco gurus warned that terrazzo was going to return, before the astonished gaze of ordinary mortals.
So it was. As the years passed, the aesthetics ‘stracciatella‘ overcame doubts and misgivings and again conquered interior designers and architects first, later reaching the general public thanks to totally renewed designs that have made us forget the rejection that caused us, triumphing wherever they go.
Not only as floor and wall cladding in bathrooms and kitchens, or on countertops, but terrazzo has been strongly incorporated to design furniture and accessories thanks to a renewed offer of tables, chairs, lamps, vases, accessories for the bathroom or trivet,
has inspired us
- Bath set, Azia. Price at La Redoute, before
€59.99-, now after applying a 17% discount, it costs 49.99 euros.
- Terra Room side table lamp. Price in El Corte Inglés: 39.95 euros.
Terra Room Side Table Lamp
- Bransc set of 2 round pots Ø 20 cm / Ø 15 cm. Price in Kave Home: 36.99 euros.
Bransc set of 2 round pots Ø 20 cm / Ø 15 cm
- Round Verna serving board in wood and white terrazzo. Price at La Redoute: 12.99 euros.
Round Verna serving board in wood and white terrazzo
- Terrazzo knob in powder pink. Price at H&M Home: before
€5.99now 4.79 euros.
- Gray terrazzo lamp. Price at Maisons du Monde: 139 euros.
In Decosphere | What happened to the mythical Arcopal tableware? From reigning on Spanish tables to triumphing in markets as vintage pieces
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