Marlborough Tiles introduces Natural Terracotta

Rooted in 90 years of craftsmanship and a deep understanding of colour, pattern and material, Marlborough Tiles brings its distinctive approach to a new surface with its first collection of handmade Natural Terracotta floor tiles. Bringing together six versatile formats, three finishes and a palette of hand glazed cabochons, the collection offers homeowners and interior designers the freedom to create floors that feel considered, individual and full of character.

Natural Terracotta is available in six distinctive formats, each offering its own design possibilities. The timeless simplicity of Square and Hexagon sits alongside the rhythmic lines of Parquet and Small Brick, while Arabesque and Octagon with Cabochons offer a more decorative approach. Together, the collection provides a versatile foundation for both classic and contemporary interiors, allowing different shapes and layouts to be explored to create a floor unique to each space.

The beauty of terracotta

There is an inherent warmth to terracotta that brings a sense of ease and welcome to a room. Its softly varied, earthy palette provides a natural foundation for an interior, complementing everything from painted cabinetry and natural timber to aged brass and richly coloured fabrics. In kitchens and utility spaces, it brings warmth and depth to hardworking rooms, while in bathrooms its natural tones create a softer, more grounded atmosphere, pairing effortlessly with stone, timber and both traditional and contemporary fittings. Whether covering an entire room or defining a particular area, terracotta has a quiet versatility that allows it to become part of the wider design without overwhelming it.

Three finishes, three expressions

Natural Terracotta is available in three finish-specific sealer bundles - Light, Deep and Antique - each containing everything needed to transform the raw terracotta tiles and achieve your chosen finish. The Light finish retains the softer, natural tones of terracotta, creating a more understated and pared-back look. The Deep finish brings deeper, richer tones, enhancing the warmth and depth of the material.

For a more timeworn character, the Antique finish is achieved using a medium-brown tinted wax, giving the tiles an authentic aged appearance and gentle patina.

Handmade and naturally varied, every tile has its own subtle tonal differences and organic surface, bringing an authentic sense of depth to the floor. Over time, the terracotta will continue to develop its character, embracing the gentle imperfections that are intrinsic to this traditional material. The result is a floor that feels warm, considered and naturally lived-in.

A touch of colour: glazed cabochons

For a more decorative interpretation, the collection introduces glazed ceramic cabochons to the classic Octagon format - a combination unique to the UK market.

Available in eight carefully considered, non-crackle gloss colours - Shell, Tuscan Red, Victorian Pink, Velvet Blue, Black, Woodland, Willow and Saffron - the cabochons bring a distinctive note of colour against the warmth of natural terracotta. With the exception of Black, each colour is also available across our existing wall tile collections, creating a considered connection between wall and floor decoration.

From subtle combinations to more expressive pairings, the colours can be mixed and matched to create individual patterns and schemes, offering a contemporary interpretation of the timeless octagon-and-cabochon floor.

Each cabochon is hand glazed by our team of artisans in our Marlborough factory using traditional waterfall glazing methods. Colour glazes are individually mixed from over 50 pigments and stains to achieve each carefully considered shade. The finished cabochons have a rich, colour-filled surface with subtle variation, reflecting the individuality and character of the handmade process.

A new dimension for Marlborough

The introduction of Natural Terracotta marks a new chapter for Marlborough Tiles, expanding our offering beyond our renowned handmade wall tiles and bringing our expertise in colour, design and craftsmanship to the floor for the first time.

Designed to complement Marlborough’s existing collections, Natural Terracotta creates new opportunities to bring walls and floors together within a scheme. A terracotta floor can provide a natural foundation for our handmade wall tiles, while the collection’s varied formats and cabochon colours offer scope to create more layered and expressive interiors.

It is a considered expansion of Marlborough’s craft - introducing a new material while remaining rooted in the principles that have shaped the business for 90 years.

Made to complement the home

A floor can do more than provide a practical foundation; it can influence the character and atmosphere of an entire room. Natural Terracotta has been designed to work across a variety of interiors, bringing a sense of rustic charm and timeworn character to traditional country homes, while offering warmth and depth to more contemporary spaces.

In kitchens, boot rooms and utility spaces, its earthy tones create a welcoming backdrop to everyday life. In bathrooms and living spaces, it can be paired with natural materials, painted finishes and considered furnishings to create a softer, more grounded feel.

Whether used as a quiet foundation or given a more decorative role through considered layouts and colourful cabochons, Natural Terracotta offers a new way to bring personality and character underfoot.