The short answer: Federation and Californian Bungalow homes are known for geometric tessellated floors on verandahs, front paths and entry halls, usually in terracotta red, black, cream and ochre with a border. Original tessellated floors are made from many small pieces laid one by one. Spanish porcelain heritage pattern tiles print the whole design on a single tile, so you get the same look laid like a standard tile, with no sealing.
Federation homes
Federation houses, built around the turn of the twentieth century, are found right across Sydney, from the Inner West to the North Shore. Their verandahs, front paths and entry halls were traditionally finished in geometric tessellated tiles: small, unglazed clay pieces in squares, triangles, hexagons and octagons, arranged into a central pattern framed by a border. Typical colours are terracotta red, black, cream and buff, with touches of blue, green or ochre.
Californian Bungalow homes
Californian Bungalows followed in the 1910s to 1930s and became one of Sydney's most common house styles. Their wide front verandahs often had tessellated or simple geometric floors, and their bathrooms and kitchens often used black and white tiles. Today, owners renovating a Bungalow usually want tiles that suit the period without feeling like a museum.
Original tessellated tiles vs heritage pattern tiles
| Original-style tessellated tiles | Heritage pattern porcelain tiles | |
|---|---|---|
| How the pattern is made | Many small coloured pieces laid individually | Whole design printed on each tile |
| Laying | Specialist, slow work | Laid like any standard tile |
| Sealing | Usually sealed | No sealing required |
| Best for | Faithful restoration of an original floor | Renovations, new verandahs, bathrooms and entries in a heritage style |
If your home is heritage listed or in a heritage conservation area, check with your local council before replacing an original verandah or path, as some councils require original materials to be repaired or matched.
Where to use heritage pattern tiles
- Front verandahs and paths: choose porcelain rated for covered outdoor areas. Fully exposed verandahs may need a higher slip rating, so ask us which designs suit.
- Entry halls and hallways: a heritage pattern with a plain border recreates the classic Federation runner.
- Bathrooms and laundries: R10 porcelain heritage tiles suit wet area floors. See our guide to pattern tiles for bathroom floors.
- Kitchens: black and white or earthy heritage patterns suit Bungalow kitchens.
Heritage pattern tiles in our range
We have over 150 different pattern tile designs from Spain, with Spanish pattern tiles starting from $88 per square metre. Heritage designs include:
- KC933 Californian Bungalow tile: a heritage tessellated pattern on a 450mm tile scored to 225mm
- KC835 tessellated tile design: a 197mm pattern on a 592mm scored tile, suitable for undercover outdoor areas
- KC909 Federation-inspired heritage tile: 200 x 200mm porcelain, R10, matt
- KC886 Federation-style encaustic look tile: brown and blue on an off-white cream base
- KC954 heritage pattern tile: green, blue and charcoal, R10, suitable for undercover outdoor areas
- KC838 heritage porcelain: 197mm pattern, R10, suitable for covered outdoor areas
- KC866 heritage tile designs: available in several colourways
See more in our vintage and heritage tiles and black and white pattern tiles collections.
