At House of Nomad, everyone is obsessed with design, and for design assistant Zoe Dirkse, her bathroom renovation was a deeply personal one. With bold stripes, graphic tile, and colors inspired by her roots and her present, Zoe created a space that balances drama and timelessness. We caught up with her to learn more about the design process, the power of trusting your gut, and how Clay Imports tiles brought her vision to life.
- The Vision: Bold, Balanced, and a Bit Personal
- Designing for Yourself? A Whole Different Ball Game
- The Must-Haves
- Bringing It All Together
- Why Clay Imports?
- The House of Nomad Philosophy, Made Personal
- The Details That Make It Hers
Design concept rendering showing the bold vertical stripe layout using Leche and Americano tiles, an early vision of the finished space.
The Vision: Bold, Balanced, and a Bit Personal
Zoe loves patterns and has recently found herself drawn to stripes. For her, stripes strike the perfect balance: bold yet classic. She sees them as graphic and fun, while still remaining sophisticated and timeless.
As for the color palette? “The [stripe tile] colors (Leche and Americano) have so much depth and interest! Americano, especially: it can be burgundy or merlot depending on how the sunlight hits.”
The pairing of vertical striped wall tiles with a star and cross-shaped floor makes this space truly special. “I am originally from Southern Orange County, CA, and grew up seeing a lot of star and cross shapes but in terracotta form, especially around the architecture in Laguna Beach,” Zoe shares. Now that she and her husband live in Charlotte, North Carolina, she is just as inspired by Southern design. The cream gloss star and cross tile felt like the perfect way to blend both influences.
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Designing for Yourself? A Whole Different Ball Game
While Zoe helps clients design their dream spaces every day, turning that creative energy inward came with its own challenges; she found herself agonizing over every decision, even questioning her own style at times. With access to countless resources and the pressure of designing a space she’d live in daily for years to come, the process proved to be both exciting and overwhelming.
So, how did she push through? Zoe had to trust her instincts. The bathroom design was the very first design she dreamed up for their house, and once she leaned into that, everything fell into place.
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The Must-Haves
Despite working with a small footprint, Zoe knew two things were non-negotiable: a larger shower and a space that felt joyful. She especially loved taking a design risk with the color palette, choosing a dark red, cream, and blue scheme that felt a little vintage yet remained fun, graphic, sophisticated, and timeless. “There’s nothing better than a long, hot shower,” she says.
The final design hit the mark with a striped shower wall that feels bold yet elegant, complemented by soft cream tile underfoot. The star and cross pattern introduces a subtle contrast to the vertical stripes: graphic enough to stand out, but harmonious enough not to compete.
From day one, she knew she wanted a rusty red tile, and after hours of searching, she found the perfect hue in Americano from Clay Imports.
Bringing It All Together
Designing under a tight timeline added a bit of pressure. The couple bought the house in December 2024 and had to start renovations by mid-February. Their lease was ending soon, so there was no time to waffle. But for Zoe, that was a blessing. “I make my best decisions under pressure. That’s when instincts start to kick in and no room for doubts!”
One of her favorite design moments was watching the stripes go up: when it all clicked, and the space began to take on a character of its own.
Why Clay Imports?
Zoe was instantly drawn to the West Coast aesthetic of Clay Imports' tile collection: it felt like a piece of home. On a tight timeline, she especially appreciated the team's friendly and efficient support. “10/10,” she recalls. “They were so quick to answer any questions, and I always got prompt responses. Everyone was so kind!”
The House of Nomad Philosophy, Made Personal
As an assistant designer at House of Nomad, Zoe brings global inspiration into every project. House of Nomad’s philosophy is rooted in travel and life experience. For Zoe, this bathroom reflects both where she has come from and where she is now.
Her background in art, specifically 3D design and textiles, also gave her a unique lens. That foundation has been incredibly valuable from a design perspective. Zoe believes that great design is about creating a balanced composition using shape, color, focal points, and more. Since moving into interiors, she has worked hard to refine those skills and apply them to residential spaces. On top of that, the construction knowledge she has gained in this role has been a huge asset when working on renovation projects.
The Details That Make It Hers
Looking back, Zoe’s favorite design risk was the color palette. The combination of dark red, cream, and blue was a departure from her usual preferences, but she loved how it brought a slightly vintage feel to the space.
And the vibe? Think Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae, the kind of mood Zoe envisions filling her home every morning. Warm, relaxed, and effortlessly uplifting.
Inspired by Zoe’s look?
Explore Clay Imports’ tile collections and start dreaming up your own bold, balanced bathroom moment.
Disclaimer: Since the installation of tile greatly determines the integrity of the project and the tile itself, Clay Imports does not warranty this product and is not responsible for dissatisfaction with the material following installation. Please inspect all tiles upon receipt and notify us immediately if you have any quality concerns. This guide is meant to serve as a general resource. Because each project is unique, consult your tile installer before installing your tile.
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