Smitten for Saltillo: Kelsey Harp’s Kitchen Reveal

Saltillo Tile Kitchen - Major design inspiration below by Lauren Jones

By Clay Imports

For Austinite Kelsey Harp, going with Saltillo tile for her kitchen renovation project was a no-brainer. The 1970s Travis Country home, while it would need a pretty major remodel, had many redeeming qualities. It had Greenbelt views, a quiet neighborhood, plus charming architectural qualities of the decade. From a renovation standpoint, it gave her some wiggle room when it came to the design. Plus, it already had some Saltillo terracotta floors. “We knew we could work with that,” Harp says.

The Design Process

She and her husband purchased the home in July 2019. They then called on personal friends, architect Chelsea Scharbach and interior designer Emily Seeds to give them a kitchen that felt light, airy and spacious. The family desired this as they came from a Ranch-style home with low ceilings.

Kitchen with gloss sealed Saltillo tiles by Clay Imports

Airy and spacious kitchen designed by Emily Seeds Interiors

Choosing Kitchen Tiles

Now, a year later, the kitchen is by far one of the highlights of the home. If you’ve ever thought about why and how to update your kitchen tiles, now is the time to act. Harp chose White Glazed Thin Brick tile and Saltillo tile, plus quartz countertops with a matte finish that mimics hand-poured concrete. Saltillo is an all-natural tile, formed from terracotta clay, and left to bake in the sun. Later, the tile is low-fired in a kiln. This creates beautiful variation in the tile, making it ideal for a bevvy of renovation projects.

To complement this new kitchen design, Harp picked out clear-sealed white oak cabinetry. The open shelving on the bottom works for cookbook storage. It was also a clever way she saved on costs. For one of the final details, she sourced an antique French white oak island from Round Top. She then sanded and re-painted it and topped it with the same quartz countertop.

Kitchen with brick gloss sealed saltillo tiles by Clay Imports

A Saltillo tile kitchen highlighting organic shapes and materials

Showing The Results

The result is a classic, well illuminated kitchen design thanks to the white tiled backsplashes. The natural terracotta tiled floor combines fantastic with the natural wood cabinetry, giving it an incredible modern and clean look. To say Kelsey was satisfied with the results is an understatement and we hope this design inspires you in your next project.

modern kitchen backsplash with white tile by Clay Imports

Curious about Saltillo? Learn more here and browse our options. And remember, if you have any questions or require more information, don't hesitate to reach out to us at contact@clayimports.com or chat with us here.