baaatelier
A built-in tub and arched niche in polished terracotta tadelakt beside a linen curtain
Illustrative render

Concept study 02 of 05 · Bathroom

The tadelakt bath

A tub surround and an arched niche in polished tadelakt, the Moroccan lime plaster made for water.

This is a concept, not a finished client project. The pictures are illustrative renders of work we can do; when we finish a job like it, its real photographs will be under Projects.

The system
  • Tub surround and niche. Tadelakt lime plaster, compressed and polished with a stone, sealed with black soap
  • Dry walls. Marmorino lime plaster, pale and chalky

The tub surround, the wall behind it and an arched niche are finished in tadelakt in a soft terracotta, polished with stone and black soap until water beads on it. The dry walls around it take a pale marmorino, so the room reads warm without becoming one colour.

On site, in order

  1. 01Protect the room; build the niche and true up the walls
  2. 02Tadelakt applied, compressed and polished in one working day per area
  3. 03Black soap sealing once the plaster has firmed
  4. 04Marmorino on the dry walls

Worth knowing

  • Tadelakt is laid on a sound, prepared wall, not over glazed tile.
  • It is cared for with black soap rather than harsh cleaners, and it patinates with use. That is the point of it.
The tadelakt tub alcove with pale marmorino walls and a stone basin on a walnut vanity
The tadelakt tub alcove with pale marmorino walls and a stone basin on a walnut vanity · Illustrative render
Close-up of the arched tadelakt niche, polished inside the curve without a seam
Close-up of the arched tadelakt niche, polished inside the curve without a seam · Illustrative render
Water beading on polished terracotta tadelakt
Water beading on polished terracotta tadelakt · Illustrative render

Have a room like this?

Send us a photograph.

Tell us what is there now. We will say honestly whether it can be finished over, or has to come out first.

Start a project→All concept studies
Or call (323) 497-3794
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