Sunlit Serenity: Redefining Warmth with Large-FormatPorcelain

We discuss the design of ‘Dune House’ to explore how sweeping coastal modernism meets tactile warmth, and how specifying the right porcelain surfaces can make even intimate spaces like the bedroom feel inherently cozy.

Tucked away in a quiet coastal pocket, Dune House is a masterclass in relaxed, sun-drenched modernism. The interior architecture favours low-slung, horizontal lines, sunken lounges, and a palette deeply informed by the surrounding landscape: soft ochres, bleached timbers, and sandy neutrals.

A central challenge for the design team was maintaining this pervasive sense of warmth and intimacy while using durable, architectural materials. We sat down with the homeowner, Marcus Thorne, to discuss how Kaolin Surfaces’ large-format porcelain—specifically our Noosa Cream and Bondi Sands collections—became the defining element that tied this tactile sanctuary together.

Q: The immediate feeling upon entering Dune House is oneof incredible softness, despite the minimalist architecture. How did you achieve this balance?

Client: The brief was to create a home that felt like an extension of the beach, but elevated. We wanted the durability of a robust architectural shell, but it absolutely had to feel barefoot-friendly and inviting.

We leaned heavily into texture rather than clutter. We used limewash on the walls, bouclé and raw leather for the furnishings, and natural linens. But the true foundation of that softness is the flooring. People often associate hard surfaces with a cold or clinical atmosphere, but we wanted to prove that with the right finish and scale, stone-look porcelain actually brings an incredible earthen warmth to a home.

Q: You selected our "Noosa Cream" large-formattiles for the main living areas, which flows right through to the sleepingquarters. Using tile in a bedroom is a bold choice—tell us about that decision.

Client: It is a departure from the traditional plush carpet or timber, but it’s actually my favourite design decision in the house. We ran the Noosa Cream seamlessly from the sunken living room directly into the master bedroom.

Because we utilized the large-format slabs with your signature 0.5mm seamless joints, it doesn't read as a "tiled floor." Instead, it looks like the home was carved from a single block of pale, warm limestone. The Noosa Cream has this beautiful, subtle depth and a honed finish that is soft to the touch. When the morning sun hits the bedroom floor, the
surface seems to glow, holding the ambient heat and making the space feel incredibly cozy, grounded, and serene. Throwing down a heavy, textured jute rug was all we needed to complete the space.

Q: The bathroom introduces a slightly more structured,architectural element while keeping that earthy palette. How did the materialscome together here?

Client: The bathroom is designed to be a textural retreat. We wanted it to feel almost like a high-end spa carved out of the earth. We transitioned from the Noosa Cream to your Bondi Sands collection for the bathroom surfaces.

The Bondi Sands has a slightly richer, more textural grain that pairs perfectly with the dramatic, warm-veined stone of the floating vanity. To enclose the space without losing natural light, we installed Kaolin ceramic breezeblocks. The geometric pattern of the breezeblocks filters the sunlight beautifully, casting shifting shadows across the Bondi Sands porcelain throughout the day. It’s an interplay of hard lines and warm materials that feels perfectly balanced.