Profiled | The Old Rectory

Where History Sets the Tone

Set in the Southern Highlands of NSW, The Old Rectory is a historic estate built circa 1906, a luxury two-storey brick home and a classic example of Victorian/Federation architecture in rural Australia. When the design team was engaged to reimagine its bathrooms, our handmade Moroccan Zellige tiles became the thread that tied new function to old soul.

Before a single fixture was discussed, the owners were clear on what mattered most: honouring the property's history and respecting the custodians who came before them. The brief was straightforward enough on paper: implement a second bathroom, update the existing bathroom, and incorporate a generous linen cupboard on the second floor. But the real challenge was quieter than that, it was ensuring that new plumbing and modern comfort never diminished the integrity of such a traditional space.

Uncovering the Past

Local builder and historic home enthusiast Michael Van Haeff was brought on to bring the designs to life, and early on-site investigations revealed a surprising history. The walk-in linen cupboard had originally been a bathroom, and the larger bathroom had once been a fifth bedroom, a discovery that shaped the plan to return the linen cupboard to its original use as the second bathroom. Restoring the home's original horse hair plaster walls was no small task, as they had to be carefully stripped and repaired to create the clean, straight lines the intricate tile patterns required. It was the kind of detailed craftsmanship that set the tone for the whole project.

The home's original mosaic floor tiles then set the scale and spirit for every selection that followed, and from the very start it was clear that only handmade traditional tiles could do justice to a home with this much history. The Tiles of Ezra range, with its authentic Moroccan Zellige and natural handmade variation, was the natural choice. These are tiles with genuine soul to match a home full of it. The stairwell's original stained-glass window sent its colours glowing throughout the space and became the emotional touchstone for both rooms, and the Tiles of Ezra palette made it possible to carry that same sense of joy through colour and pattern while letting each bathroom tell its own distinct story.

The Main Bathroom
 

Guided by the home's original green and white vintage toleware wall lights and a deep green clawfoot bath, the main bathroom called for a Moroccan mosaic tile with real depth and history. The team selected the Zellige Mosaic in Dust, Avocado & Dark Green, whose repeated grid of dark green, avocado and dust tones set exactly the right note for the room. 

Carrying the Palette Through

In the shower area, Zellige Basics in EZR1010 Chameleon, was introduced to complement the patterned mosaic and carry the palette through the wet zone. Its soft, shifting green tones echo the mosaic while bringing a calmer, more uniform finish to the space, allowing the patterned feature to remain the hero while the wet zone feels considered and cohesive.

The Second Bathroom
 

Where the main bathroom drew its cues from green and vintage brass, the second bathroom took its inspiration from an original stained-glass medicine cabinet featuring a classic art deco pattern. The brief here called for something feminine and soft, and the owners were drawn to a considered pink colour theme. The team chose the Zellige Mosaic in Clay, Chocolate & Moroccan Pink, EZR0224 Clay, Chocolate & Moroccan Pink, whose warm, layered tones brought exactly the soft, feminine character the room called for.

Grounding the Palette

To balance the pattern, the shower walls were lined with the Thin Bejmat EZR1550 in Oat, grounding the space in something warmer and more neutral. A delicate floral Sandberg Clara wallpaper in a pastel colourway was then selected as the perfect finishing layer to this softer palette.

Colour as Character

Across both rooms, it's the Zellige tile patterns that do the quiet work of storytelling. Each one is handmade, and each one carries the kind of natural variation that no machine-made bathroom tile could replicate. Whether in the deep greens of the main bathroom or the soft pinks of the second, the Moroccan Zellige tiles selected for The Old Rectory don't just update the home for modern living. They honour everything that came before it.

The Old Rectory is a reminder that even the most traditional homes can hold new life without losing their character. With handmade Moroccan Zellige tiles at the heart of both bathrooms, history and colour move through the space in equal measure, a detail that rewards those who know where to look.

All tiles are exclusively available through Tiles of Ezra. Visit our showroom or order a sample to explore the collection.

Credits:
Tile: Tiles of Ezra
Project: The Old Rectory, Moss Vale, Southern Highlands NSW
 
Builder: Michael Van Haeff
 
Plastering: Homescape Rendering
 
Tiling: Brenden Sewell Tiling
 
Cabinetry: Fitch Fine Furniture
 
Wallpaper: Willis & Son