Bachelor Mansion Takeover: Handmade Tile Featured on HGTV

The Tile Everyone’s Noticing on Bachelor Mansion Takeover

If you’ve been watching Bachelor Mansion Takeover, you may have caught a design detail that tile lovers instantly recognized. So far, Episodes 2 through 6 of the wildly popular show have featured tile from Clay Imports, and each episode reveals a different side of what handmade tile can do.

• Episode 2 leans soft and romantic
• Episode 3 moves outdoors, sun-soaked and textural
• Episode 4 brings the tile front and center
• Episodes 5 and the final episode 6? That’s where things get bold, expressive, and a little more competitive 
• Preserving the Original Bachelor Mansion Details
• Why Handmade Tile Appears on Design Shows
• Watching Bachelor Mansion Takeover? Look Closer

Episode 2: The Rose Room Challenge

Episode 2 centers around one of the mansion’s most striking new spaces: The Rose Room. And in the candle room, a softly lit feature wall framed by a dramatic arch reveals a familiar pattern: the Opaque Star & Cross handmade tile from Clay Imports.

For fans of the show and design enthusiasts alike, it’s a moment worth pausing the screen for, or as “The Flip Off” star and guest judge, Christina Haack recalls:

“The first thing I noticed when I walked into this space was that tile. I am a sucker for a star and cross, and the color is so pretty. [...] It’s a room I would have in my own house. I really like it.”

As the renovation unfolds, the iconic Bachelor Mansion is getting a thoughtful refresh, blending contemporary design with elements of the home’s original character. And tile plays a surprisingly important role in that story.

The Living Room Debate: Tile vs. Wallpaper

Wallpaper or Tile above the fireplace? Just as the contestants clashed over this decision, so do many tasked with design details. You know, for us, it would always be tile, but this room could be a winner either way! 

The final reveal 

The Candle Room: Soft and Layered 

The design features a curved architectural niche filled with handmade Star & Cross tile, finished in a soft opaque glaze that reflects warm ambient lighting. The geometric pattern creates subtle movement across the wall, giving the room both structure and softness.

A softly curved niche becomes a focal point, filled with Star & Cross handmade tile that adds depth, pattern, and artisanal character.

It’s going to add so much texture. [...] It’s going to be beautiful. 
- Candle Room contestants Jill and Courtney

Centered on the tile wall is a sculptural rose artwork, a bold focal point that sparked conversation among viewers. Some might call the placement daring. We call it memorable.

The layered textures make the room feel rich and inviting:

• handcrafted clay tile
• warm wood framing the arch
• velvet seating
• sculptural wall art

It’s a reminder that tile can go far beyond backsplashes and showers. Here, it becomes part of the architecture itself.

Episode 3: Off the Deep End

By Episode 3, things quite literally spill outdoors, and tile continues to show up in fresh ways.

Pool Oasis: Hot Grill, Cool Tile

Tile makes another appearance in the Pool Oasis, proving once again that handmade tile loo ks just as good outdoors as it does inside.

The pizza oven bar is wrapped in Templo Mamey tile, where its three-dimensional surface brings bold texture and warmth to the space.

In this space, the front of both counters, the grill station, and the pizza oven bar are clad in our 3-dimensional tile Templo Mamey (part of our collection, with Los Angeles designer Amy Pigliacampo, adding texture, rhythm, and a grounded, architectural feel to the outdoor kitchen. It’s a quieter design moment than some of the show’s splashier reveals, but that’s part of its charm.

We’d call it understated in the best way: warm, tactile, and perfectly at home against the stone, stucco, and desert landscape.

Even if Tyler Cameron wasn’t exactly swooning over this detail on screen, we’ll happily say it: we are, because handmade tile doesn’t need to shout. Sometimes it just sits there, sun-soaked and stunning, doing what it does best.

An Outdoor Shower Worth Lingering In

This might be the most talked-about corner of Episode 3, and for good reason. The outdoor shower pairs a layered mix of three Clay Imports tiles (the beautiful Espina 2x5, Yucca 2x5, and Terra Crackle Thin Brick with a sculptural Brisa Breeze Block wall, creating a space that feels equal parts open and tucked away. The breeze blocks filter light and shadow throughout the day, adding movement while offering just enough privacy.

Episode 4: The Mixer Room Showdown

By Episode 4, the stakes feel higher, and so do the design decisions. And in this room, tile doesn’t just support the design. It leads it.

“That tile is the story of this space.” - Nate Berkus

With Nate Berkus stepping in as guest judge (and yes, we’re just as excited as you are), the Mixer Room becomes a space where materials really get to speak. Nate Berkus’ expertise and kindness add a refreshing tone to a fast-paced, high-drama show.

The Fireplace: A Tile Moment That Steals the Show

One of the standout features is the fireplace, clad in Clay Imports Terra Crackle glazed thin brick (the same one as in the outdoor shower!), stacked vertically for a clean, midcentury-inspired look.

The rich, rust-toned glaze catches the light just enough to give the surface movement, while the vertical stack adds height and presence. It’s the kind of detail that anchors the entire room and Nate’s "favorite feature of the room.”

A Hidden Bar (and a Tile Surprise)

Another moment that had us pausing the screen: the concealed dry bar.

What looks like a contemporary art piece splits down the center and slides open to reveal a tiled interior finished in Star & Cross in Black Suede. It’s unexpected, a little dramatic, and incredibly satisfying. Love the tile coasters, but don’t have vintage mansion tiles lying around? Take a look at our Talavera tiles.

The Reading Nook Tile Returns

And then, a familiar face: Bota Opaque tile makes its return, this time in the newly introduced reading nook.

After almost making the cut in earlier episodes, seeing it installed here feels like a well-deserved encore. The natural clay body peeks through the glaze, giving the tile a softness and depth that works beautifully in a quieter corner of the room.

Episode 5: Battle of the Bars

The setting moves outdoors again, but this time, it’s all about personality.

In “Battle of the Bars,” three returning contestants get a second shot, each designing a fully custom outdoor bar complete with a story and signature cocktail. And naturally, tile becomes the defining element.

The Desert Fields series takes the spotlight, with each contestant interpreting it in a completely different way:

Tammy’s bar plays with pattern, mixing Yucca Crackle 2x5 and Fossil 2x5 in an offset, almost spontaneous checkerboard that pairs beautifully with a soft sage backdrop.

Christopher’s design leans more graphic, featuring a medallion-style composition with Espina Green and Mirage.

Courtney’s bar turns heads with Bota Inverse in glossy Bota Forest, creating a rich, saturated moment that feels equal parts moody and playful. As Tyler Cameron put it, it’s giving “sexy bar”—and honestly, we agree!

Each space feels distinct, expressive, and deeply personal. Different palettes, different layouts, same takeaway: tile has range.

The Winner: Tammy’s chic bar “Smokes and Roses.”

Episode 6: The final Challenge

And then comes the finale.

Episode 6 brings everything full circle with a “reimagine” challenge, where contestants revisit earlier spaces and push their designs further. It’s part problem-solving, part redemption arc, and tile continues to play a starring role.

We get to see the Mixer Room in its final form, where the fireplace and Star & Cross hidden bar truly settle into the space. Some elements shift (we’ll admit, we were a little sad to see the Bota Inverse go), but the result feels more open, more resolved, and ready for real life.

Then, the kitchen.

Working together, Tammy makes a decisive move with Clay Imports Oxblood tile in 2x8—a deep, glossy ref that immediately draws the eye.

“[Oxblood tile] is very bachelor…it’s bold.”

— Tammy and Noah

And just when you think you’ve taken it all in, guest judge Rachel Bilson says exactly what everyone’s thinking:

“I can’t stop looking at the color of that tile.”

Same.

It’s a confident finish, rich in color, high in contrast, and a reminder that tile can carry an entire space when given the chance.

Preserving the Original Bachelor Mansion Details

One of the most charming parts of Bachelor Mansion Takeover is how the renovation embraces both old and new.

One thing viewers may not realize is that much of the original Bachelor Mansion architecture has been preserved during the renovation.

Instead of starting from scratch, the designers kept several historic elements intact. The mansion’s original flooring remains, along with small but beautiful details like Mexican tile accent baseboards found throughout the home.

These elements give the house continuity, blending the past with the new rooms being introduced on the show. And for anyone drawn to that collected, old-world look, our Terracotta and Talavera tiles carry that same warmth beautifully.

Handmade tile fits naturally into that story. The material feels timeless, which makes it a perfect companion for a house with decades of design history.

Why Handmade Tile Appears on Design Shows

Handmade tile offers qualities designers consistently seek out:

• natural variation in glaze and color
• subtle texture that catches light
• depth that adds warmth to a room

No two tiles are exactly alike, which gives installations a relaxed, lived-in character that mass-produced surfaces rarely achieve.

It’s one reason handmade tile frequently appears in high-end interiors — and increasingly on television design shows as well.

Watching Bachelor Mansion Takeover? Look Closer

As the series continues, viewers will see more transformations throughout the mansion.

And if Episode 2 is any indication, tile will continue to play a supporting role in many of those spaces! Sometimes subtle, sometimes center stage.

So if you’re watching Bachelor Mansion Takeover, keep an eye out. You might just recognize another Clay Imports tile moment.