For those who secretly (or not so secretly) thought that my Talavera daydream was a bit “over the top” — and okay, I admit it’s kind of wild as bathroom decor goes — then maybe this beautiful pair of kitchen sinks will speak more to your taste?

See how the glossy black tile countertop sets off the intricate Mexican design.
Mmm, lovely!

Talavera is the name of a type of Mexican pottery originally from the cities of Puebla, Mexico, and Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico.

While it is named after Talavera de la Reina, a city in Spain, the term “talavera” is most often used to describe the Mexican derivation of this art pottery. The painted pottery of Spain would be more appropriately referred to as majolica. It is said that the Catholic priest Father Miguel Hidalgo influenced the development of this pottery style. Today, this name defines also other forms of ceramic art specific to the same area.

The half-bath off my kitchen is due for a new flush, and I can’t begin to tell you how badly I want to wander into that otherwise uninspiring small room to see this wild-coloured Majolica / Talavera style toilet and tank — oh, sure, and that matching sink, too, while we’re bathroom-dreaming in technicolor fixtures!

I’ve got a few sort-of-matching coffee cups (from Oaxaca, central Mexico), so how perfect would that be?
Coffee in… coffee out!!

For the wonderful traditional art, and the quality of craftsmanship involved in producing these porcelain beauties, the prices I’ve found online (in the $600 – $900 range, for the toilet and tank) are not insane — but it’s the shipping of such a heavy (and relatively fragile) object that would get you in the wallet.

Okay, okay, wait, let’s see now…

Can I paint my fantasy patterns on a plain porcelain flush from Home Depot?

Ah, no, that won’t work.

When you paint on porcelain, you use special china paints that are more like a pottery glaze, and the piece has to be fired in a kiln after the painting. I’m sure I could get the necessary supplies, paint my flush, and make arrangements to haul it into the local art school for firing, but that gets complicated… and it would probably end up costing more than if I just bought a genuine Mexican toilet.

(I can’t see getting much cooperation from He Who Hogs The Power Tools, either… he’s a bit on the conservative side, bless his heart.)

To satisfy my deep-seated conviction that a powder room is meant to be decorated in ways you wouldn’t quite dare to try in a larger, more public room… maybe a wild-and-colourful south-of-the-border wall mural?

Ordinary latex paints will do the trick for that — in a dazzling array of colours. Luckily, many high-quality paint brands are now putting out small sample pots of various colours so you can try without committing to a whole gallon — perfect for the thrifty and experimental bathroom mural painter!

And for Mexican-style inspiration? Find all kinds of gorgeous Talavera at TheFind.com, check out Majolica House on eBay and the glorious Tierra y Fuego showcase, for Mexican decorative ceramics for the home, from toilets to Talavera tiles…