As the countdown to Design Show Australia 2026 begins, we’re spotlighting exhibitor House of Bariki. House of Bariki carries forward Pietro Dura, a 17th-century Italian marble inlay tradition practiced by hand since 1985, turning semi-precious stones and carved marble into bespoke pieces made with memory, patience, and purpose. Read on to discover their current design trends, and what you can expect to find at their stand.
Can you give us a brief introduction to your brand?
House of Bariki was born from a quiet admiration for craftsmanship—art practiced slowly, with care, and passed down since 1985. Our in-house artisans, handcraft marble inlay using Pietro Dura, a 17th-century Italian technique where marble is hand carved 6-8mm deep down to form cavaties and tiny hand-shaped stones are inlaid into marble to create intricate floral and geometric designs.
Our mission is to honour heritage, support craftsmanship, and bring meaningful design into homes of those who value work made with time and purpose.
At House of Bariki, our pieces are more than objects. They are made with memory, precision, and care. Whether you’re envisioning a bespoke wall artwork, or marble inlay on a fireplace, kitchen backsplash, bathroom tiles, Foyer floor, Threshold, countertop, side table, washbasins, shelving, dining table, coffee table or décor elements—we bring your ideas to life. If it’s marble, we can inlay it. The process is entirely done by hand, just as it has been for centuries.
It begins with a sketch—inspired by memory, tradition, or even a single flower. Once the design is traced with ferric oxide, semi-precious stones are hand-cut with tweezers. The marble is carved with chisels, then each groove filled, piece by piece, with natural adhesive. The process unfolds slowly—never rushed. The final polish reveals not just beauty, but time, patience, and story.
We source natural, semi-precious stones from like Lapis Lazuli, Levanto, Green agate, White agate, White coral, red coral, Malachite, Mother of Pearl, Paua Shell, Jasper, Agate, Tiger Eye, Turquoise, Carnelian, Alicante, Amethyst, and Aventurine from India, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Myanmar, Namibia, Chile, DRC, USA, Italy, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka selected for their colour, texture, and energy—each hand-shaped to create something truly one-of-a-kind.
What differentiates your brand from other competitors in the market?
House of Bariki brings a 400-year-old heritage exclusively to Australia. As the only brand in the country offering handcrafted Pietra Dura across a full spectrum of architectural and décor elements, we provide Australian designers and homeowners with a level of customization previously unavailable on our shores
Because there is no local benchmark. We educate the market on why your specific technical details matter:
The 6–8mm Depth: Since no one else in Australia does this, we define this depth as the “Authentic Standard,” making any future entrants or cheaper imports look inferior by comparison.
Bespoke Versatility: Highlighting that we apply this to any product category (benchtops, tables, walls, décor elements, basins, shelving, thresholds, fireplaces) differentiates us from high-end furniture stores that might only have one or two imported inlay coffee tables.
Are there any exciting trends that you are seeing in the world of design this year?
The “Tactile Luxury” Shift (Matte & Relief)
There is a strong movement away from high-gloss, ultra-polished marble toward honed, leathered, and tactile finishes.
The Trend: Designers are looking for stone that feels “soft” and organic.
How it applies to us: Because our Pietra Dura involves carving 6–8mm deep,we can offer a “low relief” effect where the inlay slightly sits above or below the surface. This creates a tactile experience that machine-printed stone cannot replicate. Promoting a honed (matte) finish on our inlay pieces will appeal to the “Quiet Luxury” aesthetic dominating 2026.
“Warm Luxury” and Gemstone Energy
While cool grays (like standard Carrara) are still present, the trend is moving toward Warm Marble—beiges, creams, and ambers—paired with high-contrast gemstones.
The Trend: A shift toward “The Golden Hour” palette—stones like Travertine, Crema Marfil, and Calacatta Amber.
How it applies to us: our use of Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, and Tiger Eye fits the 2026 trend of using “Statement Stones” as jewellery for the home. Using warm-toned marble bases (like beige or ivory) to contrast against the deep blues and greens of your gems is exactly what high-end designers are currently seeking for “sanctuary” style interiors.
What can our visitors expect to see and experience on your stand at Design Show Australia?
At Design Show Australia, For the first time on Australian shores, visitors can firsthand experience the “Luxury Art” of marble inlay—a rare opportunity to witness a level of craftsmanship that often takes our artisans months of patient hand-carving and assembly to complete under one roof.
The Intimate: Delicate décor pieces and vases featuring micro-inlay as small as 1mm.
The Grand: Statement furniture, including expansive dining tables and architectural elements where the inlay spans up to 200mm.
we demonstrate our “if it’s marble, we can inlay it” philosophy.
A Global Palette: 20+ Varieties of Stone & Crystal
Design is a sensory experience, and we invite you to look and feel the incredible textures of the earth. We will be displaying over 20 types of semi-precious stones, crystals, and shells, each selected for its unique color, texture, and energy.
You will see a world of materials curated from across the globe, including:
Whether it is the deep blue of Lapis Lazuli, the iridescent glow of Mother of Pearl, or the grounding energy of Malachite, you will see how these global treasures are hand-shaped and breathed into marble.
Come witness the only brand in Australia bringing this complete category of world-class artistry to your doorstep. Experience the patience. Experience the precision. Experience House of Bariki.
What are you looking forward to the most at Design Show Australia 2026?
At Design Show Australia, we are most excited to:
Challenge the Perception of Stone: We look forward to watching architects and designers run their hands over our work and realize that marble can be a canvas for storytelling. Seeing their reaction to the 6–8mm depth and the intricate 1mm micro-inlay is what we value most—it’s the moment they realize they no longer have to look overseas for this level of artistry.
Bridge the Gap Between Art and Architecture: We are eager to show how our new launches—like inlaid thresholds, washbasins, and foyer floors—move Pietra Dura beyond furniture. We want to inspire creators to think of stone as “architectural jewelry” that can be integrated into the very bones of a project.
Showcase a “World Under One Roof”: We’ve spent months sourcing over 20 varieties of stones and crystals from the USA to Afghanistan and the Pacific Islands. Bringing this global geological palette to Sydney and seeing how designers pair our vibrant Malachite or Lapis Lazuli with modern Australian aesthetics is incredibly rewarding
You can meet House of Bariki (Stand #1752) at Design Show Australia 2026 from 11-13 June 2026, at ICC Sydney, register to attend today!
