We sat down with designer Katie Budd to explore the story behind Terra Botanica — a new collection that reimagines terracotta through a modern lens.
Rooted in tradition yet quietly contemporary, the range brings together sculptural form, soft curves, and earthy warmth. In this conversation, Katie shares her inspiration, the design philosophy behind the pieces, and how each pot was crafted to belong, whether nestled in a quiet balcony corner or anchoring a bold outdoor landscape.
This is more than a collection. It’s a celebration of material, memory, and modern garden design.
What inspired the creation of the Terra Botanica collection?
Terra Botanica was created to offer a fresh perspective on terracotta; one that still celebrates its traditional roots while embracing modern garden design. I wanted to design a collection that could sit comfortably in any outdoor space, from compact balconies to expansive landscapes, and serve as both a sculptural design feature and a functional planter.
The pots were brought to life in close collaboration with The Balcony Garden, ensuring that each design was translated into beautifully handcrafted pieces, with warm, earthy tones and a softly weathered, antique finish that gives every piece a sense of age and authenticity.
Tell us about the design process — how did these shapes come to life?
The design process focused on balancing form, function, and harmony. Some pieces took shape as a modern reinterpretation of classic silhouettes, from Mediterranean jars and traditional conical pots to simplified urns. Whilst other pieces in the range embraced a more modern silhouette to enhance the range’s versatility and bring a modern aesthetic to traditional terracotta.
Particular attention was paid to the proportion, how each pot would sit alongside others to create harmonious groupings, how they’d interact with surrounding architecture and the type of plants they would support.
What were your main sources of inspiration?
The inspiration came from the organic, tactile qualities of terracotta itself and from classic Mediterranean and traditional garden pots, but reinterpreted through a modern lens. I was also inspired by the way pots can become sculptural elements in a space, not just containers for plants, but part of the design language of a garden. The balance of soft curves with crisp lines informed the final forms.
Do you have a favourite piece in the collection?
I love the flexibility of the range — how well the pieces work together as a family, and how each one holds its own as a sculptural statement. My personal favourite is the Olive Jar. There’s something about its classic form, upright collar and gentle proportions that has an undeniable charm. It’s familiar yet fresh.
I also love the way the weathered antique finish gives the pots an immediate sense of belonging, like they’ve always been part of the landscape. No two are exactly alike, which adds to their personality.
What do you love most about terracotta as a material?
Terracotta has an authenticity and warmth that few materials can match — it feels grounded, natural and embraces its imperfections in the most beautiful way. We’ve chosen a softly weathered finish to enhance their sense of age, and the pots will also continue to patina further over time to reflect the life of the garden. Each pot is handmade, giving it a unique character and making it feel like a piece with a story, not just a new product.
In a sentence, how would you describe the Terra Botanica range?
Terra Botanica is a thoughtfully designed collection of handcrafted terracotta pots that reimagines traditional forms through a contemporary lens, celebrating the material’s natural warmth through soft curves and weathered finish to create timeless pieces.