Castlecore Dark: Gothic Atmospheres and Medieval Romanticism

The new contemporary imagination according to Cotto d’Este

Interior design is experiencing a return to substance, history, and tactile depth: this is Castlecore Dark, a trend that reimagines the home as an emotional refuge, a narrative space where floors and walls become true architectural elements.

An aesthetic born as a counterpoint to hypermodernity and minimalism, further fuelled by cinema’s renewed interest in gothic literary classics – from Luc Besson’s new take on Dracula to Guillermo del Toro’s reinterpretation of Frankenstein. The result is an intense design language, featuring nature-inspired materials, dramatic marbles, sculpted stones, tactile fabrics and surfaces that enhance aesthetics and functionality, creating interiors full of character and depth.

In this context, Cotto d’Este embraces the trend with collections that turn ceramic surfaces into narrative tools: large-format solutions rich in identity, designed for spaces that seek visual intensity, elegance, and outstanding technical performance.

LITHOS - The material that sculpts space

Among the collections most in tune with Castlecore Dark, Lithos embodies an idea of powerful, sculpted, and profound materiality. Its surfaces evoke stones shaped by time: a neo-Gothic aesthetic that gives life to striking wall coverings and floorings, ideal for enveloping living rooms, library rooms, relaxation areas, or bedrooms with a contemporary feel.

Lithos turns every wall into an architectural presence:

  • plays of light and shadow that enhance three-dimensionality,
  • dark, textured tones,
  • porcelain stoneware variants available in a wide range of sizes and thicknesses (3.5 mm, 14 mm, 20 mm).

Its technical performance enhances its potential: resistance, durability, and easy cleaning even with chemical agents. An ideal choice for those seeking natural materials reimagined through a contemporary, intense, and refined lens.

WONDERWALL - Walls as visual scenography

If Castlecore Dark were an illustrated book, Wonderwall would be its visual chapter. The collection reimagines wallpaper through ceramics thanks to large, ultra-thin Kerlite slabs: a unique project combining contemporary design, lightness, and top-tier aesthetic quality. A collection of 19 stunning décors with rich textures and refined design, printed in high definition, turning walls into visual scenographies.

Botanical inspirations, vintage motifs, and aristocratic-style ornaments compose backdrops filled with historical references and decorative energy, imbued with a sophisticated gothic romanticism. Made with ultra-thin laminated porcelain stoneware (3.5 mm) reinforced with fibreglass, Wonderwall is available in maxi formats of 50x100 and 100x300 cm, offering continuity, lightness, and a unique aesthetic.

ADVANTAGE - Contemplative minerality

With textures inspired by the most evocative natural stones, Advantage embodies the most contemplative and sophisticated dimension of Castlecore Dark. Its balanced and profound surfaces define elegant floor and wall coverings, perfect for quiet, meditative interiors aligned with a contemporary vision of design.

The mineral variants offer a pure, essential aesthetic language free from excess—ideal for those who seek refined yet characterful spaces. Available in multiple thicknesses (3.5 mm, 9 mm, 20 mm), Advantage is an extremely versatile collection: perfect for modern living areas, bedrooms, study zones, and reception spaces, thanks also to the strength of its high-quality porcelain stoneware, which ensures excellent performance even under wear or exposure to chemical agents.

ALLURE - The aristocratic elegance of marble

For those seeking a nobler and more luminous take on Castlecore, Allure embodies the trend’s aristocratic soul. Its marble-effect porcelain stoneware reinterprets Orobic marble and other iconic varieties with intensity and modern flair, delivering majestic surfaces—perfect for theatrical living areas, elegant dining rooms, or a bedroom with monumental charm. Fluid veining, chromatic contrasts, and the Glossy and Touch finishes turn each surface into a decorative backdrop with a regal aura.

In a large format, Allure guarantees aesthetic continuity and astonishing realism, combining lightness, strength, and superior quality. A virtuous balance between aesthetics and functionality: a collection designed for those who desire intense, refined interiors that stand the test of time.

COTTO D’ESTE AND CASTLECORE DARK

Interiors that tell a story. Surfaces that stir emotions. Castlecore Dark is not merely a gothic revival: it’s a celebration of the home as a meaningful, material, and atmospheric space, rich in memory. Cotto d’Este collections shape this vision with surfaces that go beyond function to become narrative, material, architecture.

Whether you choose:

  • the sculptural impact of Lithos,
  • the visual storytelling of Wonderwall,
  • the refined minerality of Advantage,
  • the luminous splendour of Allure,

the result is always the same: intense, elegant, contemporary interiors that endure over time.

A home that is not minimal, but layered, evocative, alive. A new vision of material beauty and identity, signed by Cotto d’Este.

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