In 2014, the Italian tile brand Imso Ceramiche rejected the idea of making yet another me-too timber-effect tile range and came up with the fancy Origini patchwork concept. Here, the range of standard sizes was enhanced by the increasingly popular hexagons.
The decors, which repeat the shape of plain tile, are sold as boxed multiples, with the content of every box determined at random. This means that users can never guess the resulting patterns.
With the additional element of three chromatic variations, the range also includes original ‘broken’ decorative pieces, that look as if they have been smashed and then put together again. Furthermore, the tonality of all Origini backgrounds is slightly different, which adds particular charm to the entire series.
Origini is an unglazed porcelain stoneware range for wall and floor applications. It has a matt surface with a concrete effect and the tile are 9.5mm thick. Origini comes in 600 by 600, 300 by 600 and 300 by 300mm modular formats plus 180 by 210mm hexagons. With three colour options it can be used inside or out.
Today the company has expanded its portfolio to include Italghisa, Wood on Fire, Roubaix and Apuane (which all featured at Cersaie 2016); as well as Origini, Core Dust, Ecotimber, Tortuga Bay, Bibulca, Cargo Outdoor 2.0 and The Original Cargo by IMSO.
The Original Cargo is a bold wood-effect range in 150 by 900mm. There are four colour options.
Modular formats are also to the fore in Italghisa: 450 by 900, 600 by 600, 300 by 600, 150 by 900 and 754 by 300mm. This versatility is underscored by R11 outdoor tiles in 600 by 600 and 300 by 300mm; decors in 600 by 600 and 450 by 900mm, mixes strips in 150 by 600, 100 by 600 and 50 by 600mm, plus mosics and skirting pieces. There are four neutral hues: bianco, tortora, grigio and nero.
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, September 2017.