It’s important to us here at Diary of a Tile Addict to make space for every and anyone who creates, enjoys, and adds to the tile world. To fulfil that we spend quite some time searching for smaller tile companies that can get buried below large manufacturers and well-known names. Our monthly round-ups of companies to keep an eye on adds to this exposure, but … Continue reading The Brilliance of Black Dog
Experts and masters at sourcing the rare and unusual for use in interiors, be they on a commercial scale, for a residential project, or even for use on a luxury yacht. The company’s selected craftsmen excel at combining traditional tools, materials, and techniques with modern technology, not only producing the finest surfaces, but helping preserve methods of decoration and production. Continue reading De Ferranti’s Supernatural Shellwork
It’s the irregularity and beauty found in ‘patching’ rather than perfection which inspires the range we’re focusing on today – Quilt. Designer Marialaura Rossiello explains the background of the design, how it is the old tradition of patchwork, a craft that often utilises geometrics and highlights the decorative qualities in the ‘patches’. To make a feature of this, Quilt’s design occupies a corner with an … Continue reading Quirks of Quilt
It’s a year of remote discovery, with new artists, companies, and designs on our radar. We’ve got plenty more companies up our sleeve, but today we’re sharing one that is extremely local to us at Tile Addict – Spicer Tiles. With humble beginnings, a 15 year old Andrew Spicer left school in 1979 and started his education in the roofing industry where he quickly learnt … Continue reading Spicer’s Rustic Splendour
There is so much talent floating about in the world of mosaics. Exploring the many styles, materials, and masterpieces thought up by this niche of creative minds is one of our greatest joys so we’ve collected just a few for the first in a series of magnificent mosaic artists. Continue reading Five Magnificent Mosaic Artists
A company focused on the creative, the material, and the process, Matter of Stuff offers a catalogue of intriguing items. From neolithic style crockery and angular homeware to modern furniture and decorative lighting, the point is always the design. As a luxury company, not only do they provide ready-to-go rarities, but also offer a beautiful bespoke service and consultancy for gifted designers and clients to … Continue reading Matter of Tiles
An unexpected source of sustainable building materials is being explored by Eindhoven-based designer and founder of Studio Thomas Vailly Thomas Vailly. Collaborating with scientists from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques Et Technologiques (ENSIACET) laboratory, Vailly has focused his efforts on transforming bio-waste from sunflowers into design solutions. It’s extremely exciting to see a trend towards designers, architects, engineers, artists, and manufacturers … Continue reading Sunflower Surfaces
One of the greatest joys we have writing about tiles as much as we do is finding the unusual and delightful. We’ve collected a few of our favourite examples that highlight the joys of tile in the fun they bring to others, and the many ways they can captivate and enchant. Continue reading Four joys of tile
The fine line between tile and art is danced across once again by a creator inspired by the historical and the timeless – Eric Pilhofer. Throughout human history, depth of meaning and the transference of ideas and ideals has been found in art of all forms. For Pilhofer, it is this ancient tradition – rich with symbolism and spirituality – that shapes and guides his … Continue reading Plihofer’s Past Projection
A few years ago during a trip to Cersaie we had the pleasure of seeing a truly iconic range. Although we naturally included it in our ‘Curiosities‘ compilation, a friend of Tile Addict recently reminded us of the collection once again and we realised it deserved an article all by itself. Not new in 2019, and certainly not new now, this range by ADEX was … Continue reading DalÃ’s Timeless Tiles
There is something completely magical about blue marble and blue-hued stone-effects. Nature’s abundant beauty knows no bounds but when it comes to practicality, porcelain and ceramic immitations can offer a little extra. To demonstrate we’ve compiled some of the stunning blue toned gems to be found in the tile world, and a little of their natural counterparts. Continue reading Beauty in Blue
Bringing the traditions and atmosphere of classic Spanish buildings is Maitland & Poate, a London-based company with an eye for encaustic. What initially started as a quest to find fantastic Andalusian tiles for their own home soon blossomed into an obsession to source and collect some of the finest examples of handmade spanish tiles, and reclaim them for use in modern builds and remodels. As … Continue reading Maitland & Poate
A few years ago the company Saxa Gres was established with the sole purpose of demonstrating the importance and possibility of creating a circular economy within the ceramic tile sector. Producing a large range of porcelain tiles and extra-thick tiles for varying types of location, Saxa Gres most recently launched Grestone. Grestone is a highly durable material ideally suited to heavily trafficked streets and pavements, … Continue reading Saxa Grestone
Seeing as we have so many smaller companies that deserve a mention, we’ve decided to make this a regular monthly slot, at least until we run out of names! So with that said, here are five for March! Continue reading Five companies to keep an eye on III
We’ve been looking for a reason to talk about the fantastic tiles of Marianne Smink since first covering her work here in 2017. And finally we have one! A new collection and addition to Smink Things’ (now Smink Studio) beautiful portfolio has well and truly reignited our love for all things Smink. The new Relief Tiles are each handmade and pressed into one of three … Continue reading Refined Relief from Smink Studio
The classic metro tile is given a refreshingly colourful makeover with Sartoria‘s new Tbrick tiles. With incredible vibrancy, Tbrick brings style forward, offering and undeniable burst of beauty to every conceivable interior. The stunning gloss finish highlights the artisanal, handcrafted look of the tile surface whilst the twelve carefully chosen shades offer variety and subtelty amongst their tones. Each colour, be it blue, pink, green, … Continue reading Tantalising Tbrick
There are some tile designs that are simply more than just tile. They transform a space, or they become art, or they have an uncanny ability to distract the eye. There are definitely more than we have selected here, but this is just a taster of five inspiring surface solutions. Continue reading Five inspiring surface solutions
Another company to recently appear on our radar comes from very far across the pond in Toronto, Canada. But its name is taken from somewhere much closer to home. Black Rock Tile Studio is the title chosen by founder and artisan Catherine Carroll, honouring a road in the coastal Irish town of Bantry in County Cork where her father heralded from. But the connection with … Continue reading Black Rock Tile Studio
Mushrooms are helping to create a huge range of eco materials due to their unique properties – such as Muskin (a leather replacement), Mycoprotein (a fungi-derived meat replacement), Pestalotiopsis microspora (a plastic-consuming mushroom), manipulated mycelium (which makes up mushroom root networks) walls, and bio-bricks. But the miraculous use of this natural material doesn’t stop there. A partnership between architect Dirk Hebel and engineer Philippe Block … Continue reading Functional Fungi
As well as adoring tiles every day of the week, we also have a soft spot for curious creations, and surprising waste materials. We’ve selected five of our favourites that use a variety of recycled products from tea to copper to produce highly stylish household items for the fashion concious. Continue reading Five curious creations from reclaimed materials
