Category: Motifs & Materials

Design & Technology, Motifs & Materials, Sustainable Design

Five materials we want to see turned into tile

Throughout out many years of tile addiction we’ve come across countless unique materials from biobricks, to sunflowers, to potatoes, to salt, but there are some materials that haven’t quite made it to the tile world yet that could definitely have some legs if they did. 1) Phee board Currently used as an eco-friendly packaging and as a protective case for phones, PHEE-board utilises the sea … Continue reading Five materials we want to see turned into tile

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Design, Design & Technology, Motifs & Materials

Hints of Hanji

Bridging the gap between wallpaper and tile, French fabric and wall covering specialists Élitis present Hanji. This collection takes inspiration from Hanji – durable Korean paper made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree with varying types traditionally used to cover doors, floors, and walls, as well as create book covers and writing paper. Art in both 2D and 3D forms are also created … Continue reading Hints of Hanji

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Design, Motifs & Materials, Tile Companies, Tile Designers

Caribbean Charm with Cobblers Cove

In a collaboration with the vibrant luxury boutique hotel in Barbados – Cobblers Cove – Bert & May‘s new collection brings the lively energy of the Caribbean to a striking set of tile rugs. Leafy shapes and geometric designs form playful borders made to be mixed and matched for unique layouts. Adding layers to the tile rugs, palm frond patterns, bold cross hatching, and wavy … Continue reading Caribbean Charm with Cobblers Cove

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Design, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Companies, Tile Designers

Artistic Abode

Using the strikingly elegant wax-resist method, Artistic Abode‘s hand crafted tiles are bursting with vibrant pigments, laced with intricate designs, and dripping in timeless charm. A series of Egyptian revival tiles blend Art Deco glamour with the intrigue of Egyptian motifs. These unique creations form extravagant borders, or decorate spaced with infinitely captivating colours and shapes. The iconic forms of Celtic crosses also feature in … Continue reading Artistic Abode

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Design, Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

Creating Crumbles

Offering a modern perspective on a historic material, Italian research hub Terraformæ seeks to push the boundaries of terracotta to produce fresh surface solutions full of organic charm. One of these surface solutions blends two timeless favourites – terrazzo and terracotta. Designed by Sveva Bizzotto, Terraformæ’s Crumbles utilises production scraps, such as glass and cryolite, to form the freckling flecks that give it its terrazzo-like … Continue reading Creating Crumbles

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Design & Technology, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

From the Underground

Using two waste materials created in plentiful numbers during the creation and operation of London’s Underground system – London clay and dust rich in iron oxide – designer Jeffrey Miller has performed alchemical genius by combining the two to create a unique set of tiles. London clay – the material most of the city is built on top of and the Underground system is built … Continue reading From the Underground

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials

Five Funky Flower Tiles

Following on from the fun and funky 70s style findings we’ve been collecting over the past few months, I decided to dedicate a little space to retro florals, choosing a few groovy designs with a 70s soul. 1) Homey Flower Amongst Ceramiche Piemme‘s calming Homey collection of earth-toned and chilled organic-vibe tiles sit two decors that fit our funky bill. Homey Flower Cotto and Homey … Continue reading Five Funky Flower Tiles

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Cersaie, Design & Technology, Design Delights, Exhibitions, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

Le Nid Knockout

After talking about their unusual collection Déjà Vu last year I was particularly looking forward to seeing Le Nid tiles up close and personal at Cersaie. And they really didn’t disappoint. Patterns with a retro vibe and colours that captivate, almost everything on the Le Nid stand was knockout. You’d be hard pressed to find any tiles with the same rich character and enticing style. … Continue reading Le Nid Knockout

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Design & Technology, Motifs & Materials

Rust and Wood

After graduating from Tokyo Zokei University’s Department of Design with a major in interior architecture, Japanese designer Yuma Kano opened his experimental studio in 2012. Implementing his creative approach to creation and material manipulation, Yuma Kano has produced items varying from chopsticks to chairs. But there are two creations in particular that are perfect for the tile-addicted mind – Rust Harvest and ForestBank. Rust Harvest … Continue reading Rust and Wood

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

Kimono-like Kanoko

Inspired by a Japanese traditional Kimono pattern, this delightfully simple collection from Inax does a lot of what we love when it comes to tile. The small repeat mosaic pattern of curved-edge hollow squares of Kanoko comes in two colours – Black and White – with each sheet featuring the sporadic inclusion of gloss tessera that contrast against the blanket of matt tone. The name … Continue reading Kimono-like Kanoko

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Companies, Tile Designers

DoodlePippin

Folding, rippling, and forming into a cane is what millefiori is all about. Literally ‘a thousand flowers’, millefiori is an ancient process used to manipulate clay or glass, with each bend and twist creating a uniquely kaleidoscopic pattern hidden within a long, unassuming pole. And it’s millefiori that forms the basis of the many marvellous designs found on DoodlePippin. Artist and DoodlePippin owner Ruth uses … Continue reading DoodlePippin

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Design & Technology, Iconic Designs, Motifs & Materials, Tile Companies, Tile Designers

Akashic Tiles

In the lush landscape of South Africa’s Knysna dwells a crafty company with a keen sense for the beauty of handmade tiles. What was formally Renwick Tiles – a company we’ve covered here after their move stateside – Akashic Tiles is the new name given by husband and wife team Sharon and Ryan Kensley after purchasing Renwick Tiles from friends and former founders of the … Continue reading Akashic Tiles

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

Baked Africa

Earthy shades and organic textures play together with sharp geometric lines for this intriguing collection from The Baked Tile Co. Dark slate, burnt orange terracotta, and a delicate off white create the trio of shades, each mixing and matching amongst each other to create the angular hexagonal patchwork of patterns that forms Africa. A hand-crafted, raw earth look is created with details that imitate scores … Continue reading Baked Africa

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Design & Technology, Motifs & Materials, Tile Companies, Tile Designers

Sol’Art

Brothers-in-law Giovanni and Fabio add a breath of fresh air to traditional Italian ceramics in their studio located in the idyllic Amalfi coast town of Vietri sul Mare. Beginning in 2000 with familiar local designs, their style morphed over time to create something new out of the materials and glazes they were familiar with. These new, decorative pieces, be they plates, coffee cups, vases or … Continue reading Sol’Art

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials

Five perfectly pastel tiles

Searching for picture perfect pastel tiles? Right this way. 1) Confetti Designed by Oh Joy! for Clé Tiles, Confetti combines the soft tones of mocha, crema, ice, stone, powder, and white for a delicate polka dot display of pastels. 2) New Town Baby blues and pastel pinks decorate the textured curves and ridges of New Town by Adam Nathanial Furman for Botteganove. 3) Lozenge and … Continue reading Five perfectly pastel tiles

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, New Tile Designs, Tile Designers

Craggy Chamotte

Chamotte, otherwise known as grog or firesand, is the name given to crushed ceramics used to strengthen clay mixtures and create a rugged, gritty texture. And thats exactly what Chamotte gives us. Designed by tile visionary Patricia Urquiola for Mutina, Chamotte places hand-made rustica front and centre with pits and ripples texturing the surface and catching the glossy glaze in irregular patterns. Three variants add … Continue reading Craggy Chamotte

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Sustainable Design, Tile Designers

Shellazzo?

We’ve spoken a lot about shells here, from mussel glass to eggshell surfaces, and from mother of pearl mosaics to scallop shell desks, and today we add another magnificent material to the mix – Istrenn. Developed by French company Malàkio, Istrenn is composed of 60% recycled shells (collected locally) and a 40% mineral matrix resulting in a stunningly unusual shell based terrazzo effect that features the many … Continue reading Shellazzo?

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials, Tile Designers

Bits & Pieces

The pebblish trend continues beyond Cevisama with this wonderful little collection by Gordon Guillaumier for Ceramiche Piemme. Evoking the timeless beauty of Ancient Rome, Bits & Pieces reimagines natural stone in seven colours (Power Bone, Pewter Smoke, Pearl Grey, Peat Brown, Pitch Black, Steel Grain, and Ash Grain) with two unusual decors (Facet and Quad). Facet takes a fragmented approach to surface covering, contrasting two … Continue reading Bits & Pieces

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Design & Technology, Design Delights, Motifs & Materials

Five tiles made with LAVA

We love a unique glaze, and if there’s one that gets the mind tingling with magic – it’s lava. Wildly unpredictable but ultimately beautiful, these five tiles show just how miraculous a lava glaze can be. 1) ExCinere from Formatantasma and Dzek Created from the collaboration between Formafantasma and Dzek, ExCinere are glazed in lava ash from Mount Etna in a process that took “three years of exploding, … Continue reading Five tiles made with LAVA

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