All About Artisans

It’s the smaller companies that we’re focusing hard on this year, and with plenty of time to scour the web to find them we’ve got more and more to share with you. Today we’re looking at a Los Angeles based company, with a penchant for the handmade. Zia Tile collects some of the best and most beautiful artisan tiles from around the world to distribute … Continue reading All About Artisans

Function of FUGA

Mixing and transforming surface relationships and altering perceptions and expectations are just some of the many marvellous qualities of FUGA. The result is the creation of a flooring that is neither tile, nor entirely distinct from it. Born from Studio Irvine, or otherwise known as Marialaura Rossiello’s artistic direction and the surface of Matteo Brioni, FUGA fuses rigidity with fluidity in the most magical of … Continue reading Function of FUGA

Desert Tones for Norman Bricks

Last year we looked at California-based Fireclay Tile‘s farmland inspired collection Agrarian, and now they have a new set of tiles for us to share. Adding to the large number of skinny formats and elongated metro tiles is Norman – the longer brother of Brick. The collection takes its name from the Normans of Normandy who built their castles with larger, longer bricks in order … Continue reading Desert Tones for Norman Bricks

Diverse Da Vinci

There are a lot of collections in Da Vinci‘s portfolio that we’ve really been enjoying, with some interesting takes on pattern and relief, and some curious patchwork designs. But despite the large number to share, we have selected just a few for today. Wakame and Magma We first saw these two collections at Cevisama last year where they sat amongst pop-culture icons. The electric green … Continue reading Diverse Da Vinci

New Terracotta

This is a company we’ve been meaning to cover for a while now, a company with no need for trends and a love for simplicity. Established in 2014, New Terracotta is a place of Portuguese passion. Located in Central Portugal, the New Terracotta artisans pride themselves on small-scale, high quality production that offers the best of traditional techniques and contemporary aesthetics. For them, imperfection inherent … Continue reading New Terracotta

Mar’s Memories of Majolica

Paying homage to the classic look of Mediterranean majolica is Sartoria‘s MAR. Designed to look like recovered, ancient pieces, MAR’s muted palette and subtle details hint towards a former life with scuffs and scratches and signs of age and wear. Along with the marks of a pre-loved surface, MAR’s decorative elements have hallmark features of artisan craft. Irregularities and hints at a hand-painted design adds … Continue reading Mar’s Memories of Majolica

Kle curves and connects

Last year we shared two of designer and creative Giovanni Barbieri‘s incredible ranges – Squar and Murano – both itricately curated collections with a smooth focus on texture and experimentation with effects such as relief and inlaid glass. And today we have another of his beautiful creations to share – Kle. Continued experimentation with tile led Barbieri to relax common conceptions of accepted shapes and … Continue reading Kle curves and connects

Primavera’s Petit Pieces

It was a few years ago when we first took a look at the Primavera range, designed by Barber & Osgerby for Mutina. It was Primavera Grigio that took home an award at Archiproducts Design Awards in 2019, and now the range has expanded! Introducing a new 600 by 600mm format, Mutina offer a smaller-scale version of Primavera that was initially designed in the large … Continue reading Primavera’s Petit Pieces

The Brilliance of Black Dog

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

De Ferranti’s Supernatural Shellwork

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. Their enormous body of design … Continue reading De Ferranti’s Supernatural Shellwork

Quirks of Quilt

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

Matter of Tiles

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

Dalí’s Timeless Tiles

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 Dalí’s Timeless Tiles

Maitland & Poate

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

Refined Relief from Smink Studio

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

Tantalising Tbrick

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

Black Rock Tile Studio

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

New Looks at Claybrook

It’s been over a year since we last took a look at Claybrook so today we’re sharing three of their newest ranges, just to remind everyone how fantastic they are. First up we’ve got the latest in their enchanting Raku tiles. The distinctive Japanese glazing technique first lent itself to Claybrook’s aptly named Raku range, and now the company have expanded the style into elegant … Continue reading New Looks at Claybrook

Kwangho Lee’s Loops

In another collaboration, Tajimi Custom Tiles partnered with South Korean designer Kwangho Lee. As with their work with Max Lamb, Tajimi sought out Lee to demonstrate the huge versatility and potential of Tajimi tiles. These two collaborations were curated in order to launch the company, whilst also acting as a hub of inspiration for architects and designers in the global sphere. Due to be presented … Continue reading Kwangho Lee’s Loops

Evoluta’s Exceptional Elements

Offering an abstracted wonderland woods with their Forest 3D decor is Ceramiche Piemme. Their otherwise reasonably classic Evoluta porcelain stoneware tile collection is demonstrating something completely new with this 3D element. The innovative technology utilised by Piemme creates a unique multi-finish feel and look, emphasising the inspired motif and inviting hands to touch and explore its tactile nature. The tiles are created to imitate organic … Continue reading Evoluta’s Exceptional Elements