Sometimes, no-holds-barred designs that go all-in on colour, pattern, texture and geometry can be a bit too much. Do you really want to take an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to your next backsplash — or even your next feature wall, for that matter? Lately, we’re feeling especially drawn to modern tile designs that do one thing really, really well — and 2024 has no shortage of tiles that know how to play to a single strength.
In some cases, that might be colour. Sticking to simple brick or square formats painted in a bold hue — in particular, variations on the crimson red that we’ve been stuck on ever since Milan Design Week back in May — is a great way to strike a balance between drama and discipline.
Another shortcut to harnessing the power of subtlety is to opt for sculptural tiles in crisp white tones. In this case, the true depth of a tile’s design might reveal itself only from certain angles or in particular lighting conditions — when raised or engraved details suddenly step into the spotlight. Calm and understated from a distance, these textural white tiles become compelling canvases up close. Scroll down for our selection of bold — but not unabashedly bold — tiles that understand how to make an impact without going overboard.
Dreaming of something with artisanal flair? Wish granted. Uneven edges and a semi-matte finish add a crafted feel to Ragno’s porcelain stoneware, shown here in Brick. Each rectangle measures 5.3 by 30 centimetres.
Italian designer Federica Biasi based Decoratori Bassanesi’s 31-by-80-centimetre tiles on the tongue-and-groove planks that clad Norwegian fishing cabins. Choose from options with thin or thick ridges, in white, beige, grey, blue, red or green.
Using the latest manufacturing techniques to evoke time-worn tradition, Marazzi developed this textural collection offered in three shapes — a square, a hexagon and the 5.3-by-30-centimetre listels featured — and seven colours, including Cotto (shown).
Bert & May collaborated with British fashion designer turned ceramicist Henry Holland to develop these hand-poured encaustic and printed glazed tiles that reflect his signature marbled style. Hexagonal, square, block and herringbone shapes are all on offer.
Marking a decade of collaboration between Mutina and Barber and Osgerby, this range takes inspiration from geological weathering. By juxtaposing smooth and rough finishes in three sizes and eight colours, designers can bring a sense of history to new spaces.
L’Antic Colonial puts a contemporary spin on hieroglyphics. Geometric relief patterns are available in six colours, including white (shown) and a series of subtle earth tones. Best of all, the 12.4-by-44.3-centimetre slabs are suitable as shower walls.
Architect Miguel Saraiva collaborated with Viúva Lamego to develop 14-by-14-centimetre tiles featuring a mix of embossed and indented squares, circles or triangles. Suitable for indoors and out, designs are available in white or green.
Ocean-going travel — and the rippling waves of the sea — served as Studiopepe’s starting points for its new collection for Theia Creative Tiles. Four designs (including Kara, shown) feature undulating surfaces devised to interact with light and evoke far-off lands.
Claesson Koivisto Rune carves a series of oblique grooves into Monitillo 1980’s marble tiles. Each 40-by-40- or 20-by-20-centimetre square is half textured, half smooth, allowing for dynamic compositions in indoor or outdoor environments, including wet areas.
Like a topographic map recreated in pixels, Lithea’s latest sculptural wonder pays tribute to Superstudio’s 1960s grid drawings. Tiles measuring 320 by 320 centimetres feature randomized combinations of 6-by-6-centimetre squares, all inspired by Sicily’s terrain.
The post 5 Tile Designs That Lead with Colour (and 5 That Lead with Texture) appeared first on Azure Magazine.