The Insider: The Evolution of Tile

Any serious trend-forecaster will attest that zeitgeisty moments in style arenā€™t flash-in-the-pan fashions but rather cyclical expressions of everlasting passion. In short: good trends have staying power.

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Written by Sophie Donelson

10 MINUTE READ

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Eastern Promise Fez field in Baltic
Design: The Haven Collective; Photography: Janis Nicolay

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ā€œThere is a very special experience that you get from a tiled room: a cool, calm, and luxurious ambiance,ā€ says L.A. designer and Ann Sacks collaborator Martyn Lawrence Bullard who recently tiled a ceiling with one of the encaustic tiles from his Eastern Promise line. ā€œThe drama of the look juxtaposed with the sheen from the glaze made for a sensational effect. As a decorative device it is always a powerful statement. I just adore tile.ā€

Idris by Ait Manos 4" x 4" field in White Carrare
Design: Abby Heatherington Interiors; Photography: Lucy Call

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Wow factor: The very process of handmade means that color variation is all but guaranteed. A cream colorway will undoubtedly produce tiles with a cast of pale blues, greys and pinks. And thatā€™s just color ā€” the translucent finish brings reflection, fluidity and motion ā€” hence a wall of a single-color field tile is a statement, and ever-changing at that. No two pieces are ever alike.

Ceri 10" x 24" field in White
Design: Angeline Guido Design; Photography: Costa Christ Media

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Joined Ann Sacks: Ceramic tile has been in the assortment since the very beginning, though it wasnā€™t a glamorous start back in 1981, says Gundberg. ā€œAt the time most porcelain tile felt uniform and mass-manufactured. Letā€™s just say this wasnā€™t a luxury product,ā€ she laughs. And indeed, the spectrum went from white to taupey toā€¦. taupe. But my, how things change.

Andy Fleishman Brass

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Why weā€™re still obsessed: Itā€™s a canvas for brilliant new ideas like artist Andy Fleishman's brand new Andy Fleishman Brass collection which uses North Carolina sands, stones, recycled glass and mother of pearl to illuminate ā€” with subtlety ā€” the hard-wearing surface.

A Case for Colorful Tile by Sophie Donelson

Thereā€™s a reason youā€™re seeing more colorful tile out there. Itā€™s livable, joyful, and not as hard as you think.

New Collections with Earthly Elegance by Clinton Smith

Get back to nature with Ann Sacksā€™ latest designs. Our Chief Designer, DeeDee Gundberg, shows you how.

Petite Spaces That Live Large by Clinton Smith

Form and function come together in these high-style spaces designed for specific tasks at hand.