TEXTURED TILES STANDING OUT


Julia Janosa, Senior Interior Designer of Temza Interior Design Studio, offers insight, advice and her opinion on the popular trend for textured tiles.


Minoli, 3D Wall Design Series, Angle White Matt


Textured tiles are a great example of a trend which has originated in the commercial sector but made its way into residential properties. But, let’s be honest, that’s the case with most trends!


3D tiles are a designer’s best friend when creating a big statement for a hotel lobby or a bar front and, when illuminated from directly above, the effect is even more bold and dramatic. Due to the exciting range of textured feature tiles available on the market, they seem to have taken the place of artworks and, instead of a mundane wall decorated with a framed picture, have become a neatly integrated solution where the whole of the surface functions as a piece of art in itself.


Considerations for the residential market are very different from those of commercial spaces, so one must wonder how the trend did take off for the home interiors market despite some obvious setbacks. One of the major concerns is its cleanability for homeowners, when compared to that of a flat surface. The more technical issue is that of mounting flush plates, shower controllers, sockets and the likes, which are a rather inevitable part of a bathroom or kitchen scheme. This can prove quite problematic if the 3D effect is beyond a certain depth.


In recent years, however, manufacturers have developed ways to overcome these design drawbacks, helping them to remain a popular choice in homes. For example, today many suppliers make them with a very subtle relief that can still be used with controllers mounted on top. Designers also got creative with the tiling layouts. For instance, I’ve seen a project with a textural bath wall incorporating a horizontal strip of the matching flat tile where the shower controllers were placed.


One of the most popular settings for a 3D tile is behind a freestanding bath, as they do look best on a large, undisturbed surface. However, many homeowners aren’t lucky enough to have the space for one of these wonders in their house.


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The general design advice is, when using textured tiles in a bathroom, to keep them to one feature wall and use complementing tiling for the rest of the space. They should still act like an artwork and something very special, so using them on all the walls would be like putting large artworks on all four walls of your room. That’s not to say that this rule is to be adhered to at all times. For example, if you are designing a maximalist cloakroom and are looking for something that guests will be sure to remember, you can try using textured tiles on the opposing side walls. Guest spaces, like a hotel room or spare room, are always a good setting to go bold and experiment a bit, as it’s not usually a place that people will visit often or spend a long time in.


Thinking about aesthetics, the most popular lines are the contemporary-style ones with subtle stone effect and either curving or angular geometry. Metallic accents are also popular right now, however, in general, the colourways are neutral or fairly muted. There is another side to the coin, which are the more traditional style, colourful glazed tiles with, for example, a Marrakesh-type interlocking relief pattern on them. These are less common at the moment, but they can be very striking for a mid-century style countryside property or even for a bar with an arty atmosphere.


Will the trend stay on and expand, or are we waving it goodbye soon? In my opinion, it will stay but adapt. Some of these designs are so pretty and intricate, they might indeed be able to occasionally take the place of artworks in residential settings and smaller areas of well-placed tiling might be incorporated into hallways and living areas as a feature. Using a mixture of 3D and flat tiles, especially in small format, can also present some interesting opportunities, so I reckon we will see more of this in the future. Lastly, with the maximalist trend and bold colours being a strong theme at the moment for interior spaces in general, 3D tiles as well will have to tie into these schemes and should soon appear on the market in more colours.


www.temza.co.uk www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk


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