Tile can bring a wide variety of designs and colors to any project and any location.
Maddox Collection
Stacy Garcia and TileBar have launched the Maddox Collection. Designed by Garcia, founder of licensee and design firm Stacy Garcia Inc, the collection is equal parts contemporary and timeless with its unique color palette and body patterning.
“The inspiration behind the collection came from a highly graphic textile pattern, layered into a really fun geometric pattern,” said Garcia. “I wanted to recreate this idea in tile with colors that were on trend, but soft enough to really be usable in any space.”
The collection is infused with soft pastels on a porcelain or ceramic body. The collection itself consists of field tiles, framed and flat versions, as well as an encaustic-look porcelain tile with a semicircle design.
Made with a semicircle body print, they can be laid in myriad ways. The field tile is currently offered in 4-in. x 8-in. framed or flat versions and the encaustic-look tile is available in 8-in. x 8-in. The versatility of this collection allows designers to mix-and-match tile combinations to create an overall unique space.
Namibia Collection
Rich in vivid texture, the Namibia collection from Lunada Bay Tile evokes the alluring landscapes of Africa’s South Atlantic coast. The three-dimensional ceramic tiles translate the vistas of rippling dunes, flat clay pans, rocky outcrops and endless sky into modern forms. The individually sculpted, transformative art pieces engage one’s sense of adventure and rejuvenation, like the discovery of a hidden oasis.
“The incredible landscape of coastal Africa is a feast for the eyes, with an interplay of contrasting textures—from the constant movement of the sand to the time-honed curvature of the clay,” said Feras Irikat, director of design and marketing, Lunada Bay Tile. “Our Namibia collection translates those visuals into contemporary forms that move and shift, like the terrain itself.”
Each Namibia tile is crafted using a special hand-sculpting technique that results in truly one-of-a-kind pieces—no two tiles are the same. The collection comprises four interpretations:
Dunes three-piece Pattern: Large-format tile pattern of squares and rectangles has the irregular ripples, curves and peaks of windswept desert sand. The tiles measure 4-in. x 8-in., 8-in. x 8-in. and 8-in. x 12-in., with a varied thickness.
Square Ripples 1.25-in. x 1.25-in.: These square tiles offer a similar ripple, along with an uneven thickness, much like the outcroppings of a stone wall.
Round Ripples 1.5-in.: The dune-like undulation on these round tiles elicit the effect of a worn shell or stone revealed under the windblown sand.
Crescent 2-in.: These 2-in. round tiles have concave forms—an interpretation of the clay pans of the Namibian desert—and combine to form an earthen-yet-modern artistic relief on the wall.
Glass Essentials Tile Collection
Island Stone’s Glass Essentials offers go-to, everyday-use shapes and colors that blend with the company’s designer offerings. As its name suggests, the new line of fused glass tiles provides designers with proven essentials—timeless-yet-modern mosaics ideal for mixing into applications to help control budgets while enhancing the overall aesthetic of any new construction or remodeling project.
“Glass Essentials allows our beautiful and original colors to be accessible in the most popular formats and finishes,” said Nigel Eaton, CEO of Island Stone. “It complements our extensive range of designer formats, meaning we have a solution for just about any space.”
The line’s traditional, popular shapes are suitable for nearly any location while allowing designers tremendous flexibility: rectangles in three sizes (2-in. x 8-in., 3.5-in. x 12-in., and 6-in. x 12-in.) that install in stack, brick, or herringbone patterns; 3-in. hexagons; and elongated hexagons measuring 3.5-in. x 5.5-in.
The color palette of traditional and future-trending hues is neutral and versatile for coordination with other tiles, a selection of custom brights that provide the opportunity to create a mood. Options include Pure Silk, Tule, Mojave, Oceania, Stratos, Azure, Smoke, Lagoon, and Midnight. Gloss and matte finishes are available.
Pietta Donovan Cement Tiles
Walker Zanger has collaborated with designer Pietta Donovan on a collection of cement tiles.
Inspired by the psychedelic wallpaper that bedecked her childhood home in Australia, tessellations as well as by neenish tarts—an Australian pastry beloved by her mother—each handmade cement tile was designed with purpose. Featuring ’70s-inspired patterns and distinct colorways, these cement tiles are adorned in kaleidoscopic shapes, sharp lines and curvilinear corners.
“Working with Walker Zanger on this collection has been a transformative and refreshing experience,” said Donovan. “I felt inspired to rethink, recolor and re-present the patterns that surrounded me as a child of the ’70s and ’80s in Australia, and give them new life with a cleaner and fresher form. I hope this collection encourages designers and consumers to experiment and play with tile.”
Cement tiles are a durable option for the busy, modern family while the handmade craftsmanship and quality of pigment used to color each tile reflects both form and function. Though these tiles can be used both inside and outside. According to the company, they are ideal for installations where the playfulness and flexibility of each tile’s pattern can truly come to life on a grand scale.