Best Patterned Tile: Duquesa, Fez, Lucifer & 7 More
I’ve added more for 2016!
I’ve never installed patterned tile in any place I’ve lived yet, but I’m dying to. I love the gratifying graphic contrast of colors and shapes, particularly in these older, traditional designs. To get you inspired and give you some good resources, I pulled a few of my favorites to share. Many of these are Mexican tiles and some are cement. The prices range from high to low. Enjoy and tell me which you like best!
Top Patterned Tile
Follow Topics for more like this
Follow for more stories like this
My second love in tile a few years back for it’s watery vintage feeling, this hand painted tile from fancy Walker Zanger “draws on influences as disparate as Italian textiles, Portuguese ceramic tiles, Moroccan mosaics, Egyptian wood inlay and Chinese decorative screens.”
Another long time fave, Snowbank is also by Mosaic House and comes in three colorways, but I like this light blue and yellow best.
One of my first ecstatic experiences with patterned tile was this blue and white cement tile design called Fez, that was used by Barbara Bestor in the Silverlake Intelligentsia. It’s still awesome.
- Cuban Snowflake Tile – $5-$7
The soft, faded blue of this tile backsplash is stunning. From a home designed by Tommy Scheerer in the Bahamas, I sourced the tile and it’s from Cuban Tropical Tile in Miami. The website isn’t so great, but if you call them and show this this picture via email, they can hook you up.
Black and white sure is dramatic, isn’t it? Lucifer, above, is a starring tile with a bold pattern, that swoops and curves, but it also comes in softer colors if you want to go a bit slower.
- Augusta Terra Nova Hand Painted Floor Tile – $18.95 for 12×12
From a super cute before and after by a reader named Megan, her choice of a stimulating design underfoot in anotherwise calm bathroom setting is inspired. This is from Tierra Y Fuego.
- Harlequin Mexican Tile – From $1.29
Another easy, affordable Mexican tile, the Harlequin design can do many things, but I love this pattern behind the stove in black and white. This is from MexicanTiles.com.
LOVE LOVE LOVE… newly discovered and part of my Scandinavian affliction, these come in many subtle colors besides black and can be mixed or NOT.
Less graphic, but equally powerful in the richness of color and the unique shape of the tiles, which make for a totally unexpected floor, this is only one of Claesson Koivisto Rune’s patterns. DO check out the rest as well. They’re all amazing.
A little Morocco, but not too much, this strong, sun filled pattern can be used in a traditional or a modern environment. The color is to die for.