Zellige tile is a hundred - old material that ’s having a modern - daytime moment .
Gilded Heights
If you ’re looking for a tile to elevate your infinite , few liken to handcrafted zellige tile . There ’s nothing cookie - cutter about them . rather , zellige tiles embrace imperfection toadd character to a way . “ When hoi polloi see or beak up a small-arm of zellige , they can finger the story , the inheritance , the craftsmanship , the connection to timeless custom ; it goes so far beyond decoration , ” say Deborah Osburn , founder ofClé Tile .
Credit:Gilded Heights
Zellige roofing tile is unmatched in bringing one - of - a - kind personality to a outer space . “ Zellige conduct a unhappy , lived - in look that adds persona to any decor , " Osburn aver . " It will loosen up and modernize a traditional decor and give a warm feel to even the most streamlined and modern of environs . "
To get in on the design trend that ’s centuries in the fashioning , we asked interior designers to deliver all the detail on this part - deep roofing tile , as well as purpose ideas for helping zellige roofing tile survive up to its potential in your home .
Kelly Christine Photo
Credit:Kelly Christine Photo
What Is Zellige Tile?
“ Zellige tiles have been around for C of years , ” saysAubrey Butcher , the interior designer behindGilded Heightsand carbon monoxide gas - owner of Riad Tile . “ Each while is a body of work of artistic creation , handcrafted by journeyman who have learned their trade from root before them . ” It ’s this originality that Butcher credit with zellige ’s current popularity . “ There are n’t many material that are as various and original as zellige , ” she tell .
In fiat for a tile to be considered reliable zellige , Osburn excuse it has to be made in Morocco . There ’s an art to thehand - press cutting and chiseling of the tileswhich has been hand down through contemporaries . “ Every roofing tile is script - molded , hand - cut , and hand - glazed , which means no two zellige tiles are precisely likewise , ” she say .
Osburn explain that authentic zellige from Morocco use mud source from Fez , a city in the northeasterly part of the nation . “ [ The stiff ] is mold into blocks , cure in the sun , then hand - cut into roofing tile before it is hand - glazed and kiln fired in ancient bee - hive kilns , fuel by European olive tree pits and branches . ”
Credit:Kelly Christine Photo
This total process and attention to the generational wisdom that comes with the trade is what gives zellige its hand - hand-hewn and “ utterly imperfect ” appearance , she says . you may spot authentic zellige tile by paying aid to these imperfectness . “ The most defining gadget characteristic of veritable Moroccan zellige are its beautiful flaws , irregularities , and variation , ” Osburn explain .
5 Things to Consider Before Choosing Zellige Tile
1. Tile Resiliency
Because of its detailed coming into court and hand-crafted character , it ’s well-off to opine zellige should be admired from afar , but Butcher says that could n’t be further from the Sojourner Truth . “ Zellige is not as fragile of a material as it appears once it ’s been render , ” she say . “ Each piece is fired in a kiln multiple times , make it very hard and resistant to estrus . ” It ’s alsoeasy to cleanso it ’s idealistic for use in place like kitchen and privy , as it does n’t show soap scum like other tiles might . To cleanse the tile , Osburn recommends a mild , pH - achromatic soap , but suggest test it in a small area before apply it at large .
2. Color and Glaze Selection
When it comes to coloring material survival , Osburn points to clean options like Clé Tile’sMoroccan Sea SaltandWeathered Whiteas customer favorites , though their assembling ofNeo - Neutrals , which encompasses pinks , beiges , platinum whites , and amber , is growing in popularity . “ We also are finding that deeper colors such as gullible and blood-red are increasingly popular , " she says . " The robust gloss of the glaze only serves to fiddle up the zellige ’s characteristic grain . "
When working with biased zellige roofing tile , Butcher find the instinctive sport in the glazing to be perfectly striking and inconceivable to recreate with porcelain or ceramic options . “ instinctive colorways pair perfectly withmarble in bathrooms and kitchen , create a timeless , tonal blank space , ” says Butcher . “ For a more salient look , using color is always a fun choice . ”
If you ’re deciding between glazed and glassless zellige , study whether you desire a bold or subtle look . A glossed zellige work to excogitate lighter , lend a more glamorous quality that , accord to Osburn , accent the handcrafted quality of the tiles .
3. Design Ideas
When it get along to zellige roofing tile aim ideas , the possibilities are endless . “ This is particularly apparent in Morocco , where everything from car park work bench to the exterior of construction to interior stair is covered in zellige , ” says Butcher . The clothes designer is a fan ofzellige for a kitchen backsplash , but her preferent coating might just be a labor that dispatch nigher to domicile . “ We also renovated our hearth a few class ago and took a blue green zellige tile floor to ceiling , and it ’s become a preferent part of our home . ”
Some of the more popular applications are bath and showers , bar areas , and accent walls . However , Osburn is quick to advise going a more unexpected route if you ’re so prepared . For her , it ’s the unique United States of America like ceiling and exterior garden wall that rightfully highlight the artistry in the cloth and provide a light - reflecting dimension .
While the design possibilities are seemingly endless , there are a few position where Osburn and Butcher say zellige roofing tile could be ill - advised . quash freeze - melting environments and be aware of stairway applications as zellige roofing tile can be a more tricky surface than wood or other fabric .
4. Grout Selection
fit in to Osburn , traditional applications of zellige roofing tile do n’t utilize grout at all , instead calling on a butt stick . While this physical process has stand the run of sentence , she advocate customer opt for grout and a slightly larger joint of 1/16 . “ Because each patch of zellige is handmade , there will be imperfection along the edges from fourth dimension to prison term , ” explain Butcher . “ We usually recommend a tonal grout choice , as this complements it best . ” A contrasting grout could draw attention to the otherwise unparalleled imperfections in a way that is n’t as flattering .
5. Installation Considerations
Zellige tilerequires professional installers , ideally those who have experience installing handcraft roofing tile . “ Installers who have no experience with zellige are often confused by the ‘ perfect imperfectness ’ of bona fide zellige and changeable of how to instal tile in a way that takes the most reward of zellige ’s inherent textural , size of it , and color variation , ” Osburn say . immix the tile , in both color and size , is preponderant . guest should be present throughout the installation process so they can work with the installer to ensure they are proud of with the overall look and experience . All roofing tile should be taken from the boxwood and laid out on the floor . That means , you and the installer can then start laying them out in a blended mode , exactly how you desire them to appear . Be prepared to shuffle and reshuffle the tiles until you find the perfect layout .
