Zellige tiles, which originate from Morocco’s historic mosaic custom, are one of the well-liked kitchen and loo tile tendencies at this time. Past their stylish enchantment, zellige tiles have a definite magnificence and handcrafted look, making them a long-lasting residence pattern. These handmade tiles are famend for his or her vibrant colours, geometric patterns, and meticulous craftsmanship. Apart from their magnificence, zellige tiles have a protracted historical past and custom that contribute to their distinctive enchantment. This exploration will equip you with the information you should resolve if you’re able to get in on this unique tile pattern.
Zellige tiles are a standard sort of Moroccan tile. The time period zellige is derived from an Arabic phrase which means “little polished stone.” These tiles served as the muse for the intricate mosaic patterns present in Moroccan structure and design, each historic and fashionable.
Genuine zellige tiles are ceramic tiles constructed from a particular clay. Every tile is made by hand utilizing a novel slicing, shaping, and sharpening approach. This handcrafted course of ends in slight imperfections in every tile, which contribute to their distinctive allure. Zellige tiles have a glazed floor, which produces luminous colours and provides depth and character.
Zellige Tile Model Information
Tile tendencies change over time, however the zellige tile pattern seems to be notably sturdy attributable to its elegant model, handmade aesthetic, and flexibility. See how some owners and designers have embraced the pattern.
Inexperienced Zellige Tile in a Impartial Kitchen
Colourful zellige tile offers a placing distinction in a impartial coloured house, making the design extra balanced, vibrant, and dynamic. This mushy inexperienced zellige tile offers an immediate point of interest on this all white kitchen and is the perfect backdrop for the vent hood and vibrant brass wall sconces.
Tone-on-Tone Dwelling Bar
Due to their barely variable coloration and luminosity, zellige tiles are glorious for making a tone-on-tone look. Designer Elle du Monde used black zellige tile as a backsplash for this black cupboard residence bar. The black tiles give the bar sufficient glowing depth to maintain the design fascinating and sudden.
Vertical Zellige Tiles
These blush pink zellige tiles elevate the model of this easy white kitchen. Laying them vertically provides the kitchen a extra fashionable look, nevertheless it additionally visually expands the house.
Ombre Toilet Wall
Relatively than attempt to work across the coloration variations in zellige tiles, this designer embraced the ombre look through the use of zellige tiles in three completely different coloration variations. This provides the lavatory a recent look but in addition pays homage to the mosaic historical past of zellige tile.
A Luminescent Glow
Zellige tiles characteristic an iridescent high quality that makes them seem to glow in mushy mild. This makes them particularly efficient, even in impartial coloured areas, at creating dynamism and curiosity.
Scalloped Zellige Tiles
Zellige tiles can be found in a wide range of shapes. The most well-liked are sq. tiles, which are available a wide range of sizes, however it’s also possible to discover rectangle, fish scale, cross, star, hexagon, and trapezoid shapes.
All-Encompassing Zellige Tile
This designer used blue zellige tiles to cowl your complete rest room from flooring to ceiling. This will likely end in monotony with some tile varieties, however the variability and imperfections of zellige tiles present inherent curiosity.
Concerns Earlier than Utilizing Zellige Tiles
All of us agree that zellige tiles are placing, however attributable to their distinctive model and nature, they won’t work in each software or house. Listed here are some concepts to contemplate earlier than implementing them in your house.
Inherent Imperfections
Genuine zellige tiles are nonetheless handmade in Morocco. Which means no two tiles are precisely alike in dimension, depth, or coloration. Due to this fact, if you need a tile wall with flawless uniformity, zellige tiles usually are not for you. As an alternative, zellige tiles produce a tile wall or flooring the place corners don’t precisely meet and there are slight coloration adjustments throughout the tiles.
Individuals who use zellige tile ought to embrace its imperfections. One vital tip from tile producers is to combine the tiles from all of the bins you get on your mission. This may unfold out the slight coloration and form variations within the bins.
Upkeep
Glazed zellige tiles require only a common cleansing with delicate cleaning soap or stone cleaner and water in an effort to hold them trying lovely for years. Wipe up all spills shortly, and hold the tile free from abrasives that may scratch or mar the floor of the tiles. Slight imperfections within the tiles trigger sure corners to stay out, so pay attention to this when you clear. By no means use harsh chemical substances or abrasives as a result of these will injury the glaze. Glazed zellige tiles don’t have to be resealed; nonetheless, unglazed zellige tiles require common software of a sealer.
Adhesive and Grout
Many designers and tile professionals advocate that zellige tiles be put in with no grout line seen. Zellige tiles are put in on a substrate coated in a thin-set adhesive. Due to their irregular form, some contractors choose to make use of wedge-shaped spacers to get the tiles as evenly spaced as wanted via the laying course of. Enable the thin-set to treatment and apply an unsanded grout with a tile float at a 45-degree angle. Enable to sit down for 10-20 minutes, after which clear and wipe down in accordance with the producer’s directions. Make sure you clear and buff the tiles utterly to keep away from grout haze on the tiles.
The place to Use Them
Zellige tiles seem delicate, however they’re surprisingly sturdy. They’re warmth and moisture resistant and may face up to put on and tear. Zellige tile producers insist that these tiles can be utilized wherever, together with partitions, flooring, fireplaces, and open air. That is true with a number of caveats. Though zellige tiles are sturdy, some have barely raised edges that may trigger issues on sure flooring.
The raised edges of zellige tiles are vulnerable to scratches and different injury, so they’re greatest utilized in low-traffic areas. Some individuals additionally declare that the glazing on zellige tiles makes them slippery. Use small-scale zellige tiles on flooring in order that the grout traces can present further traction.
Discovering Zellige Tile
It’s straightforward to seek out genuine zellige tiles, however it is important that what you must search for. Select a good provider with a confirmed observe report for distributing zellige tiles. Some well-liked distributors embrace Cle Tile, Riad Tile, Zia Tile, and Badia Design. Some suppliers could give you documentation or a certificates that verifies the standard and handmade origin of their tiles. Search for the hallmarks of authenticity, together with a hand-crafted look, shiny and “cracked” floor glazing, a variation of colours, and being made utilizing conventional strategies in Morocco.
Timeless or Stylish?
Zellige tiles are at present one of the well-liked tile tendencies in kitchen and tub design. Whereas pattern instructions are at all times troublesome to foretell, zellige tile has traits that argue for its timeless enchantment. Zellige tiles have been round for lots of, if not a thousand, years. The truth that we’re nonetheless utilizing them at this time is proof of their timelessness. These tiles are handcrafted from pure supplies. Their authenticity distinguishes them as a traditional and chic alternative. So, whereas we can’t predict whether or not zellige tiles shall be utilized in the entire newest kitchen and loo designs in ten years, we are able to say that they are going to at all times be lovely and won’t be disappearing from kitchens and bogs any time quickly.
