Around the world in ten tile collections
School’s out for summer, and holiday season is in full swing. Whether you’re planning a sun-drenched holiday abroad or a ‘staycation’ closer to home, design inspiration is everywhere.
Beautiful architecture and cultures from around the world have long played a prominent role in influencing both interior and exterior design, especially in the commercial sector.
Tiles are no exception to this form of inspiration, with many collections drawing on styles found around the world. Whether that’s a traditional manufacturing style, natural materials found in specific corners of the globe, patterns that evoke a city’s streets or an exotic beach, there are a wide variety of tiles now available on the market that draw on influences from worldwide locations.
Here at CTD Architectural Tiles, we’re delighted to supply a vast range of tiles that take inspiration from traditions and styles from across the planet. What’s more, as a leading commercial tile supplier partnered with some of the world’s leading manufacturers, traditional style won’t come at the expense of modern benefits – providing architects and interior designs with the best of both worlds.
So, sit back and relax while we take you around the world in ten tile collections.
The United Kingdom
While the weather isn’t always predictable, the UK offers so much on our doorsteps – from bustling cities to beaches, mountains and countryside. It also offers a unique culture influenced by its long and diverse history. This heritage is also evident in our varied architecture, which draws on a number of architectural styles dating back hundreds of years – with a number of buildings across the country standing since the 11th century.
Tiles inspired by the Victorian era, such as our Victorian Heritage collection, offer a great solution for any commercial interior projects inspired by British tradition – whether it’s the conversion of a historic building or a new building looking to create a classic feel. This collection of glazed ceramic floor and wall tiles combine a series of geometric shapes and colours within each tile that create a sophisticated feature space with the added modern benefit of a high Pendulum Test Value (PTV) rating for slip resistance.
Italy
Italy’s rich history and architecture plays a key role in a number of modern tile trends – including the ever-popular marble. Used since the Ancient Roman period, Italian marble is synonymous with luxury and with this in mind, it’s easy to see why it remains a highly popular choice for high end commercial projects.
Our Unique Marble collection epitomises the opulence associated with this trend, as it combines five of the world’s most exclusive marbles for timeless elegance. Beyond its beautiful finish, the collection is suitable for both floors and walls with a PTV rating of 36 under both wet and dry conditions, making it the ideal choice for a classic yet contemporary luxury bathroom.
Another popular tile trend inspired by Italy is terrazzo, which can bring a distinctly Mediterranean feel to any commercial project. This unique style originated in Italy in the 16th century in order to avoid wasting stone off-cuts, and is characterised by stone chippings set into cement. Now, it’s possible to achieve this traditional appearance with the added modern benefits of porcelain tiles.
We’re proud to supply a number of terrazzo-inspired tile collections designed to suit any style, from subtle effects to vibrant colours. This includes Venice Villa, which reinterprets Venetian terrazzo through eight colourways that capture and reflect light to enhance any space.
Spain
While Spain is a popular holiday destination thanks to its beaches and year-round sun, it’s also home to beautiful natural resources, as seen in the Pure Stone range. This elegant porcelain tile collection was inspired by southern Spain’s natural San Vicente stone, and is the ideal choice for a sophisticated commercial space.
Inspiration can also be taken from Spain’s cultural history, including the Moorish architectural influence in its southern regions. This influence is seen in our NADOR collection of glazed ceramic wall tiles. The collection features a variety of natural and playful colours with a handcrafted appearance including a slightly uneven surface which interacts with light in a strikingly subtle way.
Portugal
Tiles are a significant part of Portugal’s historic culture, having been used since the 13th century. Traditionally chosen for practical reasons, tiles kept homes warm and delayed the spread of fire thanks to the use of ceramic baked at high temperatures. Over time, tiles in Portugal became more decorative too – particularly among the wealthy – inspired by the country’s Moorish history with blue and white tiles now heavily associated with the country.
Fado takes inspiration from classic Portuguese ceramic square tiles. This vast collection features a modern take on traditional colours, each also available with series of handcrafted-style patterns with a subtle worn effect. The choice available within the Fado collection offers the opportunity to create a unique feature wall guaranteed to make a beautiful impression.
Morocco
Like Portugal and Spain, Moroccan architecture features significant Moorish and Arab influences, and this style is growing more and more popular in interior design.
The influence of Moroccan tiles can be seen across a variety of commercial projects, and is characterised by handcrafted-style bold patterns like our Tanger collection. Designed with changing intensity of colours combined with both organic and ornamental motifs, this collection of glazed porcelain floor and wall tiles evokes a sense of craftsmanship combined with a variety of modern benefits including a high PTV rating and recycled content.
Cuba
Also utilising the appeal of bold patterns combined with a series of modern commercial requirements is the Habana collection, which is inspired by Cuba’s warmth and charm.
This collection is inspired by the traditional colours and designs of Cuban tiles in the 1800s, reflecting Havana’s famously colourful streets. Comprising a variety of vibrant block colours and a series of patterns that can be used interchangeably, Habana offers versatility and creativity suited to a variety of styles from retro to contemporary.
USA
Originating in New York City’s subways, the metro tile trend remains highly popular across the commercial sector thanks to its simplicity. This subtlety means that metro tiles are ideal for providing a practical solution without overpowering a space, so that other features can take centre-stage.
However, metro tiles are increasingly being given the chance to shine thanks to an increasing number of collections offering striking colour choices and the opportunity for non-traditional formats. Our Bevelled Metro collection offers a bolder modern take on this classic style, featuring 26 colours and the option for multiple layouts – allowing total creative control for the chance to create a truly unique space.
Japan
Japan is famous for its rich culture, which combines ancient traditions with contemporary influences.
One element of this culture is flower viewing, known as Hanami, which is the traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers including the transient nature of cherry blossom trees. This centuries-old tradition inspired our three-part Hanami collection, which features a wide range of wall tile designs intended to fill any space with positive energy thanks to its variety of colours and patterns.
Whatever and wherever your next project is inspired by, our team of experts are available to provide technical advice for commercial tiles. To request samples, arrange a colour consultation or to discover more of our extensive range of tiles, contact info@ctdarchitecturaltiles.co.uk or call 0800 021 4835.