Favorite Portuguese Tile Installations

This month, Avente pays homage to the classic styles of Portuguese Tiles. In last week's post, Arpi Nalbandian started the month-long celebration by introducing the rich history and culture of Portugal, and the important role hand-painted ceramic tile has played. Portugal is a great place for ceramic tile lovers like me – it’s used everywhere. The Portuguese have been using tiles to decorate and protect interior and exterior walls since the 15th century. Every town and city has buildings with brightly patterned walls. Today, I'd like to share my favorite residential installations using our line of Portuguese Tile.

Portuguese Oporto Kitchen Backsplash

Kitchen Backsplash with 6"x6" Oporto Portuguese Ceramic Tiles

Oporto 6"x6"

Nothing says Portuguese tile more than glossy tile with blue and white glazes. My first pick uses those striking blue and white colors – so evocative of Portuguese tile – and adds a touch of red and green with a stylized flower and stem. When this tile is used for the entire kitchen backsplash, the pattern creates eye-catching, decorative appeal and color. In keeping with the blue color scheme, Portuguese Oporto provides the perfect complement to the electric blue field tile on the countertop. Notice how the blues are not an exact match? The plain blue tile came from a different supplier; but, works well. With hand-painted tiles, you don’t need to find an exact glaze match to use with other tiles because their natural variation allows them to blend easily with colors of the same hue.

Portuguese Oporto tiles provide decorative appeal and color in this kitchen backsplash. 

Oporto 3"x6"

The same Oporto 6"x6" tile used for the backsplash, is also used on the bar. However, they framed the bar installation using the 3"x6" border tile and the same electric blue tile found on the counter.

The 3"x6" liner has a top and bottom stripe of warm yellow that really sets them off from the main pattern. Avente's Portuguese tiled are hand-painted by an artisan tile maker and fired twice. The first firing sets the glaze. Then a second clear, over-glaze is applied to provide a glossy finish ideal for kitchens and baths. Easy to clean, safe and very sanitary.

Portuguese Braganza Tiles

The Portuguese Braganza pattern is a classic pattern with an unusual color palette including pistachio green, azure blue, and terracotta against a bright yellow background. My favorite is the 6"x6" format when used on an entire wall. However, you'll see it more commonly used for stair risers, a pool sideboard, or outdoor patio liner.

A medallion of Portuguese Braganza tiles

Our Portuguese tiles are great accent tiles for a floor or wall. Create medallions using four 3"x3" tiles and place randomly or in a pattern on the floor. As accents, they work well with both large and small format tiles.

The "terracotta stems" of the leaf pattern that radiate from the center really make the tile pop when they're used as an accent to our Arabesque Cement Tile Pavers or any of our Classic Rustic Pavers.

Detailed view: A medallion of Portuguese Braganza 3"x3" tiles on terracotta.

The smaller Braganza dots are available in both 2" and 1" square formats.

Portuguese 2"x2" tiles are used here as accents with 6"x6" plain tile

Portuguese Ruan: A Sophisticated Geometric Pattern

If you want a less floral pattern, the Portuguese Ruan is stunning and a great choice for bath or kitchen. The deep, inky cobalt blue and gold accents provide a straight-forward color palette. The geometric Moorish influences make this pattern work well for a more sophisticated look.

Grouping of four Portuguese Ruan 6"x6" tiles

I hope today's post will inspire you to be a bit more like the Portuguese - start using tile just about everywhere. 

Three cheers for the Portuguese!

Tile Backsplashes: Kitchen and Bathroom Showpieces

An increasing amount of people are cooking made-from-scratch meals. Whether it includes a personalized breakfast granola mix, a lunchtime sandwich that incorporates heirloom tomatoes, dinners that include the use of a tagine, or desserts that urge the food connoisseur to wander the garden for a sprig or two of lavender, growing your own food and using fresh, organic ingredients has seen a resurgence.

Murphy Mosaic Backsplash by Appomattox Tile Art

With this renewed back-to-basics philosophy, homeowners have found the need to refresh the look of their kitchens, be it with new, energy-conserving appliances or a fresh coat of paint, the need for a soothing, yet workable environment trumps even the most prudent of budgets.

Stainless Steel Mosaic Tile by Ann Sacks

Happily, along with this desire for something new and different, tile backsplashes have seen an uptick in updated kitchen designs. Not only is a tile backsplash functional with its easily cleaned surface, but I tend to think of it as a showpiece or focal point of the cooking area.

Fired Earth's Metropolitan Tile collection, Queensway series

Further, the increased awareness of tile’s long-lasting beauty has not only made kitchen backsplashes a showpiece, but the same theory has held true for bathroom walls as well. With a surge in home remodeling projects and newly built homes, homeowners are looking for something different and more personalized to their taste, character and lifestyle. Designers, bloggers, and design-oriented publications have dutifully observed this trend, and have embraced the use of decorative tile backsplashes. Here are several examples:

• Classic patterns with white subway tile
• Stone tiles with metal insets
• Metallic tiles
• Delft patterns accented with solid white ceramic tiles
• Geographical tiles (Cuban, Spanish, Moroccan, Moorish, etc.)
• Water-jet cut mosaic tile and stone panels
• Glass tiles
• Textured tiles
• Mosaic tiles (stone, glass, and mixed)
• Geometric tiles (linear, bubbles, Arabesque)
• Large-format tiles
• And so much more!

Kitchen backsplash featuring Cuban Heritage Design 110-2B by Avente Tile

Even though I’m partial to the Moorish look, I seem to be drawn to mixed mosaics each and every time. Perhaps when we finally we remodel our kitchen, my love for Moorish and Spanish tile will have its overdue moment in the spotlight.

Brilliante 267 Superior glass mosaic tesserae by Trend Group

Lastly, thanks to the technological advances within the tile industry, no design, pattern or material is out of reach or impossible to mimic. I’m sure we’ll be seeing many more advances in the coming months with Cersaie, the Italian tile exhibition held in Bologna, Italy September 23-27, 2013; Cevisama, the Spanish tile exhibition held in Valencia, Spain, February 11-14, 2014); and Coverings 2014, set for April 29-May 2, in Las Vegas.

Which pattern, color, or material of tile would you choose to serve as the culinary inspiration for your kitchen, or to create a spa-like surrounding in your bathroom?

- Written by Arpi Nalbandian, Tileometry

Modern Cement Tile Patterns: Espiral Installations

The Artist Series is a unique collection of cement tiles created by artists from the Dominican Republic. Today we feature a design by Cándido Bidó — a Dominican artist renowned for his intense colors and attention to detail. He's also the creative force behind the bold Espiral cement tile design used on this open-air patio floor.

Cement Tile Floor Installation using Espiral Cement Tile
Tile Design by Dominican Artist Cándido Bidó

The Espiral cement tile brings in the beach and ocean with cool blues and creates a festive and fun floor using a bright red accent. This pattern is the perfect theme for a beach patio or open-air deck. Cement tile is a great material choice for this high-traffic, outside application. The pattern and field tile on this floor are all 10" x 10".

Cement Tile Indoor Wall Installation
Espiral Cement Tile by Cándido Bidó

Cement tiles are a versatile building product and work well on wall applications, too. Here's two commercial applications showing the versatility of these tiles. Above, an indoor wall application. Below, the Espiral pattern is used for a Caribbean cabana bar in an exterior wall application.

Outside Cabana Wall Installation
Espiral Cement Tile by Cándido Bidó

These contemporary tile patterns reflect the boldness and personalities of the artisan that made the design. The Artist Series is a showcase of their skills and elevates cement tile to functional art. This tile line is designed to showcase the artist's work both nationally and internationally and give back to the community. Aguayo Tiles generously donates a portion of the proceeds from all sales of the Artist Series. These proceeds support multiple charities that promote art in the Dominican Republic and work toward the improvement of communities in need.