If you’ve been following us on Instagram or Facebook for a little while you’ve seen that we are obsessed with patterned encaustic cement tiles. We love using them in small spaces to pack a powerful punch of pattern and give the room that "wow" factor.

There are a lot of choices out there for these patterned tiles, we are sharing some of our favorites with you to make the selection process a little bit easier. We have been lucky to be able to incorporate some of these tiles in past projects and others are on our bucket list for future projects. 

 

1. Handmade Encaustic Tulips Blue Fleur Cement Tiles

 

2. Handmade Cement Tile Polaris Black White Star

 

3. Spark B Morning 8 x 8" Cement Field Tile

 

4. Sintra 8" x 8" Cement Floor Use Tile

 

5. Baha 8" x 8" Cement Patterned Wall & Floor Tile

 

6. Nolita 24x24 Matte Porcelain Tile

 

7. Diamond 8" x 8" Cement Patterned Wall & Floor Tile

 

8. Casa 8" x 8" Cement Patterned Wall & Floor Tile

 

Patterned tiles are very versatile and can complement a variety of design styles. They can be used as flooring for your powder room or bathroom, in mudrooms or entryways, or even as a bold backsplash in your kitchen. Some clients wonder if the look is too trendy, although patterned tile continues ​to be on-trend in the interior design world, it has been around long before it became a Pinterest star. Some of the patterns we see today are based on the patterns produced by the first makers of encaustic tile. Encaustic tile was first seen in the 1800s in Catalonia, Spain, and has been widely used throughout Europe and America for centuries. When they were first made, they were revolutionary in the flooring world. Compared to other tiles available, cement tiles were much less expensive, more durable, and easier to produce. What makes them so durable is the combination of a layer of fine cement and a thicker layer of sand cement. These tiles were most popular during the turn of the 20th century and were considered a luxury floor covering material. Take a look at the older buildings in your city and you’ll see cement tiles used in public buildings and landmarks. Eventually, they started to become less popular around the 1920s, but then started to get more popular in the 1940s, and now are finding popularity again. 

The key to selecting a tile that will always feel timeless is to use a neutral-colored tile and pick a pattern and style that fits the character of your home. With the range of patterns and colors on the market, you have the opportunity to make a bold statement or add a subtle bit of character to your space. 

Have you incorporated this look into any of your design projects? Which tile is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

 

This blog post was written by Kim Valente. Kim is the founder and principal designer at Brick + Beam Studio. Follow along on Instagram to see the studio's current projects along with some behind the scenes activity.