Olde English Tiles partnered with Sydney architect Scott Weston to produce a series of modern mosaic tile designs that enable a homeowner or specifier to work with different tile shapes (hexagon, round and square), opening up greater possibilities than just tiling a bathroom floor.
Fascinated by items belonging to natural history, the collection features gemstone shapes, crystal formations and camouflage patterns that borrow on the cellular structure of the hexagon shape, the basis of tessellated tile mosaics.
Read on to learn the inspiration behind Scott’s collection - Tiled Curiosities.
Scott, what was the inspiration for your collection?
The crux of this desire to maintain an object's heritage value whilst simultaneously providing a fresh modern interpretation, can be no better epitomised than Weston’s home ‘Villa Carmelina’ a grand Italianate terrace, the main inspiration for the tile collection.
An architect who is not cookie cutter or formulaic that thrives on tailoring spaces that embrace and celebrate colour, pattern, decoration and texture in domestic interiors. Weston originally showcased ‘Field Of Flowers’ a mosaic tiling pattern that was a sophisticated play on the traditional Olde English Tile tessellated tile pattern overlaid with a witty colour palette laid to external roof balconies.
By utilising this design philosophy in creating 'Tiled Curiosities', Weston aims to share his love and passion for colour by embracing it within a mosaic tile collection that can be applied anywhere and everywhere.
What inspired the colour choices you have made?
As true as it is for interiors, a decorative object's colour is best informed by the space it sits within, and with Tiled Curiosities, the colours began to reveal themselves during design of the pattern repeat.
The concentric hexagonal rings of 'Gemstones' when applied with a graduating colour palette, looks most striking in a hue of dark to light blues, a resemblance to the enticing cross-sections of sliced agate.
Similarly 'Panthera', evolves from the same hexagonal pattern and applied with alternating white-on-whites, creates a subtle resemblance to leopard skin.
'Crystal' looked most dramatic by contrasting a decorative object floating over a neutral backdrop, visually referencing the imagery rooted in the study of symmetrical forms of ice crystals in ‘stellar’ or celestial bodies in orbit of ‘frost flowers’.
Accentuated by a calming palette of graduated pastel greens, Ogi Kabuki creates a zen-like atmosphere that is reminiscent of the Japanese folding fan
How do you see the tiles being used - is there a particular style of architecture / setting that you see them in?
These four patterns can be used in a myriad of configurations that can suit any length and width of a room to a heritage home our contemporary residence the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
'Gemstones' and 'Panthera' lend themselves to creating the illusion of an inset 'rug', of any customisable size to suit a floor, or perhaps as a painting as a feature wall, or a dado wall that connects to the floor.
'Crystal' on the other hand would look beautiful and perform well as a bathroom, balcony or courtyard tile.
What are some of the other finishes you see the tiles really working well with?
I’ve artfully considered the specifier, designer or home owner to embrace the collection and develop their own design language as to where these tiles could be installed.
'Gemstones' is a standout look at me pattern that would inset beautifully to a rich dark stained timber floor, polished plaster walls with a complementing coloured oxide or even a plain square format tile that allows the pattern to sing.
'Panthera' is a neutral backdrop subtly overlaid with layers of textured woven wallpapers, silk sheer curtains, contemporary modern furniture and architectural lighting to create a warm, soft and inviting room.
'Crystal' can be equally at home as a bathroom floor with mirrored walls or accentuated by large terracotta pots on an apartment rooftop balcony.
'Ogi Kabuki' would pair beautifully with forms and colours that are subtle and minimal in nature, particularly objects with a matte white or timber finish.
You can view Scott Weston’s full Tiled Curiosities collection here. To enquire about incorporating one of Weston’s patterns into your project, make contact today.