31 New Subway Tile & Zellige Tile Textures
One was created in the 10th century in Morocco, the other created in 1904 for the New York City subway…but zellige and subway tiles are actually iterations of the same ceramic tile vision. As the old world collides with the new, explore the similarities and differences of our newly released collection of subway tile textures and zellige tile textures below.
19 New Zellige Tiles
Hand-molded, hand-cut, and hand-glazed, no two zellige tiles are exactly the same. Created in the 10th century in Morocco, zellige may seem worlds apart from the subway tile; but zellige was actually an early iteration of the ever-popular subway, with both being ceramic tiles which have been fired and glazed.
These are, however, some big differences; subway tiles create a uniform finish to make a perfectionist’s heart sing, while zellige offers a world of irregularities, flaws and a whole lot of character. Their enduring style, rich history and unique aesthetic have made a resurgence in the design world, complementing a wide variety of different interior design styles.
When using zellige in your scenes, there are a few things to keep in mind. As they’re slightly trickier to clean and rather uneven, they’re almost never used for flooring, and experts recommend installing these tiles as close together as possible, so the final look appears grout-less - almost opposite to the subway tile aesthetic, where the grout offers a geometric pattern within the aesthetic.
You can check out our new collection of zellige tiles below, which have been meticulously designed to replicate the hand-molded qualities of this tile, including visible variations in tone, textured surfaces, cracks, chipped edges, pitted glaze surfaces, crazing, and iron spots).
12 New Subway Tiles
Synonymous with bakeries and farmhouses, subway tiles are a classic that have been in use for more than 100 years. First created in 1904 for the New York City subway, its shape is super clean and easy to incorporate into different architectural styles, from contemporary and industrial, to heritage homes.
While the tile itself looks fairly unassuming on it’s own, the secret is in the way they’re laid; brick, herringbone, basket weave and stacked, each pattern takes on new life for your archviz. These easy-to-clean tiles are popular choices for kitchens and laundries, while a light, glossy finish reflects light beautifully; alongside mirrors, this finish can create an illusion of more space, ideal for bathrooms, powder rooms, en suites and small wash zones.
Browse our collection of subway tiles below, ranging from neutral backdrops to vivid feature wall choices, in a range of laying patterns and finishes.
