Our Tile of the Year for 2021 is Zellica Bronze!

Harriet Goodacre

September 16, 2020

A new year and a new style direction beckons! We’re proud to announce our Tile of the Year for 2021 is the stunning Zellica tile in a glossy bronze shade.

It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a year full of unexpected twists and turns but there have been a few positives to come from such an extraordinary time. The main positive being that we’ve fallen back in love with our homes, we recognise that they’re a place of refuge, safety and comfort in hard times, so why not take this time to make it even better!

Themes like biophilia, comfort and serenity have never been so important for our daily lives and decorating your home’s interior to reflect these important themes will only help in promoting a healthy wellbeing.

Surrounding ourselves with warming neutrals, comforting textures and a sense of nature is the perfect antidote to those wintry nights that are just around the corner. We’ve once again teamed up with Dulux and their Colour of the Year to help create the perfect interior space for the year ahead.

For Tile of the Year 2021, we want to explore this beautiful bronze tone and glossy finish in a variety of styles to help you develop some ideas on how to easily transform your home in the coming year.

Shop Zellica Bronze now.

Calming Neutrals

Over the last couple of years, there's been a lot of talk around revamping the old and capturing a simpler way of life and with that comes the artisanal properties that represent the good of the past and celebrating the crafts.

We wanted our Tile of the Year for 2021 to really reflect those conversations. The deep hues and rustic aesthetic of the Zellica range give it a distinctive look that will add a homespun aesthetic to your space.

Cutting edge technology is used to give these tiles a handmade look that's characterised by colour variations and irregular edges.

The style has been inspired by Spanish majolica pottery from the 1700s, and each tile is fired at a specific temperature and slower speed to create a highly glossy glaze, perfect for capturing natural light and reminiscent of the original pottery.

The Colour Palette

To really capture the essence of nature, the Zellica palette is a harmonious mix of earthy tones that have all been inspired by elements of the natural world.

Antique White - sea foam from towering waves

Ochre - a natural clay earth pigment

Ink - natural indigo dyes

Bronze - the combination of heated minerals

Forest - one of Earth’s natural habitats

Liquorice - a flowering plant of the bean family

Dulux's 'Brave Ground'

Dulux’s Colour of the Year for 2021 has also been heavily inspired by nature with the idea of building a solid foundation for you to layer colour on top of.

Brave Ground is the perfect neutral that sits nicely between warm and cool tones making it extremely versatile. Being a muted, natural tone, it lets other colours shine.

We’ve been inspired by their Trust colour palette, created by their colour expert, Marianne Shillingford, as it works perfectly with our Zellica Bronze tile and really builds that foundation to a calming yet timeless space.

The palette features organic tones from across the globe that have a sense of familiarity. The warm neutral greys complement each other, encouraging connection and collaboration as well as that important sense of harmony in the home.

This colour scheme works really well with a minimalist or Scandi-inspired vibe. It’s warming tones contrast nicely with natural textures like rattan, metal accents and our charmingly rustic tile Zellica.

Five Ways To Style

Putting different elements together to complete a room is sometimes quite tricky so we asked our creative in-house sTile Consultant, Harriet Goodacre, to put together 5 ideas on how to use the Zellica tile, and most importantly, how to dress the rest of the room to complement it.

Attractive Art Deco

“A glossy tile is usually the most versatile as it allows you to play with other textures in the room that help create warmth and depth.”

Glossy subway shaped tiles work really well as part of an Art Deco theme, we’re talking about a nod to the 1920s rather than a pastiche of a typical Art Deco bathroom.

An important element in Art Deco design is the use of marble. To play with texture, opt for a matt marble like Carrara Honed as it will contrast nicely with the glossy Zellica.

Complete the look with gold or brass accents like our Foundry Box trim, a statement mirror and a streamlined vanity unit.

L-R: Zellica Forest, Mirror: Wayfair, Sideboard: La Redoute, Carrara Honed, Zellica Bronze, Foundry Box Raw, Dulux: Cherished Gold

Scandinavian Simplicity

“Sticking to a neutral colour palette can create a harmonious feel in a room with minimal effort, however it’s important when using a simple scheme to add elements of interest, whether it be a creative tile laying pattern or a favourite piece of art.”

If you’re working with a small space, consider what tile laying pattern you’re using as it can help change the perceived dimensions of a room. This block herringbone finish adds an element of modernity to a rustic tile whilst appearing to widen this narrow bathroom.

If you’re tiling a bathroom and have limited light, make a tiled feature out of the opposite wall where possible to help reflect the natural light and brighten the room.

L-R: Dulux: Spiders Web, Zellica Bronze, Dulux: Brave Ground, Light: Pooky, Art: iamfy.co, Mora Oak

Colour Contrast

“If you’re opting for a neutral style kitchen then using a bold tile with a coloured grout is a great way to add impact in a compact space.”

The Zellica tile has been arranged in a contemporary feeling stepladder brick bond and to add a kick of colour, a dark blue grout has been used (Heritage Blue from the Matrix Collection). If you want to keep a bit more of a rustic vibe then use a wider grout line, say 4mm.

For a touch of opulence, think about your lighting. Using pendants from the ceiling will inject warmth to the space and is a lot more flattering than your standard spot lights.

L-R: Lighting: Perch & Parrow, Art: Desenio, Zellica Bronze, , Dulux: Knotted Twine, Grout Colour: Matrix Heritage Blue

Boutique Bathroom

“We’re often inspired by our travels but you don’t have to go far to find a luxury boutique hotel with a lot of style! And there’s no reason why you can’t recreate that amazing feeling at home too.”

Using a large stone effect to contrast to a small glossy wall tile creates texture and depth. An extra-large floor tile means fewer grout lines and a space that feels bigger and more luxurious.

Keep your fixtures streamlined and modern and opt for high end fixtures, this will all help to give you that luxury feeling every time you step in the room.

L-R: Lighting: Pooky, Dulux: Midnight Garden, Penthouse Coal, Zellica Bronze

Pastoral Perfection

“A tiled feature wall is a great way to draw attention to one part of the room, particularly useful for creating a more aesthetically pleasing bathroom as it moves the eye away from bulky fixtures.”

If you’re a fan of modern country style, by using a rustic finished tile, you can recreate the look in any type of home.

This basket weave laying pattern draws the eye up creating height and the lighter grout tone highlights the tile’s rustic edging without the look becoming too graphic or contemporary.

Match this look with heritage inspired fixtures, accents of burnished brass and a grainy wood effect tile on the floor and you have the makings of the perfect country-inspired space.

L-R: Zellica Bronze, Mirror: Olivias.com, Drench, Grout Colour: Pecan, Dulux: Cobalt Night & Brave Ground

Have you been inspired to try Zellica in your home? Order a sample via our free sample service today. You can catch up with all our latest looks over on our Instagram page @toppstiles.

#TOTY21

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