Patterned tile has hit the home design hard. It is a look that you either love or hate. Luckily there are far more people who seem to love and enjoy the look of patterned tile in their kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms and are even using it as focal walls in living areas. We personally cannot get enough of it.
Thankfully, our vendors have been upping their game, producing the most beautiful patterns our little hearts can barely stand. But where did this style come from and why does it seem to flow so well in a farmhouse design as well as a modern design? Because we absolutely adore the fun ways patterned tile can transform a space, we wanted to know where this look began so we did a little digging around.
It seems the origins of patterned tile spread all over the globe and at different times, some dating back to the near and far East in the fourth millennium B.C.
Romans began making tile as they occupied land, but it wasn’t until the 12th century when Cistercian Monks developed a method called encaustic floor tiles with beautiful inlaid patterns for church floors. The popularity didn’t last very long until they were made again in Europe in the mid-19th century.
In 1843, Herbert Minton advanced the modern tile industry by reviving the lost art of encaustic tile making while in England. A faster and easier way to produce tile called “dust pressing” began which consisted of compressing dry clay in between two metal dies. The need to use wet clay and make tile by hand was replaced and broadened the tile making industry.
Because this method was faster and cheaper, the quality went up as well as the demand. Encaustic tiles were often selected for palaces in London and in Queen Victoria’s Royal abode to be exact.
As this was going on, South America was creating their own beautiful handmade, hand painted tiles. It wasn’t until 1930 that decorative tiles in American became popular and began to flourish.
Wow! How is that for staying power?
If you love patterned tile but have been worried about style longevity, we say go for it. As you can read, this unique and beautiful backsplash, flooring and focal point material has been around since the beginning of time as we know it.
So add the visual interest to your kitchen. Deck out that bathroom floor with colors and patterns. Surround yourself with materials that make your heart and soul happy to walk in that room. You only live once and you’ll make your ancestors pretty proud to boot.
