With their minimalist appearance, fluted surfaces are a favourite among 2023 tile trends, bringing depth and texture to interiors. Offering architects and designers a wide range of possibilities, these three-dimensional designs are set to remain popular throughout the year and beyond.
Promising both visual and tactile pleasure, fluting traces its history to ancient Greek architecture. One dictionary defines a flute as a narrow groove forming a fine parallel line on a surface; another similarly describes it as each vertical, semicircular groove cut into the shaft of an ancient column. Particularly characteristic of Doric columns, these grooves were created for both decoration and strength.
Inspired by ancient architecture, fluted surfaces are finding a place in interiors as a contemporary interpretation of three-dimensional design at a time when touch is increasingly valued. These decorative finishes appear in both concave and convex forms. Arranging the tiles in different ways on a wall also allows a range of distinctive patterns to emerge.
Fluted tiles make a striking impression in bathrooms. Elegant and versatile, they offer an exciting way to create a feature wall in any space.
Laying them inside the shower or behind the basin is a good way to create an eye-catching focal point.
Although the tiles attract attention on their own, choose the grout colour carefully to emphasise their colour or introduce contrast.
Matt tiles bring a relaxed, modern atmosphere to the bathroom, while glossy tiles reflect light throughout the room to create a bright, light-filled space.
Fluted tiles can be used on a splashback or to create a feature wall. If your kitchen furniture or island also has fluted doors, the design elements will work in harmony.
These three-dimensional tiles come in a range of textures, from marble and travertine looks to terrazzo and handmade surfaces. They are especially effective in shared commercial areas such as lobbies, meeting rooms, reception areas and corridors, or on the front or back of restaurant bars and feature walls. Try mixing and matching colours and styles in different areas of your home. Adjusting the angle of the tiles can create wonderful designs.
Designed for Kale by Birsel+Sick, the İmza series from the Cura Collection draws inspiration from the geometric harmony and mathematical order of muqarnas, an architectural element shared by Anatolian civilisations in their depiction of “universal creation”. Offering a timeless aesthetic, its distinctive design allows many different structures to be created through horizontal and vertical laying arrangements.
This tile type shares the fine parallel lines of fluted tiles but does not have a three-dimensional profile. Like fluted tiles, however, it offers a contemporary aesthetic that can be used as a design element throughout the home. These tiles also add depth and tactility to the surfaces where they are installed. The Brick model from Kale Seramik’s Cura Collection is one example.
