that's amore: the next great white tile is here

villa classica white matte forme bundle (top of the wall) and brillante bundle (bottom of the wall)

asking us to choose a favorite clé whiteworks collection of white tile is like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. from architect's palette in blotter to weathered white zellige (not to mention sea salt), we love them all, equally of course. but sometimes a collection strikes a chord that even we — besotted though we are — didn’t anticipate. such is the case with villa classica.

launching with a capsule collection

initially, we launched villa classica as a capsule collection. the range comprised one square (the 4 “ x 4” petite) and two rectangles (4” x 8” mason and 3.5” x 7” forme)—simple shapes that could be combined in a host of ways and laid with a variety of grout lines, to create myriad looks.

in fact, villa classica has been in such demand, we’ve decided to expand the current collection to include additional high-demand rectangular shapes — baguettes, cigars, and blades. (2” x 6” baguettes, 2” x 8” cigars and 3” x 12” blades). 

And now after the success of the original gloss we developed a new matte finish, for even more versatility.

villa classica white gloss forme bundle

villa classica–the unexpected new basic white tile–marries the hand-hewn rusticity of our weathered white zellige and a more modern, streamlined aesthetic.

villa classica is our first artisan-made white ceramic standard for our classic curation. an approachable, rustic white tile that’s easy-going through and through with an unmistakably artisan feel that’s easy to design with and install courtesy of modified imperfections and a low-profile clay body. artisan, yes. but basic, simple, and affordable. for when all our other rustic artisan white tile is feeling a little too much, but subway is feeling not quite enough.

forme features the ability to create a random-seeming pattern, which—along with uneven, wider-than-usual grout lines—allows you to create a unique aesthetic. brillante offers a slightly (but not terribly) more conventional installation recipe that still showcases villa classica at its best and feels slightly closer to typical zellige installations.

villa classica is exceptionally durable, standing up to stacking, packing and shipping with minimal breakage. that translates into edges that are more refined than our perfectly imperfect zellige for a quieter, crisper feel that can work in modern settings as well as more traditional ones.

villa classica captures the earthy elegance of a Tuscan farmhouse—a long table groaning under platters and bowls of food. a sleepy sunday afternoon. the conviviality of family and friends.

but it’s equally at home in a chic boutique hotel in Lisbon, a Hudson Valley farmstead, or a sophisticated Brooklyn Brownstone.

but villa classica isn’t just about the tile—it’s about what you do with it. after the runaway success of zellige, clé founder Deborah Osburn had a vision of building on what clé started—creating new design possibilities with rustic white tile and offering customizable character through playful use of grout joints. she realized that vision in this heritage collection.

and now, with these new additions to the villa classica collection, the world of possibilities has expanded again. go with a classic installation, push the boundaries of white tile with villa classica sets, or best yet, let your own eye decide the arrangement you love best.