winter white — exploring materials

fornace brioni + cristina celestino | traditional cotto variegato 08 | tavella (8x16)

a different dimension of white

the clé winter white sale is coming. but where to get started? we suggest exploring winter white, our extraordinary, expansive and passionately curated collection of white tile. but we know the simple idea of “white tile” is anything but. not only are there endless shades of white, but different facets of white can be expressed and revealed by different materials

unlike your average paint, tile is dimensional, often layered (as with glaze over clay) and — when handcrafted or hewn from natural stone — imbued with soulful imperfections and organic textures that give each piece a unique relationship to light. it’s those qualities that make clé tile different and make our white tile as compelling as any color. which material you choose depends entirely on your vision for your space.

cement

silky texture and a matte finish make clé cement tile quietly compelling.

reinforced and pre-sealed, it performs admirably on walls or floors, letting you make a subtle statement with all-white tile in striking shapes (including scallops and hex tiles) or go bold with patterns that mix white with strokes and pops of color.

crafted by artisans who train up to 15 years to learn their trade, clé’s cement tile creates a look that’s sleek but not soulless, crisp but not cold.

terracotta

there is a vast and ancient tradition of terracotta tile around the world, from Morocco to Italy, Belgium to China. we revere terracotta for the way the clay shows its earthy character through white or colored glazes.

clé has taken this humble material to new artistic heights, with white finishes ranging from the smooth chalk white and soft marbled hues of italian-made fornace brioni to the shimmering, prismatic glaze variations of everyone’s favorite: zellige.

what they all have in common is a crafted aesthetic that celebrates the hand of the artist and the serendipitous magic of the kiln.

thin brick

(left) architect's palette | blotter. (right) clé guild | new california | willow. design: cathie hong interiors / photo: margaret austin

the clé guild continues to craft world-class glazed thin brick tile, all with an artisan’s touch. each of the guild’s many collections is hand-glazed in small batches, for looks that range from the classic (see: fundamentals, in white matte or gloss) to the specktacular (see: new california, in willow, mallow or dogwood).

stone

clé's collection of marble and stone is varied in terms of aesthetics–and affordability.

it ranges from affordable clé carrara with its classic veining to sparkling clé thassos to creamy dolomite to exuberant calacatta viola. offered in tile form, it's more accessible, versatile and rich in creative opportunities when compared to slabs. we even offer classic white marbles in sculptural shapes and mosaics, courtesy of our lapidary collection.

for a different take on white tile, consider a blend of cement with stone. we also offer two forms of white terrazzo tile in two collections: the Italian-influenced dolci terrazzo with its range of stone sizes, and classic mid-century forage terrazzo. either way, they're classic, timeless, and versatile.

ceramic and porcelain

ceramic is the workhorse of white tile, creating surfaces that are durable, easy-care and highly consistent.

clé offers iconic white ceramic subway tile in a range of sizes and in both traditional gloss and modern matte finishes, and we never tire of finding fresh, new ways to use them.

porcelain penny rounds are another classic choice, either on their own or mixed with black to create custom patterns on floors and walls.across all of these materials, clé offers an unparalleled range of choices in shapes, sizes, finishes and colors, including myriad shades of white. explore all the options in clé’s winter white here.