Collection: Handmade Effect

"Handmade effect" can mean quite a few different things. Some tiles achieve it through irregular edges, others through rippled surfaces, tonal variation or a glaze that changes from one piece to the next.

What these characteristics have in common is that they interrupt perfect repetition. A highly uniform tile creates a predictable grid because every edge, surface and colour behaves in almost exactly the same way. Small imperfections give the eye something else to pick up.

The degree of irregularity matters too. A subtly softened edge can simply take the clinical edge off a wall, while a heavily varied tile becomes much more of a feature. That's why it's worth looking beyond the phrase "handmade effect" and considering what kind of imperfection the particular tile actually has.

There is a lot of precision in modern interiors: straight cabinetry, crisp worktops, frameless glass, sharp sanitaryware and clean architectural lines. A slightly irregular wall can provide a useful counterbalance.

It doesn't have to make the room rustic. In fact, one of the most interesting combinations is a handmade-effect tile alongside very contemporary furniture and fittings. The contrast gives the room some softness without sacrificing a clean overall look.

This is also why these tiles can work well over larger areas. A perfectly uniform surface can become visually repetitive across a whole wall, whereas gentle variation gives the eye small changes to discover without introducing a formal pattern.

Handmade-effect tiles often become more interesting when you stop looking at them as static objects and consider how they behave throughout the day.

A rippled glaze creates highlights and shadows. An uneven edge changes how the grout line is perceived. Tonal variation becomes more apparent where neighbouring tiles catch different amounts of light. Even a relatively subtle surface can therefore have much more depth once it covers an entire wall.

Directional lighting is particularly useful for revealing texture. Light coming across a wall from the side will generally expose more surface variation than evenly distributed light from the front.

That's worth considering when choosing where to use a textured or rippled handmade-effect tile. The same product can feel relatively quiet in one position and considerably more tactile in another.

One of the easiest ways to make a handmade-effect tile feel less successful is to surround it with too many other competing details.

That doesn't mean everything else needs to be plain. Natural timber, stone, aged metals and coloured cabinetry can all work beautifully. The important thing is to give the tile enough visual space for its irregularity to be noticed.

You can also use contrast deliberately. A softly uneven tile against very precise cabinetry makes the difference in craftsmanship immediately apparent, while a similarly irregular worktop or heavily patterned floor may simply create visual competition.

The same principle applies to grout and layout. A close-coloured grout can allow the tile's character to merge across the wall, while a contrasting joint can deliberately highlight every individual piece.

The best approach depends on what you want the eye to notice first - the overall wall, the individual tiles, or the pattern created between them.