Collection: Mediterrano

Mediterrano has proportions that naturally draw the eye along the wall. That makes it particularly effective across wide splashbacks or full-height walls, where the length of the tile can reinforce the architecture of the space.

The format becomes even more interesting when you change its direction. Laid horizontally, those long lines can make a wall feel broader and more expansive. Turn the tiles vertically and the emphasis changes completely, creating a stronger sense of height.

Because the surface is matt and the colour variation is restrained, the format itself becomes much more noticeable. There isn't a glossy surface or heavily varied glaze competing for attention, so the proportions of the tile have room to create the visual rhythm.

A gloss tile constantly interacts with its surroundings, reflecting windows, lights and nearby surfaces. Mediterrano does much less of that. Its matt surface absorbs more of the light, allowing the colour to appear softer and more consistent across the wall.

That's particularly useful with stronger shades such as Blue, Orange and Golden Clay. Instead of the colour becoming highly reflective or changing dramatically with the light, the matt finish gives it a more grounded quality.

The softer shades - White, Cream, Bone and Sage -can consequently feel very calm over larger areas. Rather than relying on texture or reflection to create interest, the design comes from the relationship between colour, proportion and the rest of the room.

Because Mediterrano is visually restrained, you can take the surrounding materials in several directions. Natural timber and stone will reinforce its softer, earthy qualities, while crisp cabinetry and darker fittings can make the long format feel much more contemporary.

With the stronger colours, I'd be inclined to keep the larger surfaces around them relatively quiet. That isn't because the tile can't handle contrast; it's because the 5 × 40cm format already creates a strong visual line across the room. Adding another prominent pattern can compete with that rhythm.

There is also no need to match the tile colour exactly elsewhere. A Golden Clay tile alongside warm timber, for example, can feel more natural than trying to reproduce the same shade in the cabinetry. Look for relationships between tones rather than identical colours.

Mediterrano's long proportions make the grout particularly influential. With a closely matched joint, the individual tiles begin to visually merge, allowing the wall to read almost as a series of long bands of colour. A contrasting grout makes each 5 × 40cm piece much more obvious and creates a stronger linear pattern.

That distinction becomes especially noticeable when changing the orientation. Horizontal tiles with contrasting grout can emphasise width and create a very graphic effect. Vertical tiles can produce a much stronger sense of height, with the joints pulling the eye upwards.

For a calmer installation, I'd generally keep the grout close to the tile. If you're deliberately using the format as part of the design, a little more contrast can turn the grout lines into a feature in their own right.