Collection: Riviera

The texture is what gives Riviera its personality. Rather than a completely flat glazed surface reflecting light in one consistent direction, the subtle ripples break that reflection up into softer highlights and shadows.

That becomes more noticeable across a larger wall. Instead of simply seeing a block of colour, you start to notice small changes as the light moves across the surface. It can make a relatively simple tiled wall feel much more layered without needing a decorative pattern.

The effect is particularly lovely in natural light, but directional wall lighting can bring it out too. If you're planning to use Riviera somewhere that receives strong side-on light, expect the texture to become a more prominent part of the finished look.

The colour changes the character of the ripple quite dramatically. Olive and Viridian Green have a natural, slightly earthy quality, while Blue introduces a cooler depth. Soft Pink brings warmth without feeling too strong, and Pearl and White create a much lighter backdrop where the surface texture becomes the main source of interest.

With the stronger colours, I'd resist the temptation to match every surrounding finish. The ripple is already adding another layer of visual detail, so natural timber, simple stone and quieter painted surfaces can give the tile enough space.

The lighter shades offer more freedom to introduce contrast elsewhere. A dark vanity or metalwork, for example, can make White or Pearl Riviera feel much more contemporary than the tile's traditional influence might initially suggest.

One of the more interesting things about a textured gloss tile is that its appearance depends partly on where you're standing. On a completely flat tile, the colour tends to remain relatively consistent as you move around the room. Riviera's ripples create small changes in reflection, so the surface can appear slightly different from different angles.

That's why it can be worth thinking about the position of mirrors, windows and lighting when deciding where to use it. A wall that catches light from the side will reveal considerably more texture than one illuminated directly from the front.

It also means Riviera doesn't necessarily need a bold colour to make an impact. White or Pearl can be surprisingly effective over a larger area because the interest comes from the surface itself rather than relying entirely on colour.

The laying pattern can either allow Riviera's texture to dominate or make the individual tile shapes more apparent. A traditional brick bond gives the wall a familiar rhythm, while stacking the tiles creates cleaner lines and lets the rippled surface become more of the focus.

Grout makes a similar difference. A closely matched grout reduces the visual interruption between tiles, allowing the ripples and changing reflections to carry the design. A contrasting grout draws a stronger outline around each piece, which can make the overall installation feel more graphic.

With Riviera, I'd generally decide how much emphasis you want on surface texture versus tile pattern before choosing the grout. If the attraction is the way light moves across the ripples, a quieter joint will usually give that effect more room to breathe.