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You would put tile in your shower, but would you cover every single surface in your home in small ceramic squares? It sounds impossible, expensive, and slippery, but it can be done, according to Charlotte Taylor. The London-based interior designer, along with 3-D artist Hannes Lippert, dreamed up a house solely made out of DTILE, a super-versatile product crafted in the Netherlands that can curve around edges and support hooks and vents built right into it. As of now, the place only exists in renderings, but the structure could theoretically be brought to life because the material actually exists. “Under-floor heating would be essential, though,” jokes Taylor.
The designer didn’t come up with this fluid approach from scratch—she took inspiration from ’60s-style conversation pits, adobe architecture, and contemporary, tile-clad spaces designed by the studio Arquitectura-G. Other than the fact that the virtual home looks dreamy (the different-colored squares cover the walls, floors, and stairs like one big blanket), it’s clear there are many benefits to using the material all over. These functional ideas, below, will inspire you to think beyond the backsplash.
You Technically Don’t Have to Buy Any Furniture
Because DTILE’s 15-by-15-centimeter squares are designed to wrap around corners, they can be formed into unusual silhouettes, like a kitchen island or sofa. In Taylor and Lippert’s virtual house, seating is built directly into the architecture. In a real-world scenario, that means you would only have to swap out the cushions if you were craving a refresh.
All Your Belongings Have a Place
If the idea of never hanging a shelf again sounds appealing, take note of the recessed niches all over the house. Taylor and Lippert added a vase here and a sculptural object there to show how the alcoves can be used to boast personality. “They were an improvised decision,” says Taylor. “We included them as a playful touch.” Of course, you could re-create these nooks with plaster, but the shiny, shimmery finish of the tiles makes the items it houses feel almost museum-worthy.
Eyesore Appliances Are a Nonissue
The tile fabricator strives for uninterrupted surfaces, so they’ve found a way to integrate ugly kitchen fixtures (i.e., stovetop knobs) seamlessly. The black circles in Taylor’s rendition are really the only thing that stands out from the minty green backdrop. Just when we thought tiled countertops were the worst kitchen trend of the past 50 years, this cohesive display proves the material is fit for a modern home. You’re on your own with cleaning that grout, though.
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