Design Inspiration Blog

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th century. Known for his innovative designs and use of materials, he was also a pioneer in the use of concrete textile blocks in his architectural projects. These blocks, also known as "textile blocks," are made from concrete and were used extensively by Wright in many of his residential designs. The idea of using textile blocks in construction came to Wright in the early 1920s when he was working on a project for the Ennis House in Los Angeles. The Ennis House was designed to be a residence...

Tesselle Cement Tiles are hand-made on a hydraulic press. Here is a general overview of the process: A mixture of cement, sand, and pigment is prepared. The mixture is poured into a mold in thin layers; first liquid colored cement is poured into a mold specific to the design, and then dry cement and sand are placed above. The mold is placed in a hydraulic press, which applies pressure to compact the mixture and remove excess water. The tile is removed from the mold; this process takes 2-4 minutes, depending on the complexity of the design. The tile is then and allowed to cure;...

Aperiodic tilings are a type of tiling where the tiles can fit together in a specific, non-repeating way to cover a surface. Aperiodic tilings were first introduced by mathematician Roger Penrose in the 1970s and have since been studied extensively in the field of mathematics. One of the most famous aperiodic tilings is the Penrose tiling, named after its creator. These tilings are formed using two different types of tiles: fat rhombuses and thin rhombuses. The tiles are arranged in a way that allows them to fit together without forming a repeating pattern, creating a highly intricate and complex tiling. Aperiodic...

"I've created hundreds of water-themed tile designs that have never seen the light of day, and finally found the right inspiration in The Blue Grotto, a naturally underlit cave on the Italian island of Capri, where I witnessed the brightest, deepest shades of blue I've ever seen in nature. I'm excited to finally introduce Grotta Azzurra 8" Cement Tiles by Tesselle," says Karin Jeske. Scroll down to see an additional colorway and to learn more about The Blue Grotto (La Grotta Azzurra in Italian). Above:  Grotta Nebbia Cement Tiles in a random layout. Above:  photo of The Blue Grotto, taken by...