The Kitchen Design Story

Buying one’s parent’s house can be an excellent option for those wanting to keep their family home in the family — and that’s just what this design client did. As is often the case, the dark, closed-in kitchen needed updating, allowing the new homeowner to inject her own style.

The homeowner wanted to open the floorplan of the traditionally styled kitchen to create a lighter, more modern aesthetic. Kristie Holloway with KBF Design Gallery in Orlando, Florida, came to the rescue with a new floorplan that removed the wall dividing the kitchen and family room and included a large island in the center of the larger space. The client was interested in a green-colored island, so the KBF team steered her toward Sherwin William’s Rosemary because the dark sage green with gray undertones would make a dramatic statement. (Rosemary happens to be Sherwin Williams' color of the month for November!)

Additionally, the homeowner wanted to remove the area next to the refrigerator in the original plan, but the discovery of a load-bearing wall changed the plan. KBF came up with a clever alternative for the space: a coffee bar/beverage station with a barrel ceiling, rich wood cabinetry, and floating shelves.

The kitchen design also included relocating the appliances and designing a focal point to create the wow factor for the entire space. A stunning range hood was custom-built on-site, and a local artist designed and applied the plaster finish.

The homeowner had the idea to use Zellige tiles for the kitchen backsplash to compliment the custom range hood and bring a modern, yet timeless look to the space. The design team presented her with Zellige from our Mestizaje ceramic tile collection for the backsplash, and she loved it! The handcrafted aesthetics of zellige tile combined with durability, easy maintenance, and standard installation procedures of the ceramic look-alike made Mestizaje an easy choice. At first, the homeowner was interested in the matte version, but later, she and the design team decided the glossy finish would reflect light better and add some glimmer to the space. We think the glossy finished Zellige tiles were the perfect choice for this kitchen and living area’s focal point!

Before: The traditional kitchen was closed in and dark.

After: Removing a dividing wall, repositioning appliances, and creating a stunning focal point with a custom range hood and a Mestizaje Zellige tiled backsplash transformed the outdated kitchen into a bright, modern space perfect for living, dining, and entertaining. 

More About Zellige Tiles

Zellige artists in Fez, Morocco

Zellige (also spelled zellij or zillij and pronounced "zee-LEEJE ") tile is a glossy (usually, but sometimes unglazed), striking Moroccan tile that has taken the design world by storm in recent years. There are plenty of fabulous tiles to choose from, but few with as much history and influence as the Moroccan zellige tiles. While the shimmery tiles feel so fresh and so “now,” zellige tiles have, in fact, been around for thousands of years. Zellige fragments from Tunisia, possibly dating from the mid-10th to the mid-11th centuries, suggest that the technique may have developed in the western Islamic world around that period.

Authentic zellige tiles are made meticulously by hand, crafted from unrefined clay (primarily composed of kaolinite) found in Fez, Morocco. Artisans press the clay mixture into squares in a grid and let it dry out. They then use a shaping block and hammer to smooth the tile and cut it into a more precise shape and size. The zellige artist stencils patterns onto the tiles for more intricate patterns and shapes and then hand-carves the design into the surface. Enamel glazing is applied by hand, and only to the front.

Zellige-making is considered an art itself, passed from generation to generation by master artisans. It requires long training, which usually begins in childhood. An average zellige apprenticeship lasts ten years! Fortunately, the Moroccan government no longer allows children under 15 to work at jobs that are hazardous or impede their education. 

Zellige Tile Installation

While there is no denying the beauty of authentic zellige tiles from Morocco, there are a few hurdles that can make the tiles impractical for some homeowners. First, not every tile installer is prepared to install these handmade tiles, and this is definitely not the time to DIY your tile project. Zellige tiles are beautiful because they are hand-cut, but it’s challenging to get a flat, even surface with these tiles—edges will protrude somewhat rather than lay flsh, making the tiled surface tricky to clean. The edges of the tile are also quite sharp, so the unevenness (which admittedly adds charm) can cause them to snag fabrics (or your skin) when wiping the tiles down. The only way to get around that is to have your installer sand every edge of every single tile.

Another tricky installation issue concerns the grout. All the zellige installation guides say you should not use a grout joint. The tiles should be butt jointed, with no spacers, right up next to each other. Ideally, there should be no space between the tiles and no visible grout (some installers use a very thin 1/16th-inch joint). How do you get invisible or nearly invisible grout joints with these irregular tiles? You must hire a skilled installer with experience installing zellige tiles. These installation issues can add to some serious extra labor costs. 

Material Costs

As one of Morocco's most valued and recognizable art forms, zellige tiles are not inexpensive— just one square foot can cost as much as $50. If you are a perfectionist and want a more uniform look, you may want to increase your tile order by 20-25 percent because a number of tiles will have imperfections, ranging from hairline cracks and edge chips to pits and chips through the glaze. Additionally, you will need to seal unglazed Zellige tiles. If your glazed tile will be exposed to moisture, you need to seal the tile to protect the grout and any cracks, crazing, or pits. You may need to reseal the tiles periodically as well. 

Zellige Tile Alternatives 

Fortunately, for those who would rather avoid the trickiness of installation and maintenance, as well as higher material costs, ceramic zellige-look tiles are an excellent alternative for the timeless, yet very much on-trend tile style. Our Mestizaje Zellige tile for floors and walls offers the look of the handmade tiles at a fraction of the cost. Standard installation procedures with .04 mm grout (a little more than 1/8”) apply, so you do not need to hire a zellige expert to install them. The zellige-look tiles do not require sealing, and clean up is a breeze with nothing more than a sponge, warm water, and liquid-neutral soap.

Our Mestizaje tile collection comes in two looks, Zellige Moroccan-look tile and Chateau, inspired by French Terracotta. The tiles are suitable for interior and exterior walls, interior floors dry, interior floors wet, and pool/fountain waterlines.

Mestizaje Zellige

Mestizaje Chateau

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