whiteworks – exploring color

white isn’t a color. it’s every color.

what is white? it seems like a straightforward question, but in the world of white tile, it turns out, the answer is anything but simple.

in every discussion of white, you’ll find “experts” who opine that it’s not a color at all, but rather the absence of color. that couldn’t be further from the truth. in reality, every color we see is a product of light – the part of the spectrum an object’s surface most reflects determines what color we perceive it to be.

and white? well, white reflects the entire spectrum. so in a sense, white is all the colors. depending on the material in question, certain parts of the rainbow may be just slightly more prominent than others, giving rise to whites that feel warmer or cooler, clearer or creamier, more sterile or more inviting.

in search of the perfect white tile

it's often said that the Inuit people have 50 words for snow, each reflecting a different state of the white stuff that surrounds them -- fresh, falling, deep, icy. there's more to the story than that, as linguists will tell you, but for our purposes, the analogy holds: In the world of design, white is never just "white."

from Linen to Mist to Gardenia to, yes, Snowfall, there are more variations on white than exhausted paint-color namers can keep up with, with new options appearing every day.

home design publications try to make sense of the dizzying array with top-ten lists, exploring the many tinges and undertones, and illuminating the ways that wall texture, paint finishes and lighting can affect how a given choice will look in your home.

the only sure-fire way to find the perfect shade of white for your space is to sample, sample, sample.

as with paint, so with tile. (only more so.)

tile takes those considerations to a whole new level, with layered materials that refract, reflect and even absorb light in different ways, dimensional forms and textures that cast patterns of illumination and shadow and a whole gamut of grout choices that make white tile look dramatically different in various settings.

classic ceramic subway tile, for instance, has a uniform, glossy surface that reflects light for a bright white appearance that matches its dirt-repelling qualities. alternatively, choose a light-absorbing matte finish, and the effect is more muted (and more modern), but equally clean and classic.

change the base material from porcelain to terracotta, as with our gleaming fornace brioni + clé's casale rustico or satiny architect's palette tiles, and the effect is warmer and more rustic.

choose clé carrara marble, or clé thassos marble, and the crystalline layers of the natural marble will cause light to play differently across every inch of each tile.

and if you like the idea of white, but are more of a maximalist at heart, consider clé calacatta gold or clé calacatta viola for something more expressive and decadent. 

where to begin

those are just a few of the many variations on the theme of white at clé. so how do you find the white tile that's perfect for your project? 

first, think about the space you’re working with, the kind of impact you want tile to make on the space, and how it will be used. whether it’s the natural light coming into the room, the light introduced into it, or even the furnishings in the room. 

also consider whether you're looking for a more uniform look, or one with more variation. more variation means more interest, character, and depth–but sometimes you really do want something more uniform. as you start to peruse our white tile options, keep an eye on the amount of variation (not just in color but in texture and size) you're drawn to.

for the definitive guide on the type and extent of variation you're likely to experience with your choice of white tile, delve into the product specifications on each of our product pages (hint: scroll down.) trust us: doing the homework will be well worth it.

narrow your choices. then, sample, sample, sample. as good as photos, descriptions and online tools may be, there's no substitute for seeing the material where it will ultimately live, in every light, both natural and artificial. 

Next up: What's your tile personality? Find out where our whiteworks series continues…