“Why settle for the mundane when you can surround yourself with beauty?”
A Brief History of Mexican Talavera Tile
Talavera or Mexican tile, which is commonly found in roadside businesses and specialty import stores throughout my new home town of Taos, New Mexico, is a style of Mexican tile with patterns named after the Talavera de la Reina pottery tradition in Spain dating back to the 16th century, hence the name talavera tile.
Once introduced by Spaniards to Central America, the tile-making technique quickly gained in popularity and was in high demand for designs in the churches and monasteries that sprang up as the “new world” took form and expanded.
The Mexican tiles, which are commonly found throughout the southwestern United States, are referred to as such to distinguish them from the pottery crafted in Spain.
The Value of Mexican Talavera Tile in Modern Interiors
As a designer who has spent my entire career working with pattern and color, I was smitten with the signature color palettes found in Talavera tiles the moment I encountered them.
Talavera is noted for its contrasting and often elaborate patterns using rich hues of cobalt blue, joyful yellows, rich greens and contrasting black. Soon, my curiosity inspired experimentation with different patterns, which I discovered could yield striking and elegant results reminiscent of the elaborate designs found in the Moorish Alhambra palace, located in the Andalusia region of Spain.
Intricate Pattern-work, Alhambra, Spain*
The impact of an expertly implemented design in a home, restaurant or hotel foyer cannot be underestimated. Depending on the mood you wish to evoke in the design of specific rooms in your home, these Mexican tiles can be combined to create an elegant statement, capable of transporting you to another world that feels exotic and luxurious.
Whether your wish is to install a wall panel in a walk-in shower, a panel on a patio wall or an entire room with Mexican Talavera tiles, the design and installation can be a bewildering trek or a splendid journey. The deciding factor – and I can’t stress this enough – is taking advantage of a professional eye and expert installation. Truly, there is no need to go it alone, and doing so can make the difference between a room that looks like it missed the mark or a show-stopping environment you won’t want to leave because it inspires joy.
Ceramic and Mexican Tile Design – What to Expect
Timeless bathroom tile designs, exterior portal designs, kitchen countertops and back-splashes can all be achieved with a variety of tile materials, including Mexican Talavera tile. When we work together you can expect to have your bathroom and kitchen tile design ideas explored before tile review, selection, and finalization to be done in the comfort of your own home.
Drawing for walk-in shower in solid and patterned Talavera
Once the perfect design is selected with you, I’ll prepare detailed working drawings to show the desired effect using your chosen tiles for your kitchen backsplash, walk-in shower or even a floor tile design. The next step is the best part–watching your design come to life right in front of you on your walls! See the fantastic results in the photograph below!
I’ve taken great care to find the very best installer in northern New Mexico and we work closely together to be sure every detail is implemented with exacting precision.
See examples of my tile designs using a variety of tile styles.
Walk-in shower wall panel of Mexican Talavera tile, designed by Moya Donnellan
