Enhance the environment with traditional tiles: the great return of cement tiles and grits

Renovate the kitchen or bathroom in a context of historical recovery, inserting decorated, original or porcelain stoneware carpets.

Granite tiles and cement tiles are traditional covering materials that have passed through the centuries, maintaining their beauty and charm intact.

To renovate the kitchen or other rooms in the house, cement tiles and grits are versatile and decorative materials and are perfect for covering floors and walls in the kitchen.

"Mattonelle Margherita" collection by Mutina
“Mattonelle Margherita” collection by Mutina

The choice of graphics and designs is very wide, the colours and combinations available can integrate with the project. Cementine carpets or decorated grits can be used to create inserts to integrate into the existing floor.

What are cement tiles

They were born in Italy, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, in a period of enormous urban development. The flagship of an Italian tradition, the artisanal production of cement tiles makes them authentic and unique.

Cementine are cement tiles decorated with geometric, floral or figurative motifs. They are a traditional material that has been used to cover floors and walls for centuries and are available in a variety of colours and patterns to suit any decor style. In recent years, cement tiles have experienced a renaissance, becoming a home decor trend. They have been rediscovered by designers and architects, who use them very often in their projects to create elegant and refined environments.

An in-depth look at grits

Grits are cement tiles with a paste composed of granules of marble, granite or other stone materials. They can be used to create complex geometric or figurative patterns.

The grit tiles recall the idea of the Venetian terrace and are made with a mixture of cement, marble dust and rock fragments.

They have a rough and irregular surface, which gives them a unique and original appearance.

"Trama" collection by Ragno
“Trama” collection by Ragno

Special sizes

These are mainly square 20×20 cm formats, to be composed as in a patchwork or to form a decorative motif.

Use in the kitchen

Kitchen coverings with decorated cement tiles and grits have a series of advantages, including:

Elegance and refinement: cementine and terrazzo tiles are elegant and refined materials that can give a touch of personality and character to the kitchen.

Cozy: they give the room a warm and welcoming look, in fact cement tiles are known for their vintage and artisanal look, which can add warmth and a retro touch to your kitchen.

Versatility: Cement tiles and grits are available in a variety of colours, patterns and sizes, to suit any décor style. They can be customised to create a unique and tailor-made design for your environments.

Durability: Cement tiles and grits are durable materials and particularly resistant to wear.

"D-Segni Colore" collection by Marazzi
“D-Segni Colore” collection by Marazzi

How to choose cement tiles in the kitchen

Here are some tips for using terrazzo tiles and cement tiles:

  • For a classic effect, use grit tiles or cement tiles in a single colour;
  • For a more contemporary effect, combine grit tiles or cement tiles with different materials, such as wood or parquet;
  • For a vintage effect, use cement tiles with traditional motifs;
  • For a country chic effect, which we talked about in a previous article on the blog, those with a rustic style are perfect.

In what context can they be used

Granite tiles and cement tiles can be used:

  • To cover a floor or an accent wall in the kitchen or bathroom;
  • To cover an island or peninsula in the kitchen;
  • To cover the top of a bathroom;
  • To create a carpet on a wall or floor.
"Mattonelle Margherita" collection by Mutina
“Mattonelle Margherita” collection by Mutina

The porcelain stoneware version

The porcelain stoneware cement tiles take full inspiration from the original traditional tiles, enhancing them from the point of view of technical performance. This type of tile is able to best adapt to different styles from industrial to country, from contemporary to new vintage.

Many companies in the ceramic sector offer solutions of this type, we have prepared a photographic selection with the examples that most impressed us.