With its pearly reflections and irregular edges, the Zellige has found its place in the interiors in search of character. Made in Morocco from terracotta, these small tiles, raw or enameled, seduce with their deep colors and their artisanal charm, right in the current trend.
Zellige was born in the region of Fez, Morocco, where it has been handcrafted since the 10th century. Long reserved for Arab-Andalusian architecture, it was mainly used to decorate the walls and the fountains. This mixture of unrefined clay and water is shaped by hand before being dried and then baked in the oven. It is then the enamel powders which they are covered with which give them these multiple frozen shades that we love so much.
Kitchen, bathroom: the different uses of zellic
Kitchen credenza, bathroom wall tiles, table tray … The Zellige is essential in all rooms in the house, in its simplest device, as very worked.
On the wall: Resistant to projections, fat and above all very waterproof if it is enamelled, the Zellige is ideal in water rooms. In credenza in the kitchen, in a shower wall in the bathroom, in earthenware in the toilet, the walls love it in a united shade and laid in a linear manner. It can also be used on the outdoor walls to give a riad side to its terrace or patio.
On the ground: In a bathroom, a kitchen or on a terrace, Zellige tiles create an incredible decor once placed on the ground. Linear installation, rafters or metro tiles, it’s up to you.
On a table: If we discover the Zellige more on the dinner tables for the garden, he gains ground in our interiors to cover low tables, hair, but also served. If you have bet on him as a credenza in the kitchen or the bathroom, you can also extend the tiles on the worktop for a very bohemian and artisanal aesthetic.
To the question, can you ask your own sprang in Zellige, we answer yes. But subject to being extremely meticulous. Note that its naturally irregular rendering offers you a small right to error when laying the tiles. The latter is done on board, without crossbar, in order to obtain the finest joints as possible. Very friable, the Zellige requires great delicacy during the cut. It is therefore recommended to use a diamond saw. If you embark on the creation of patterns with many cuts, it is strongly advised to call on a professional to avoid an approximate rendering.
Ultra robust, Zellige has the quality of resisting many assaults. If it is installed outdoors, it will support the cold very well and even frost, if the tiles have been made with respect for traditions. Ditto for hot inside. It risks nothing if a frying pan that comes out of the fire is placed on the tile. However, these are not reasons for neglecting its regular maintenance. If it supports detergent products perfectly, we still prefer to clean it with black soap or flax oil soap so as not to attack it too much. To be monitored over time: cement joints that damage and weaken your table or credenza. To avoid their deterioration, you just have to repill the joint with tiling glue as soon as a crack or a small hole appears.
What is the price of Zelliges?
Handcrafted material par excellence, the Zellige tile costs much more than a classic industrial tiles. Count on average between 90 and 150 euros/m². The price may vary from single to double if you decide to add more or less complex patterns. To this can also be added the price of the installation by a professional.
