February 24, 2025
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Feature
The Design Collective launches, empowering designers to create harmonious spaces using porcelain
Thanks to state-of-the-art technologies, porcelain provides a wealth of creative possibilities. Little wonder it has the design community all fired up.
Highly fired and finely textured, porcelain has been prized for centuries. And in the form of tiles, it presents a plethora of design possibilities for wondrous walls and floors. “The latest technologies allow us to recreate looks such as stone, paint, fabric or timber that are almost impossible to differentiate from the real thing,” says Anton Bourtsev, managing director of leading supplier Kaolin. These offerings are also supremely practical. “They’re scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, heat-resistant and don’t require sealing,” he adds. To help designers and DIYers make the most of this versatile material, Anton has created The Design Collective to show what is possible. “This initiative is the first of its kind in Australia,” he explains. “We wanted to empower designers to create harmonious spaces using high-end porcelain that elevates aesthetics and offers unparalleled customisation.”
Kaolin teamed with Taubmans paints and Blend Concrete Design (manufacturer of concrete furniture and basins) to come up with a design blueprint for its tiles. Architect Sam Alawie from Zane Carter Architects curated virtual rooms to showcase their exciting possibilities, to which Daniela Tippett of Casabela Interiors added the finishing flourishes.
Sam adopted five designs from the Kaolin catalogue as a foundation for a cohesive palette which, says Anton, will “simplify decision-making, allowing designers and architects to create innovative, emotionally resonant spaces”. The quintet comprises the stone inspirations of Calacatta Viola (bold streaks of purple on white), Calacatta Nuvola (white with subtle grey veining), Pink Patagonia (a heady mix of blush, sage and white quartzite) and Rosso Travertine (rich terracotta), with Venato Bianco (evoking Venetian concrete stucco) completing the five.
“Porcelain allows for precise control over colour, texture and pattern, offering both consistency and customisation,” says Sam. “By standardising colours across different materials, The Design Collective eliminates inconsistent hues or mismatched undertones, making it easier to achieve a cohesive, well-balanced aesthetic.” For example, the purple punch of Calacatta Viola can be used as an ‘appetiser’ in hallways, as a schmick kitchen surface, and to create a sanctuary feel in bathrooms, all accentuated by Taubmans hues and Blend’s concrete beauties.
In his task, Sam wasn’t just – er – floored by the many options on offer, he was wowed by the luxe looks that could be achieved. “One of Kaolin’s standout qualities is the 0.5mm grout joints, creating a seamless look like a single, uninterrupted surface and ensuring a high-end finish,” he says.
Anton confirms, “We are seeing huge popularity in larger formats like 900mm x 1800mm. Tiles are not just a simple construction material – they’re a fashion. We would like to see more and more bold designs and applications.”
