Tiles transform a space into a captivating area, inspiring a unique ambiance from casual and relaxed to formal, sophisticated and elegant. Whatever look you want to achieve, tiling can be used to create a distinctive impact, weaving a story of delight into your home and environment.

Design and tile specialists, - Bella Tiles provides a boutique, specialized experience through an expansive choice of beautiful, high quality tiles used to enliven a space and reflect your characteristic style. The Bella Tiles’ in-house designer brings expertise from both residential and commercial developments, helping you to bring your design concept to life.

We take a look at the Bella Tiles extensive tile range, providing insights into a choice of formats or sizes and applications.

Tile Types

Ceramic

Typically made from red or white clay which is fired in a kiln, ceramic tiles are sealed with a protective glaze which maximises durability and prevents the absorption of stains. Additionally, the glaze gives the tile its different colour or pattern, resulting in a wide selection across the design and colour spectrum, making this a popular tile of choice.

Porcelain

Porcelain tiles are generally made by the dust pressed method from clay (usually kaolin) with a finish which is denser, more impervious to water and harder than ceramic tiles. For this reason, glazed porcelain tiles offer durability and are less susceptible than their ceramic counterparts to cracking in very cold temperatures. Porcelain is versatile with a hardiness that makes it ideal for use both inside and outdoors. The tile is available in a choice of finishes: glazed, unglazed, high-gloss and as well as a textured format imitating natural stone.

Natural stone tiles

Natural stone tiles of slate, sandstone, granite and natural marble such as travertine bring a unique essence to the décor environment, offering a variety of design interpretations. While each natural stone has its unique characteristics, they all share the attribute of being a once in a lifetime purchase, retaining their original colour over the years. Longevity is further promoted by special care required by each stone. Our Bella Tile experts will guide you in the best and easiest way of maintaining your tiles, together with the prerequisite sealing to prevent staining.

Sandstone

Composed of sand grains naturally cemented together, sandstone has a rough granular texture. . Found in shades of brown, tan, red, grey pink, white and black, this durable tile can withstand extreme weather conditions, making it ideal for outdoor use.

Travertine

The stone is a type of limestone which forms around mineral spring deposits. If you are looking for a tile with an earthy natural look, travertine makes a good choice. Found in a variety natural earth shades like a variety of browns, rust, beige and tans, this stone is differentiated by its pitted holes which bring a defined, individual look.

Wood look and Concrete look tiles

While natural stone tiles are still used for wall and floor coverings, modern technology recreates the natural, on-trend wood look and concrete look. Inkjet is used on tile surfaces to bring the same décor effect of natural stone while providing a more cost-effective option.

This technology is so sophisticated that it creates the appearance of texture, dimension and colour to resemble natural wood. Coming in a variety of shades from dark to light, this tile creates the warm, intimacy associated with wood.

Concrete

Concrete is another look which is created. Using porcelain, a variety of concrete looks are available - from a poured concrete look to a more textured appearance to even a distressed effect.

Mosaic Tiles

Mosaics are tiny tiles which are used to cover surfaces such as walls, floors and also add a decorative effect. Made from glass, metal and natural stone, mosaics create a breathtaking effect through colour and texture. Their decorative appeal is only limited by one’s imagination, extending from creating a focal point to even being used to create a picture or a scene.

Subway tile

These brick-like tiles, otherwise known as subway tiles are found in an array of different colours and finishes, from matt to polished. The modern interpretation expands the original small, rectangular tile into beveled tile options, creating a breathtaking 3-D effect.

Applications

Application plays a pivotal role when choosing the type of tile. Variables such as the amount of exposure to moisture, amount of traffic will impact on your choice. As a boutique and specialized design company, Bella Tiles takes the intended environment, décor objectives, lifestyle and individual tastes into account when recommending the tile best suited for a particular environment.

Ceramic Tile

An option such as ceramic tiles makes an excellent choice for or commercial areas which have low foot traffic. Known for its wide choice of colours and designs, this tile creates a singular design effect for walls, kitchen, bath counters, showers, lounges, bedrooms, backsplashes and outdoor areas such as residential walk ways or commercial areas where there is moderate traffic. Ceramic tiles can be paired with most furnishings and décor, plus they have the added advantage of longevity while maintaining their original colour without scratching.

Porcelain Tile

Resistant to moisture, scratches and frost, porcelain tiles are sufficiently durable for use outdoors. Keep in mind that outdoor porcelain tiles must not be polished to avoid them becoming slippery when wet. Porcelain tiles also make an eye-catching addition to the kitchen or bathroom areas, coming in a variety of designs and colours.

Marble

The veining of marble creates an arresting impression for countertops in the kitchen or vanity surfaces in the bathroom. This seamless slab brings a sense of timeless elegance to its environment with a richness that creates ongoing interest.

Marble has many different applications. It works well as a backsplash, feature wall and bar top. Qualities such as its resiliency to traffic make it a good option for flooring, while its heat resistance makes it an ideal countertop in the kitchen.

While different marble has varying degree of hardness, this natural stone is susceptible to scratches. Sealing the marble needs to be done regularly to protect against staining.

Sandstone Tile Application

This tile has a number of different applications from wall, pillars, ceilings and balustrades to a more decorative function for both indoor or outdoor spaces. Their capacity to withstand extreme hot or cold environments reinforces their durability, making them ideal for usage in outdoor areas such as for walkways and steps. While sandstone has great functionality, they can be used as beautiful ornamental tiles.

Mosaic Tile Application

Mosaics allow you to bring your individual stamp to your home. Suitable for indoors or outdoors and in fact any room of the home, mosaics have many application options such as having a mosaic wrap around the room or as a decorative inset into a tiled wall to create interest and character. Mosaics also have the added benefit if there is uniform colour throughout, serving to enliven the space break up the monotony of a single colour.

Subway tile Application

Subway tiles work well for shower walls and backsplashes. Variation and interest can be created in various ways such as using darker grout to bring a dynamic edge to all-white subway tiling. Using the subway tile to create a herringbone effect, the tiles can contribute both functionally and artistically as an inset to a wall design. The classic subway style can be reinvented such as using a beveled option or bright colours to bring a modern edge to this timeless tile format.

Enhancements

Listello

Listello is a thin band of tile which can have relief elements often used to create an interesting finish which enhances the overall tiling effect. Whenever laying wall tile in large quantities, it's always a good idea to add a listello or chair rail for greater visual interest.

Listello can be used to create a visual break in tiles stretching from floor to ceiling, creating a breather which adds vitality. Trendy and decorative, this three-dimensional textured tile enhances the tile area, creating a visual contrast which draws further attention to the tile design.

Bullnose

Bullnose tiles are fashioned as a rounded convex trim which can be used to cover corners or eliminate sharper angles or coverup unfinished sides on the floor or wall. Bullnoses are used to create a sophisticated, seamless effect, rounding off the tile application.

Finishing Touches

Tiling is an effective way of changing the look and feel of a space. Whether you’re looking to renovate, upgrade or make a statement And, while tiles offer protection of surfaces, they also create an elegant look and feel, making a statement which enhances the day to day experience of a space.

With all of these options, you may be wondering just where to start. That’s where the Bella Tiles team comes in – providing expertise and design know-how. Our boutique specialization facilitates a personalized understanding of your design needs and objectives, helping you to create the exact look and feel you want. We invite you to let us spoil you with our designer coffees while providing you with expertise on planning and the best choices for your lifestyle and requirements.