{"id":1109,"date":"2026-09-25T13:55:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T11:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/?p=1109"},"modified":"2026-09-25T13:57:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T11:57:44","slug":"azulejos-zellige-ceramika-wnetrze-srodziemnomorskie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/azulejos-zellige-ceramika-wnetrze-srodziemnomorskie\/","title":{"rendered":"Azulejos, zellige and handmade ceramics: how to use them in a Mediterranean interior without kitsch"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1109\" class=\"elementor elementor-1109\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f2745a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8f2745a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf5ca55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"bf5ca55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"fs-crumbs\"><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/\">Guides<\/a> <span>\/<\/span> <a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/#wnetrza-srodziemnomorskie\">Mediterranean interiors<\/a><\/nav>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6221a49 fs-h1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6221a49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Azulejos, zellige and handmade ceramics: how to use them in a Mediterranean interior without kitsch<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27a4ea5 fs-postmeta elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"27a4ea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-dcb6b01 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/2026\/09\/25\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>25 September 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-cd9f3b8 elementor-inline-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-custom\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7 min read\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3aca8bc fs-lead elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3aca8bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Handmade ceramics can bring light and character to an interior, but they can just as easily turn a home into a tourist tavern. I sort out the names and suggest where and how to lay a pattern, how to choose the colour and grout, and what to watch out for in the kitchen, the bathroom and on the terrace.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bc4716 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0bc4716\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9ad835 fs-hero-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b9ad835\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1542\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1101\" alt=\"R\u0119cznie robione, szkliwione p\u0142ytki w ciep\u0142ych kolorach\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki-1536x1077.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-recznie-robione-plytki-2048x1435.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: Colin Watts \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-665637e fs-art-body e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"665637e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb6b78f fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb6b78f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Few materials evoke the south as quickly as ceramics. A few rows of uneven, glazed tiles above the worktop are enough to give a kitchen warmth. The same ceramics laid everywhere and in every pattern have the opposite effect \u2013 instead of a home by the sea, you get restaurant decor. The difference rarely lies in the tiles themselves. What matters is the type, the scale, the grout and what we deliberately do <strong>not<\/strong> lay.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Names first: what exactly are we buying?<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Azulejos \u2013 the painted Iberian tile<\/h3>\n<p>The word <em>azulejo<\/em> comes from Arabic (in its Andalusian variety, <em>azzul\u00e1y\u01e7a<\/em>) and meant something like \"pebble\" or \"smooth stone\" \u2013 it does not come from <em>azul<\/em>, as is often claimed (<a href=\"https:\/\/dle.rae.es\/azulejo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RAE<\/a>). It is a glazed ceramic tile that the Iberian Peninsula inherited from the Moorish tradition. Whole production centres grew up around it in Spain: Manises near Valencia, Seville, Talavera de la Reina \u2013 Talavera ceramics were added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2019. In 15th- and 16th-century Seville, two techniques developed in turn: <em>cuerda seca<\/em>, in which the colours are separated by a dark line of greasy paste containing manganese oxide, and <em>cuenca<\/em> (<em>arista<\/em>), where the pattern is pressed into the clay, creating shallow \"basins\" for the glaze. Contemporary azulejos are usually tiles of around 13\u201315 cm per side with a painted motif \u2013 beautiful, but very bold.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Zellige \u2013 Moroccan mosaic and its present-day incarnation<\/h3>\n<p>Traditional <em>zellige<\/em> (<em>zellij<\/em>) is a mosaic of small, hand-cut pieces of glazed terracotta, arranged into geometric stars and rosettes. Fez remains the most important centre of production. In catalogues today, however, the name \"zellige\" mainly refers to small square or rectangular tiles of hand-formed clay \u2013 or factory-made tiles that imitate them \u2013 with an uneven face, irregular edges and a play of shades. They are what give a wall that shimmering glow, which looks best in natural light.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Terracotta: <em>barro cocido<\/em>, <em>baldosa de barro<\/em>, <em>rasilla<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>Unglazed fired clay in colours ranging from honey to brick. On the floors of Spanish houses you will find handmade <em>baldosas de barro<\/em>, as well as the thin <em>rasilla<\/em>, traditionally used in vaults and ceilings, among other things. Terracotta is warm to the touch and ages beautifully, but it is highly absorbent \u2013 it needs sealing and periodic renewal.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Cement tiles \u2013 <em>baldosa hidr\u00e1ulica<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>They are often lumped together with ceramics, although they are not ceramic at all. <em>Baldosa hidr\u00e1ulica<\/em> is made from cement mortar with pigments, pressed in a mould, without firing. It became popular from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, and the most refined patterns were created in Barcelona in the Modernisme era (<a href=\"https:\/\/ajuntament.barcelona.cat\/arqueologiabarcelona\/mosaics\/que-es-un-mosaic\/el-mosaic-hidraulic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ajuntament de Barcelona<\/a>). It has a matt, velvety surface and deep colours, but it absorbs stains easily \u2013 it needs good sealing, and acidic cleaning products damage it.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Castell\u00f3n and porcelain imitations<\/h3>\n<p>Spain is one of the world's largest tile producers and, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ascer.es\/en\/the-sector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ASCER<\/a> , around 94% of national output is made in the province of Castell\u00f3n. Many <em>porcel\u00e1nico<\/em> ranges imitating zellige or azulejos are produced there too. Porcelain stoneware has very low water absorption (up to 0.5% under EN 14411), is hard and easy to maintain. It is usually frost-resistant as well, but for outdoor use it is worth checking the technical data sheet. Its weakness can be repetitiveness: the cheapest imitations have a flat print under a perfectly even gloss \u2013 up close they look like a photograph of a tile rather than a tile.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Handmade zellige and azulejos<\/strong> \u2013 a one-of-a-kind texture; higher water absorption, usually not frost-resistant, grout \u2013 and sometimes the tile face \u2013 must be sealed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Terracotta<\/strong> \u2013 warmth and patina; porous, needs regular care, and outdoors only versions declared frost-resistant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cement tiles<\/strong> \u2013 a matt depth of colour; sensitive to stains and acids, good for interiors, use with care in the kitchen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Porcelain stoneware<\/strong> \u2013 practicality and (declared) frost resistance; look for ranges with an irregular face, varied shading and bevelled edges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-628bbba fs-art-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"628bbba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1467\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1102\" alt=\"Azulejos i drewniane drzwi \u2013 Sewilla\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-azulejos-sewilla-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: Darwin Vegher \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfa4f49 fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dfa4f49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Where to use pattern and where to keep it calm<\/h2>\n<p>In my projects one rule applies: <strong>one surface with character per room<\/strong>. A patterned tile works like a painting \u2013 it needs a wall where it can hang on its own. These work well:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>a band above the kitchen worktop<\/strong> \u2013 from the worktop to the hood or shelf, not the whole wall up to the ceiling;<\/li>\n<li><strong>the floor of a small bathroom or cloakroom<\/strong> \u2013 with plain walls, a patterned floor ties the whole room together;<\/li>\n<li><strong>stair risers<\/strong> (<em>contrahuellas<\/em>) \u2013 a classic Spanish detail that brings white stairs to life;<\/li>\n<li><strong>the floor of an entrance hall<\/strong> \u2013 like a rug marking out the entrance area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If the pattern is on the floor, the walls stay calm \u2013 ideally plaster. If the pattern is on the wall, the floor should be plain. Single-colour handmade zellige is a different category: it works as texture, not pattern, so it can be used over a larger area, for example throughout a wet room.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Colour: earth, white and one accent<\/h2>\n<p>At Formentera Studio I build Mediterranean interiors on a palette taken from the landscape: sand, ochre, terracotta, olive, the off-white of lime. I recommend limiting yourself to <strong>two or three colours<\/strong> per room, only one of which is truly saturated. Cobalt and turquoise are beautiful, but in large doses they immediately bring holiday souvenirs to mind; in a single band of tiles by the washbasin, they look refined.<\/p>\n<p>Two things that are most often forgotten:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Grout colour<\/strong> \u2013 a dark, contrasting grout with pale zellige draws a grid and flattens the tile. I choose a grout in the tone of the glaze or half a shade lighter, and with terracotta a warm beige rather than a cool grey.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Matching whites<\/strong> \u2013 the white of the glaze, the plaster, the kitchen fronts and the sanitaryware is rarely the same colour. I compare samples side by side, in daylight. A cool white on furniture next to cream zellige looks dirty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>What to pair ceramics with<\/h2>\n<p>Ceramics need a backdrop against which they can shine. The best partner is <strong>lime plaster<\/strong> (<em>cal<\/em>): matt, slightly uneven and breathable. In bathrooms I also like to use <em>tadelakt<\/em> \u2013 a Moroccan lime plaster compacted with a stone and sealed with soap, with a soft sheen; it works best away from areas in direct contact with running water. Microcement can be quicker to apply, but it has a more uniform, \"urban\" character \u2013 alongside handmade ceramics, lime usually looks more natural.<\/p>\n<p>Add to that stone with a honed rather than polished finish \u2013 travertine, sandstone, marble \u2013 and wood in a natural, oiled tone. For fabrics: linen, cotton, jute, sisal. The rule is simple: the more decorative the tile, the calmer and more matt everything around it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68dae05 fs-art-img elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"68dae05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2200\" height=\"1468\" src=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-1103\" alt=\"Szkliwione p\u0142ytki zellige u\u0142o\u017cone po skosie\" srcset=\"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/formentera.studio\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/poradnik-ceramika-zellige-marrakesz-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2200px) 100vw, 2200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo: Bernd Dittrich \/ Unsplash<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c69e9d fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c69e9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Kitchen, bathroom, terrace \u2013 practical matters<\/h2>\n\n<h3>Kitchen<\/h3>\n<p>On the wall above the worktop, handmade tiles work well, provided the grout is easy to clean (e.g. epoxy, or sealed cement-based grout). Behind the hob it is better to avoid cement tiles and unsealed terracotta \u2013 grease soaks into them permanently.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Bathroom and shower<\/h3>\n<p>Zellige in a shower is possible and very striking, but it calls for care: waterproofing beneath the tiles, low-absorption grout and sealing and, with a heavily crackled glaze, protection for the tile face too. On a shower floor I choose non-slip tiles \u2013 glazed zellige is slippery.<\/p>\n\n<h3>Terrace<\/h3>\n<p>Outdoors, in a climate with frosts \u2013 always in Poland, and in Spain inland and in the mountains \u2013 you need low-absorption tiles with declared frost resistance, in practice most often porcelain stoneware. The second parameter is slip resistance. The Spanish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codigotecnico.org\/pdf\/Documentos\/SUA\/DcmSUA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C\u00f3digo T\u00e9cnico de la Edificaci\u00f3n (DB SUA)<\/a> divides floors into classes 0 to 3 according to slip resistance measured with a pendulum (the Rd value); class 3 means an Rd above 45. The regulation requires class 3 in, among other places, outdoor areas, under showers and around pools \u2013 where people walk barefoot \u2013 and on pool floors up to 1.5 m deep. Formally, the requirement applies to buildings with specific uses, including hotels and other accommodation, schools, retail, offices and places of assembly, not to private houses and flats. At home I treat it as a sensible minimum, especially around a pool. In catalogues these classes are often abbreviated to C1\u2013C3.<\/p>\n\n<h2>The most common mistakes<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Too many patterns<\/strong> \u2013 a patterned floor, kitchen splashback and stair risers in one open-plan space.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mixing traditions<\/strong> \u2013 Moroccan stars next to Portuguese cobalt and Catalan cement tiles. Each is beautiful; together they create a bazaar.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Themed costume<\/strong> \u2013 ceramics, wrought-iron wall lights, plaster arches, amphorae and striped tablecloths. That is the aesthetic of a restaurant, not a home.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The wrong grout<\/strong> \u2013 too wide, too contrasting or grey against warm tiles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A flat, glossy imitation<\/strong> \u2013 a print without texture takes away what we love about ceramics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignoring scale<\/strong> \u2013 a small, dense pattern on a large floor creates visual noise; a large motif in a narrow band gets cut off.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<h2>Contemporary, not themed<\/h2>\n<p>This is how I see a Mediterranean interior at Formentera Studio: it does not recreate decor, but uses the same materials \u2013 clay, lime, stone, linen and wood. Ceramics are one strong accent within it, not a backdrop for everything. Choose one type of tile and one surface. Go for texture rather than ornament \u2013 single-colour zellige in olive or sand often creates more atmosphere than the most intricate pattern. Leave plenty of calm, matt white around it and let the light do its work.<\/p>\n<p>If you are furnishing a home in Spain or want to bring its atmosphere to Poland, order samples of a few tiles and look at them next to the plaster, worktop and wood you are planning \u2013 at different times of day. It is the cheapest way to avoid the most expensive mistake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bde55e0 fs-art elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bde55e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"fs-src-h\">Sources and updates<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"fs-sources-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codigotecnico.org\/pdf\/Documentos\/SUA\/DcmSUA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C\u00f3digo T\u00e9cnico de la Edificaci\u00f3n \u2013 DB SUA, section SUA 1 (version following RD 450\/2022)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/portal.ascer.es\/en\/the-sector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ASCER \u2013 the Spanish ceramics sector<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dle.rae.es\/azulejo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Real Academia Espa\u00f1ola \u2013 entry \"azulejo\"<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/azulejo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Encyclopaedia Britannica \u2013 Azulejo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ajuntament.barcelona.cat\/arqueologiabarcelona\/mosaics\/que-es-un-mosaic\/el-mosaic-hidraulic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ajuntament de Barcelona \u2013 El mosaic hidr\u00e0ulic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ich.unesco.org\/en\/RL\/artisanal-talavera-of-puebla-and-tlaxcala-mexico-and-ceramics-of-talavera-de-la-reina-and-el-puente-del-arzobispo-spain-making-process-01462\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UNESCO \u2013 Talavera de la Reina ceramics (2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"fs-verified\">Information verified: 25 September 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0f6ecc e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f0f6ecc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-558c988 fs-h2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"558c988\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Designing a Mediterranean-style interior?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05ce847 fs-text elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05ce847\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align:center\">Tell me about your plans \u2013 I will be happy to help you find the right direction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-719332b elementor-align-center fs-btn elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"719332b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/en\/contact-us\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Let's talk<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32770a0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32770a0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6455b62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"6455b62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fs-related\"><p class=\"fs-overline\">Guides<\/p><ul class=\"fs-region-list\"><li><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/#wnetrza-srodziemnomorskie\"><span class=\"fs-rl-name\">More: Mediterranean interiors<\/span><span class=\"fs-rl-arrow\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/poradnik\/\"><span class=\"fs-rl-name\">All Guide articles<\/span><span class=\"fs-rl-arrow\">\u2192<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Azulejos, zellige, terracotta or cement tiles? How they differ, where to use them, how to choose the colour and grout \u2013 and how to avoid the tavern look.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1101,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wnetrza-srodziemnomorskie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1109"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1162,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1109\/revisions\/1162"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/formentera.studio\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}