Stunning Japanese tiles, luxury Italian wallpaper: the new trends in wall coverings

There’s a certain thrill, a feeling of fulfilment, that comes with the knowledge that your home furnishings, decor and fixtures are unique. As humans, we often crave individuality: to infer to others that we are our own person.

New Zealanders have been attracted to this idea for decades, but recently a specific trend has crept its way into homes across the country: custom wall coverings. The increased appetite for bespoke tiles, mosaics and wallpaper has resulted in an explosion of options, with many high-end European and Japanese offerings hitting the market to satisfy demand.

Tile Space, one of Aotearoa’s foremost suppliers of commercial and residential tiles, mosaics and wallpapers, have kept their finger on the pulse of these trends for a long time. Sarah Collins, the Commercial Sales Account Manager for Tile Space, says the company’s latest ranges are indicative of shifting tastes.

Tile Space’s newest collection typifies the classic Japanese design sensibilities of cleanness and minimalism. The company recently finalised an exclusive collaboration with Academy Tiles, an Australian company that supplies products from the Nagoya Mosaic Tile Company, a well-regarded Japanese mosaic manufacturer founded in 1938. 

“This is a little sneak peek because it’s still very fresh,” she says, “but we’re super excited to announce that we just signed with Academy Tiles and Surfaces, the exclusive supplier of Nagoya Mosaic Tiles in Australia, to be their exclusive supplier in New Zealand.”

The distinctly Japanese craftsmanship is evident in the look and feel of the tiles, Collins says – with gorgeous handmade finishes, beautiful glazing, and vibrant colours.

“They are perfect for commercial applications such as hospitality, hotels and retail, and some of the ranges have a P4 slip rating which is great for commercial floors.”

In contrast to the understated beauty of the Academy range, luxury Italian glass mosaics are vivid and come in an array of colours. Bisazza, a high-end Italian tilemaker, offers its world-renowned products to New Zealanders through Tile Space – and while they’re known for their luxury mosaic designs, they also offer custom services.

“We are the exclusive agency in New Zealand for Bisazza,” says Collins. “They’re known for their beautiful glass swimming pool mosaics, but they do so much more than that. They have fantastic collaborations with designers, like the House of Fornasetti, to form their own collections – but they also do all sorts of custom designs.

“For example, you can send in a favourite photograph and they can then create a beautiful mosaic version of the image. We once had a client who had been on the trip of a lifetime, and captured a photograph of a gorilla in the wild. It was such a special memory for them, that they wanted to always remember that moment and had it brought to life on a wall in their home.”

The versatility of Bisazza’s mosaics doesn’t stop at what they depict: they can also be installed on almost any surface, including benchtops, tables, splashbacks, floors, ceilings and more. 

This great capacity for personalisation often means no two installations of either Italian brand’s products are the same – and this is the primary reason custom wall coverings are exploding in popularity.

Inkiostro Bianco, another renowned Italian brand specialising in innovative, artistic wallpaper, is another standout, Collins says. Armed with advanced printing technology, a highly contemporary design philosophy, and a renowned attention to detail when commissioned for a custom design, its products are highly sought after.

As the exclusive supplier of Inkiostro Bianco products in New Zealand, Tile Space is well aware of the allure the company’s offering has for New Zealanders – and Collins says the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. 

“They’ve got all their standard designs, which you can take at face value if you want,” says Collins. “But as a customer, you have full control over what you want these designs to look like; they've got all the designs, however, you also have the option to let your creative juices flow!”

Collins outlines the process: first, the client sends Tile Space the dimensions of their space. Tile Space then sends the measurements to the team at Inkiostro Bianco, who then draw a render of how the wallpaper will look in the space – the customer then has the option to provide feedback and adjust the design and look until it’s perfect.

“Once the design is finalised, it’s custom ordered. This means there’s very little wastage in comparison to conventional wallpaper, because the factory only prints for the required dimensions,” says Collins. 

Inkiostro Bianco’s custom range is also waterproof, so it can be used in wet areas, including in showers. It can also come with fibreglass backing, which in addition to providing increased durability, also offers seismic reinforcement. 

“Speaking to our customers, it’s clear people want something unique,” says Collins. “It’s also empowering for them to have the ability to change anything they want in the design, allowing the creation of something inspiring in the space to be enjoyed for years to come.”

Learn more about Tile Space and its exciting new ranges.