NEW IN: Meet Leeway, Our Newest Tile

  

WE'D LIKE TO MAKE AN INTRODUCTION

Meet Leeway, our newest tile. 

  

  

  

Bring color to your kitchen, bathroom, office, or any room with our new vibrant tile. Available in two color groups — Warm Mélange and Cool Mélange — each eight-inch square tile generates prismatic variations, adding a colorful foreground to enliven every space.

  

PRODUCT DETAILS

Pigmented cement tile

Suitable for floor or wall applications

Rated for residential or commercial installations

Handcrafted in Mexico

Sold by the box, 12 tiles per box

  

  

A study in poured colored cement, Leeway reflects Avery Thatcher’s fascination with transforming organic shapes into spontaneous motifs by idiosyncratic applications of hue. Unlike the traditional method of encaustic tile making, where cement is poured into a metal mold to create a uniform pattern, Leeway is made by free-form improvisation of pouring a set number of colors directly onto the cement tile base. Aptly dubbed “Leeway,” the patterned tiles are indicative of their namesake, described as

  

"THE AMOUNT OF FREEDOM TO MOVE OR ACT THAT IS AVAILABLE."

  

Expanding upon Thatcher’s ability to reimagine traditional making methods, Leeway is predicated on an intuitive and experimental approach to color and pattern making. Two color groups — Warm Mélange and Cool Mélange — generate prismatic variations in each eight-inch square tile. Through its randomized placement of colors to form a motif, Leeway provokes a close inquiry into color and pattern. 

  

  

WHAT'S THE STORY

 

Words with our founder, Avery Thatcher:

Tell us about Leeway. 

“It has been a dream come true to ideate, develop, and design Leeway with a team of artisans in Mexico.”

What was the process like?

“We began with illustrations of what I hoped the finished tiles would look like to achieve a consensus on the desired outcome and overall concept.”

How did that work?

“I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the finished tiles were more beautiful than my drawings! When considering the spatial limitations, I can appreciate all the variations of organic shapes I didn’t know were possible. The creativity of the craftspersons truly brings this design to life.” 

What did you have in mind when you designed Leeway?

“Leeway is designed for risk-takers, those who aren’t afraid to break the grid, so to speak. Since each tile is a work of art in its own right, it requires the end user to have faith in spontaneity.”

What makes Leeway different from the other tiles made by Thatcher? 

“The beauty of this collection lies in its ability to create completely unique compositions in every application. No tile will look like another, so it is a prerequisite to trust the process of improvised design.”