Q&A with Sabine Marcelis on her new tile collection

1. How did this tile collection begin, what sparked it for you?

I’ve always worked with colour and material as objects you encounter in a single moment, something sculptural. The idea of taking that same language and letting it wrap a space was incredibly exciting. With these tiles, colour becomes atmosphere rather than accent; it’s always in your peripheral vision, shifting with the light and influencing the mood of the room. What I look forward to most is seeing how people use them creatively. That’s the joy of making a collection for a wider audience, it takes on a new life in the hands of others.

2. Why glass, what made it the right material for this collaboration?

Glass was a natural choice. It holds depth, reflection, and clarity in a way few materials can. By applying colour behind the thickness of the glass, the light has a journey: it enters the material, hits the pigment, and returns filtered and transformed. You see colour through the material, not painted on top, which is an effect I always pursue in my work. Glass also sits beautifully between engineered precision and a sense of craft. It can be extremely controlled, yet it keeps traces of unpredictability that bring softness and life.

3. Tell us about the two finishes, FROSTED MATTE and GLOSSY, and how they shape the experience.

The GLOSSY amplifies everything. Light bounces, reflections appear, and the colour feels very present, almost liquid and extroverted. The FROSTED MATTE absorbs and diffuses light, softening the tone and making it more grounded and calm. I love that the collection offers both energies. You can heighten the colour or mute it, or combine the finishes for an even richer effect.

4. Why the three formats — 10×10, 10×20, and 10×30 cm?

Scale changes the reading completely. Small tiles with visible grout create a pixelated, rhythmic field where light breaks at every joint. It becomes graphic and textural. Larger formats act more like a continuous sheet of colour, closer to how I work with material in my installations. Including multiple formats gives people the freedom to go subtle or expressive, depending on the space.

5. How do you imagine these tiles being used in real spaces?

Both quietly and boldly. If you keep a single tone, the tiles become a serene, atmospheric backdrop. When you start playing with layout, scale, or finish, they turn into something sculptural and expressive. Because the colours shift with the light and the material holds real depth, the tiles will always add a sense of life, whether used in small accents or across an entire room. I’m excited to see the interpretations out in the world.

6. Is there a feeling or atmosphere you hope the collection conveys?

The palette reflects the colours I return to often, warm and vibrant at the core, with soft tones and playful accents. I wanted a family of shades that could feel uplifting and joyful, but also incredibly serene when used across large surfaces. Some tones are candy-like and energetic; others are diffused and quiet. Together they let you tune a space from calm to spirited without ever tipping into something overwhelming. My hope is that the tiles create spaces that feel emotionally rich, where colour, light, and material come together in a way that feels alive, honest, and beautifully simple.