Project Overview

The showroom is designed to embrace the principles of Kaolin, the culture it was built on, and to celebrate its sustainable and colourful products. By combining modern oriental elements with modern luxury, the space celebrates the versatility and showcases the products as one of the jewels of an interior.

Organisation

Kaolin Tiles

Team

Afrin Basheer - Interior Designer
Staun Rasmussen - National Sales Manager
Rita Bourtsev - Director

Project Brief

The brief was to design a showroom that embraces the principles of Kaolin, the culture it was built on, and celebrates the 100% sustainable tiles, their versatility, and colorfulness. The primary goal was to demonstrate the brand's products and present them as one of the jewels of interior design. The showroom is located in a 400m² warehouse, and it was essential not to merely fill the space with tiles but to combine oriental design with metropolitan luxury.

To achieve this, a gallery-type flow and feel were created that housed specific key areas designed to enhance communication and invoke play and creativity. Raw and warm materials were used throughout the showroom to balance the use of color. The centrepiece of Kaolin Tile Gallery holds ‘Bar Sodalite,' and discretely displayed to the side is the tea ceremony area. These two spaces represent both design styles under one roof.

The products selected for the bar, such as the use of Kaolin Endless vein® in Breche de Benou on the counter, infinitely connect as it curves together with a showstopping Sodalite Blue tile to set a high-end luxurious tone. The use of technologically advanced sustainable porcelain tiles to frame the bar and concept areas, paired with brushed brass elements, and spotted gum herringbone wood platform, creates synergy and a wow factor.

Project Innovation/Need

The design of the Kaolin showroom is a testament to what can be achieved when colour, material, and craftsmanship are intertwined to create a beautiful symphony. The use of the brand’s product in the creation of a bar, tea area, and Art installations harmonize together not only creating different experiences for the users but also breaking the stereotype of a run-of-the-mill tile showroom.

The tiles used throughout the interior of the showroom are not only technologically innovative materials but also green-certified and sustainable. The use of Porcelain tiles to complete the bar proved not only to be budget friendly but also showcased the use of the material in a non-traditional way. It is proof that you do not have to break the bank to achieve a luxurious design that not only is sustainable but also fuss-free. The space gives the users different experiences, be it relaxing at the tea area, celebrating at the bar, viewing the large format tile displays, or admiring the art installation.

Design Challenge

Designing in a warehouse that had exposed ceilings, wiring, and pipes was a challenge. The solution was to incorporate the existing elements into the design. Framing the luxury large formats like artwork in the warehouse, no one has ever seen a tile showroom like it. An art installation in collaboration with ARM architecture elevates the space, emphasizing it as a gallery. Celebrating tiles as jewels leaves the user in awe and appreciation.

The timing was challenging as well, having set the date of Saturday Indesign on the 21st of May, which was a solid deadline. The stainless steel mirrored cone for the Art Installation was installed just the afternoon before the opening.

Sustainability

Kaolin Tiles Gallery is so far exclusively the only tile supplier in Australia that holds a Level A GreenRate Certificate from Global GreenTag, which is recognized by the Green Building Council of Australia for all its products. This means every tile on display and built in the showroom from the product is 100% sustainable. The true value and importance of the project lie in the level of luxury that is displayed and can be achieved with Kaolin tiles. Bar Sodalite is not only a centrepiece to the showroom design but is a sustainable strategy to demonstrate and communicate, that this unmistakable luxury compared to natural stone is affordable and maintenance-free. The variety demonstrates that they strongly believe that green products can be affordable and used on large-scale projects making an impact on the planet and the environment.