Blue Leather Alba Ceramic Accent Tiles 10 1/2×10 1/2

Alba is the biggest of the blue leather squares at 10 1/2 by 10 1/2, a ceramic accent tile covering 0.77 square feet a piece. At this size the individual tile becomes a visible element in its own right rather than one unit among many.

Scale changes the argument

A large square in a strong colour behaves differently from a small one. Fewer joints cross the surface, so the blue reads as continuous, and the leather finish keeps that expanse matte instead of turning it into a mirror. Style is recorded as rustic. The body is 3/8 inch. Because pieces are large, a single one out of line shows more than it would in a small format, so setting out deserves attention.

• Fewer joints A 10 1/2 inch square puts far fewer lines across a given area.
• Set out carefully Large pieces make any drift in the grid obvious.

Backsplash is the recorded usage, kitchen the room. Pieces are sold individually at 0.77 square feet, so a modest splashback might come down to a handful of tiles. Large ceramic tiles need a well prepared substrate, because a hollow behind a big piece has more room to flex than one behind a small piece.

• Few pieces needed 0.77 square feet each means small areas take very few tiles.
• Full bedding Large formats want complete coverage of adhesive behind them.

Why we chose it

• Continuous colour Fewer grout lines let the blue read as one surface.
• Quick to set A small splashback can be finished in a handful of pieces.
• No sealing The glaze needs no sealer, only routine cleaning.

Care

A household tile cleaner and a soft cloth keep the finish even. Textured surfaces hold a little more in the grain than polished ones, so a soft brush helps where the tiling meets the surface below it.