TOTAL TEXTURE

By Bailey Badillo

It all began with a vision of something different—a luxury tile unlike any other. Designer Alfonso Verduzco wanted to create something truly extraordinary, something that would stand out from the competitors.

“I didn’t know that I wanted to design tile at first,” Verduzco says. “Based on my experience with high-end designs around the country, in all these projects the focus is on beautiful kitchens or furniture, but the focus is not the walls. I never saw a tile treatment on a wall that was more than just the tile.”

And so, he began his quest for the perfect material and processes. Drawing on centuries of traditional tile-making techniques, Verduzco scoured the globe only to discover the finest materials were right at home.

“I knew there was one place about an hour and a half outside Oaxaca City, just didn’t know where it was,” he says. “I wanted to work with Mexican artisans, because I knew they could get my vision and I wanted to keep traditions alive.”

Originating from Mexico in a small town outside of Oaxaca, Verduzco knew he wanted his work not just to serve high-end design, but represent who he is through modern art. Even though he found the place, it was a long process to create the collection he had in mind—because what he had in mind had never been done before.

“The techniques I sent, they had never seen before. When I show it to people and they grab the tile, they think I’ve never seen that and never would’ve thought of that,” Verduzco says.

After much refinement, Verduzco developed a tile that would eventually win awards. Just what are his unique processes? From the agave thorn to volcanic smoke, these luxury tiles include a rich story, art in its purest form.

“The tiles are very elegant, sophisticated looking, they don’t scream Mexico,” Verduzco says. “But, when I tell the story, my clients begin to understand the art they’re installing in their powder bedroom, entryway. When they truly understand besides getting something so beautiful and elegant, there is a story behind each tile that makes it so special to the client.”

There are currently five luxury tiles in this award-winning collection. Each name is in dialect from his home state and has a meaning for that specific tile.

TSIRI (MAZORCA, OR CORN COB)

After polishing this beautiful tile, it’s hit with a mazorca, a corn cob, for a unique and one-of-a-kind design. When there are many tiles lined up together, it creates a beautiful texture.

XUNAMI (VOLCANIC ROCK)

Oaxaca is home to some of the most famous active volcanoes in the world, such as the Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl. As a result, volcanic rock can be seen in buildings and flooring. These luxury tiles include actual pieces of volcanic rock from Oaxaca, carefully implemented to create a never-before-seen tile.

AKAMBA (AGAVE)

This tile includes actual pieces of the akamba, or agave thorn. It can’t be any agave, however, to achieve the right texture and design, these plants have to age 10-15 years first.

CHURI (DARKNESS)

This might be the most minimalist design within the collection, but the process to achieve this look is far from simple. Rather than being painted, this clay has smoke transfused into it from an underground fire pit until it is fully blackened, then polished and refined.

CHIPIRI (FIRE)

Inspired by the Churi collection, this tile is coming soon and is about representing everyday objects from childhood. When heading to someone’s home for dinner, there weren’t the typical stoves in homes, but instead, clay pots over fire pits that would get smoke stains over time, from which Verduzco took inspiration. Using the same racota clay, this tile receives bits of transfused smoke from the underground pit to create a work of art.

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