Design Alert: Rorschach Tile Collection

Okay, I totally understand that my fascination with all the latest developments in tile might be bordering on just a tad tiresome. And yes, I am mightily impressed by how tile can now come looking just like planks of wood or in fancy brocade-like designs. But, how can I not point out these fabulous creations that popped up in my email box last week? Suddenly patterns reminiscent of personality tests (or, for some, of LSD trips) have turned up formulated on stone. Paul Simmons and Alistair McAuley of the Scottish firm Timorous Beasties designed the Rorschach Tile Collection. You have a choice of five different designs; each one is hand lithographed on 12- by 12-inch limestone or Thassos marble tiles. The line is being distributed by clé (cletile.com), an online tile boutique based in Sausalito, California. This tile, Omni Splatt, runs $60 per square foot for the limestone; $75 per square foot if you order it in marble. Just imagine how smashing a bathroom or backsplash would be with a dash of these. Geesh. Tile has traveled a long road from the ol’ classic white square.