Tile “Gzhel” is a combination of blue and white, floral ornament, invariably associated with naturalness, purity and serenity. Sometimes floral-herbal motifs can be interspersed with images of animals, fairy-tale characters, scenes from rural life..
Today, the interior with elements of Gzhel luxury is exclusivity and a demonstration of one’s own sophistication and good taste..
One easy way to add authenticity to a room is to use ceramic tiles in a distinctive blue and white style..
Peculiarities
Today Gzhel is known not only in Russia, but also abroad. This folk craft takes its origins in the village of Gzhel, Moscow region, famous for its deposits of original colored clay.
At first, artisans made pottery, painting it with blue and white patterns. Then the products became more elegant, began to be covered with glaze and gained popularity..
Modern ceramics in the Gzhel style are distinguished by their strength and increased abrasion resistance, which is achieved by high-temperature firing of tiles. The elements of the painting and the glazing composition are bonded together during the firing process, forming a single thinnest layer. This protects the drawing from abrasion and burnout..
Low porosity and water absorption of the material within 10-15% allows you to use it for bathroom and kitchen decoration, without fear for the quality and durability of the decorated surfaces. Thanks to the glazed coating, the tiles are easy to clean, but you should choose a material of class A or B. Such options are resistant to aggressive environments, they can be washed often with cleaning agents.
Designer Tips
When choosing tiles using the Gzhel technique, it should be remembered that they are quite active “characters” of the interior, so they need to be used in limited quantities, carefully choosing companions.
Remember that Gzhel does not tolerate a variety of accessories, unnaturalness. As for furniture, you should choose products of simple geometric shapes in a natural shade.. Below are the recommendations of designers that will help you organically fit the tile into the interior..
Styles
Gzhel ceramic tiles look harmoniously in interiors of classic and modern styles. Stylish and original tiles are located in rustic styles (country, rustic, Russian style), as well as in Scandinavian and stylized country interiors.
Gzhel motifs look best on well-lit surfaces. However, even if you follow this recommendation, excess blue can make the room cold and uncomfortable. In dark rooms, blue should be used in dosage..
- The best option is to choose tiles with more blue and white. A good option would be to combine Gzhel with other natural warm colors: green (herbaceous, olive), all variations of brown, coral, warm yellow. With the right combination of tiles with gold and a small amount of black, stylish solutions are obtained..
- A win-win option – the light walls of the room with the design of one of them in the Gzhel style are combined with snow-white furniture and white and blue textiles.
- If you have a delicate taste, then combine tiles with deep blue, adding accents and decor in the Gzhel theme.
The coldness of the blue in the material perfectly “balances” natural wood. As a rule, this is the floor, countertop or kitchen set. Unusual, but at the same time very calm decisions can be achieved by supplementing the Gzhel with golden or bronze details. There should be few of them, for example, furniture fittings, a chandelier, decorative elements, a mixer.
Chinese and Delft porcelain in blue and white tones, due to its style, is close to Gzhel, therefore it is optimally combined with it. It is noteworthy that not only dishes can be “porcelain”. So, for example, a kitchen sofa looks stylish, the upholstery of which demonstrates Dutch landscapes and so resembles Delft porcelain.
We must not forget that Gzhel is a self-sufficient element of the interior, and its inept use can overload the room.. When using tiles in the traditional blue-white color scheme for Gzhel, it should be no more than 80% of the total area of the room.I am. That is, if some part of the kitchen (usually the apron area) is decorated with Gzhel tiles, then the rest of the surfaces should be light monochromatic shades of a calm texture. Please note that the kitchen unit may be white or blue..
At the same time, tiles should be “supported” with other accessories in the same style. However, Gzhel should not be furniture or textiles, but for example, dishes, small accessories.
Ornament
Tiles with large ornaments look good in large rooms. For more modest rooms, it is better to choose tiles with a small pattern.. An excellent option is to decorate one of the walls with tiles, painting all other walls in beige or another pastel color.
Combining Gzhel tiles with other patterns will help to avoid boredom and monotony. – small peas, cells, stripes. It is good if the drawings will be present on the upholstery of furniture, textiles, accessories, dishes.
An overview of the Gzhel tile is presented in the video below.
