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Color Spotlights

Color Spotlight: Get Matte White with Calcite

By Blair Hagensen

Color Spotlight: Get Matte White with Calcite

If you’re looking for a sophisticated matte white tile, our radiant Calcite glaze is just the ticket. With its matte finish and a hint of barely-there beige undertones, Calcite gives white a contemporary twist that’s sure to be a breath of fresh air anywhere in the home, including kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and beyond.

Featuring a soft, smooth appearance and minimal color variation, the understated elegance of Calcite makes it a favorite in Scandinavian and minimalist design–although the versatility of the white glaze means it fits beautifully into virtually any aesthetic.

Matte White Calcite Tile

Tile Shown: Calcite

Calcite isn’t just pretty to look at, it’s also an ideal choice for floors. An impressive breaking strength of 393 lbs per foot makes our recycled clay body stronger than your average porcelain tile, and this glaze is slip-resistant with DCOF value above .42.

Of course, Calcite is stunning as floor and wall tile. The modern kitchen below demonstrates how an edited aesthetic can leave a lasting impression thanks to a symmetrical backsplash of Calcite set amongst sleek wood cabinetry. The non-reflective glaze perfectly matches the natural motif of this sun-drenched space.

Warm modern kitchen with matte white tile backsplash and natural wood cabinets

Tile Shown: 2x8 in Calcite // Design: Danielle Beaulieu AIA, - lieu // Image: Aimée Mazzenga

Calcite is more than just a blank slate–its matte finish lends itself to a modern look, giving even the most timeless designs a fresh perspective. We love how the Brownstone Boys took classic design elements and made them shine in this primary bathroom, expertly pairing white square tile in an offset pattern with charcoal hexagon tile across the floor.

Midcentury modern bathroom with white square tile backsplash and black-grey hexagon tile floor

Tile Shown: 6x6 in Calcite, 4” Hexagon in Carbon // Design: The Brownstone Boys // Image: The Brownstone Boys, Bridget Badore

If you’ve fallen in love with one of our handmade ceramic tile shapes, Calcite is an excellent glaze choice to bring the shape to the forefront. The kitchen below is filled with endless interest thanks to a backsplash of Mini Star & Cross Tile in Calcite, while the beige undertones help create a warm space that you’ll immediately feel at home in.

Bright kitchen with white star and cross tile walls and backsplash

Tile Shown: Mini Star & Cross in Calcite // Design: The True House // Image: Mino Pro Media Group, LLC

Never underestimate the power of a classic shape–white rectangle tile has undeniable staying power that can outlast any season and trend, and don’t be afraid to play with scale. The shower below uses sleek 1x6 Mosaic Tile to make a design statement that will look fresh for years to come.

Modern shower clad with white mosaic tile and brass shower handle

Tile Shown: 1x6 in Calcite, 2” Hexagon in Overcast // Design: Sarah Sherman Samuel // Image: Zan Passante

White tile in geometric shapes is a seamless way to incorporate pattern into your interior design. For a sumptuous look, choose tonal grout with Calcite like Sarah Sherman Samuel did with 6” Hexagon Tile in her A-frame’s serene bathroom.

White hexagon tile backsplash with natural wood bathroom vanity and vessel sink

Tile Shown: 6” Hexagon in Calcite // Design + Image: Sarah Sherman Samuel

Calcite nails the Scandinavian look with its soft white color and simple lines in the kitchen backsplash below. Vertically installed rectangular tile is a popular choice for this clean aesthetic, and looks especially dreamy with the floating shelf and muted green base cabinets here.

Scandinavian-style kitchen with matte white tile backsplash, floating shelf, and muted green base cabinets

Tile Shown: 2x8 in Calcite // Design: Cozy Happy Home // Image: Jenna Marlar

Learn more about Scandi style here:

If you’re looking for fun, Calcite can certainly deliver–even with its neutral hue. Case in point: Studio DIY founder Kelly Mindell’s walk-in closet below. The scalloped floor tile adds a whimsical element that has us head over heels, especially paired with so many bright pops of color.

Large walk-in closet with white scalloped tile floor

Tile Shown: Ogee Drop in Calcite // Design: Studio DIY // Image: Jeff Mindell

A small backsplash makes a big impact when you use matte white on a specialty shape. This kitchen curates a variety of textures against a clean palette, with its interlocking Chaine Homme backsplash tying it all together.

Midcentury modern style kitchen with walnut colored cabinetry, mustard velvet stools, and white specialty-shaped tile backsplash

Tile Shown: Chaine Homme in Calcite // Design: Lily Spindle Design // Image: Michele Thomas Photography, Joe Atlas Photography

This shower wall tile puts a contemporary spin on Calcite with a vertical offset installation. Elongated 3x12 Tile combined with the white glaze makes even the smallest spaces seem bigger, adding height to this cozy shower as the built-in niche saves space.

Modern shower clad with white tile in a vertical offset pattern and a built-in tiled shower niche

Tile Shown: 3x12 in Calcite // Design: Mokume Design Studio // Image: Christopher Stark

The clean white tile trend has been going strong for decades, making Calcite a reliable and beautiful choice in commercial spaces. Wiseguy Pizza in D.C. uses Calcite in two completely different but complementary ways: triangle tile is framed by dark grout along the pizza bar, while stacked subway tile with tonal grout clads the wall directly across the room. That’s Amore!

Are you an architect, interior designer, contractor, or tile installer? Sign up for our trade program (it’s free!) to take advantage of all our trade-exclusive perks.
Pizza restaurant with white triangle tiles cladding the pizza bar and white subway tiles on the wall across from the bar

Tile Shown: 4” Triangle and 3x6 in Calcite // Design: Lady January Studio // Image: Laura Metzler Photography // Installer: Wiseguy Pizza

You can never go wrong with white square tile, especially if you’re a fan of a minimalist aesthetic. A gridded backsplash instantly modernizes any space, as seen in the galley kitchen below where 3x3 Sheeted Tile is framed by a light grey grout that accentuates the tidy graph paper pattern.

White minimalist kitchen with white square tile backsplash

Tile Shown: 3x3 in Calcite // Design + Image: Alison Mazurek // Installer: Method Tile

Calcite can help to get a chic matte finish that allows other design elements in your space to shine through. This clean-cut bathroom uses stacked Calcite along the tub surround and backsplash, while the symmetrical lines draw the eye down to the star of the room: the stunning, leathery-colored Hexite floor.

Modern bathroom with white stacked tile on the tub surround and backsplash and a floor of leathery-colored hexite tile

Tile Shown: 3x12 in Calcite, Hexite in Antique // Design: Christy Mack + Julie Manning, Em + Kate Design // Image: Sen Creative

Who says laundry can’t be luxurious? Handmade H-shaped Chaine Homme Tile makes a stylish backsplash for everyday chores. The clean matte glaze matches the white walls, creating subtle visual interest that catches the eye in this attractive utility room.

Bright laundry room with white chaine homme tile backsplash

Tile Shown: Chaine Homme in Calcite // Design: Brasstacks Design + Build // Image: Adam Albright Photography

Think beyond the standard offset or straight-set pattern, like Sarah Sherman Samuel did in Mandy Moore’s guest bathroom. A diagonal herringbone pattern feels both dynamic and familiar, energizing even the most minimalist of spaces. In this luxe space, the floor-to-ceiling herringbone tile wall adds height as the matte white creates the perfect modern canvas to showcase a gorgeous marble slab.

Bathroom backsplash with white herringbone tile and floating marble slab countertop

Tile Shown: 2x8 in Calcite // Design: Sarah Sherman Samuel, Emily Farnham Architecture // Image: Tessa Neustadt

Use a contrasting grout color to give Calcite a graphic punch–although keep in mind we don’t recommend dark pigmented grouts with white glazes due to staining potential. In the kitchen of Seattle-based umbrella company Certain Standard, our Scalene Triangle Tile in Calcite offers stylish coverage, transforming the grout lines into an impactful design element on their own.

Kitchenette backsplash with white scalene triangle tile framed by light grey grout, above navy blue cabinets

Tile Shown: Scalene Triangle in Calcite // Design: The Residency Bureau // Image: Meghan Klein

Want to preview the matte white of Calcite in your space? Click here to bring home up to five free samples. And did you know that we offer free design assistance? Fill out this simple form to receive free personalized design services from our tile experts, including sample selection, renderings, cost estimates, and more.

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