To add a youthful exuberance to any space, explore the Atomic Subway Tile Collection. This high energy relief tile and color palette transforms the original subway tile into a mid-century modern masterpiece.

The Atomic Subway Tile Collection extends our timeline to the mid-century modern period in American architectural design. The collection pays homage to the exuberance of notable American designers with a color palette inspired by the bright hues of 1950’s Fiestaware and the softer shades of Formica Boomerang countertops. 

With exuberant colors like Satin Mango and the classic Satin Atomic red, this collection easily brightens up a space with one accent wall. This youthful color palette is finished by a  low-luster satin gloss that delivers a surface with character and energy. 

Spanning approximately 1940 to 1970, the mid-century modern movement was a forward-looking style advocating simple patterns, clean lines, and the usage of readily available materials. Interior design elements were often simple in form with bold colors and patterns inspired by the space age era. In the same manner that subway tile has endured the test of time in NYC’s subway stations, the Hex Flat and Hex Dome tiles found in San Francisco’s BART stations continue to prevail.

The Atomic collection is installed in the authentic straight set pattern using four inch square tiles. Delivering on the historically authentic mid-century modern time period while still updating the sheen and look of these tiles creates a timeless design style. The relief shapes in this tile are made in sphere, diamond, and star reproductions of the traditional pomona tile. Modeled off the mid-century designs of Saul Bass, these tiles are both authentic to the mid-century modern design and updated to create timeless spaces in the modern era. 

This exuberant color palette paired with the interesting relief style of the mid-century era creates a bright authentic look in any space. To read about our other Subway Ceramics collections visit the rest of our Aesthetic Curation series. 

It’s everywhere. From bathrooms to restaurants, bars to foyers, subway tile is a staple of design. The traditional three inch by six inch tiles lend a classic look to many spaces, but that’s not where the subway line ends. We’ve taken a long-standing classic for a ride into the modern day with larger format subway tiles.

The option to update your standard subway look with six inch by nine inch tiles allows you to create timeless, authentic spaces that also step into modernity. This proportionately larger tile creates similar effects to the original  subway look in a more airy way. There are less grout lines due to the larger tiles and more tile surface so you can update your bathroom in a way that preserves the classical feel of your home.

These large scale tiles incorporate a classic elegance into spaces that previously felt dated. Keeping the width of these tiles the same as the original three-inch by six-inch subway tiles is a nod to the past and a step toward the future.

Both of these updated sizes of Subway Ceramics are just a portion of a complete solution to subway tile. Our entire collection uses large radius trims and creates a holistic look that, when complete, is refreshingly new. 

Our deviation from conventional tile collections allows our final products to be fresh, sleek, and effortless. Modernizing the field tile was just the first step- how we turn corners and provide sensible design options from beginning to end is what completes the collection.

We are all about preserving and honoring the origins of tile, the timelessness of the craft, and the intricacy of the final product. That’s why we continue to offer updated, modernized versions of the Subway Ceramics aesthetic that made us fall in love with tile in the first place. Join us for a deeper dive into the Aesthetic Curations Series where we discuss the updates to tile styles from years past and how to enhance the aesthetics of your home.