David Rockwell’s Tonal Tiles for Bisazza Evoke Color Gradations Used in Theater

“Ombré has always fascinated me,” David Rockwell declares. No wonder, then, that the theatrical visionary and Interior Design Hall of Fame member’s debut for Bisazza evokes the color gradations used on stage to, in his words, “convey a sense of place or mood beyond what is present.” The result? Tonal, a collection of tiles handmade of high-strength cement blended with colored oxides. The 8-inch modules, part of the maker’s Cementiles line, are patterned with layered squares and rectangles variously woven, overlapped, or set into medallions. The plaidlike designs—eight in all—are offered in four colorways each, including neutral options shot through with tones of rust. Best of all, Rockwell even developed a dusky shade of blue—“my favorite color!” he says—called Atlantico that is now part of Bisazza’s design palette.