Italian & large-format tile
Tile showroom in Paris 16e and 17e: large-format porcelain stoneware, glazed terracotta, contemporary zelliges. Fornace Brioni, Marazzi, Lea Ceramiche, Florim. By appointment.
Showroom since 2012 — Paris 16e Passy & Paris 17e Brunel — by appointment
Marine Naccache, Managing Director, Atelier Matière
The tile we select at Atelier Matière comes almost entirely from the Italian ceramic district of Sassuolo and Fiorano Modenese, and from Castellón in Spain, the two European cradles of porcelain stoneware. We distribute large-format rectified slabs 160×320 cm from Lea Ceramiche, Florim and Cotto d'Este (slabs up to 300×150 cm in 6 mm), the stone and marble effects of Marazzi (Mystone Limestone, Grande Marble Look), the glazed terracotta of Fornace Brioni redesigned by Cristina Celestino, as well as decorative ceramics from WOW Design and Cevica zelliges. Each product fits a precise use: indoor flooring, outdoor R11 anti-slip, bathroom wall, kitchen splashback, pool surround or ventilated façade.
Available finishes span the full technical range: natural matt, honed, structured, soft textured for bathrooms, glossy glazed for kitchens. Large-format rectified porcelain stoneware is now the reference for underfloor heating, Italian wet rooms and monolithic worktops. Our two Paris showrooms — 19 rue Vital in the 16th (Passy, full materials library and textile department) and 36 rue Brunel in the 17th (large-format porcelain stoneware displayed as full slabs with 1:1 setting-out) — let you touch surfaces, see them under real light and take samples home. Interior architects, decorators and discerning clients come by appointment: technical support, setting-out, quotation and site logistics included.
What is the standard thickness of large-format porcelain stoneware?
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Large-format porcelain stoneware comes in three thicknesses: 6 mm for wall cladding and worktops bonded to a substrate, 9-12 mm for residential floors and bathrooms, 20 mm for outdoor terraces and pedestal installation. A 160×320 cm slab in 6 mm weighs about 15 kg/m², which allows wall installation without additional load-bearing structure.
Can tile be laid over underfloor heating?
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Yes, rectified porcelain stoneware is the benchmark finish for both low-temperature water and electric underfloor heating. Its thermal conductivity is three times higher than solid timber, so the heating system runs at peak efficiency. A flexible C2S1 or C2S2 adhesive and a minimum 2 mm joint are required to absorb expansion.
What is the difference between rectified and glazed porcelain stoneware?
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Rectified porcelain stoneware is machined after firing to produce perfectly straight edges: joints can go down to 2 mm, giving a nearly monolithic appearance. Glazed stoneware receives a vitrified glaze before the second firing, which carries the pattern and colour. Rectified speaks the language of contemporary large formats; glazed suits decorative tiles like zelliges or terracotta.
What is the difference between porcelain stoneware and earthenware?
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Earthenware (faïence) is a porous red-body ceramic fired at low temperature (around 1000°C), for interior wall use only. Porcelain stoneware is fired above 1200°C, has porosity under 0.5%, is frost-proof and resistant to scratches, stains and abrasion. All the tile Atelier Matière distributes is porcelain stoneware, except zelliges and glazed terracotta.
What is the lead time for large-format tile?
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Large slabs (160×320 cm, 240×120 cm) are usually in stock at the Italian factory and shipped within 10 to 20 working days after order confirmation, depending on finish and collection. Bespoke decors (Fornace Brioni, WOW Design) take 6 to 10 weeks. We confirm the exact lead time at the quotation stage.
Does large-format porcelain stoneware require a specialist installer?
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Yes. 160×320 cm slabs weigh 30-60 kg depending on thickness and require a tile setter trained in large formats, a vacuum lifting system, a perfectly flat substrate (1 mm tolerance under a 2 m straight edge) and a fast-setting adhesive. We refer our clients to partner installers in Paris and Île-de-France.
Atelier Matière — materials studio and showroom in Paris, active since 2012. By appointment.
