BLACK/WHITE ALASKA 31.6X31.6 MATT RED-BODY FLOOR TILE BY VIVES

Black/White Alaska 31.6x31.6 matt red-body floor tiles by Vives

The Black/White Alaska 31.6x31.6 matt red-body floor tiles by Vives recover the decorative strength of traditional black-and-white flooring through a simple and versatile monochrome collection suited to classical, contemporary, retro and minimalist projects. Combining Alaska and Negro makes it possible to create completely plain surfaces, two-colour compositions, chequerboard floors and layouts formed with octagonal tiles and coordinated corner inserts.

The Monocolor collection is based on pure colours and clear geometry. Alaska introduces brightness through a softly nuanced white base, while Negro adds depth, contrast and a stronger graphic presence. Both shades can be used independently or combined within the same surface to create personalised designs.

Alongside the conventional square tiles, the range includes Octógono Alaska and Octógono Negro in 31.6x31.6 cm. These pieces have clipped corners designed to receive coordinated 6.7x6.7 cm inserts. This solution recovers the appearance of traditional octagonal floors and allows recognisable combinations such as white octagons with black inserts, black octagons with white inserts or completely monochrome compositions.

A monochrome collection for interior floors

Monocolor 31.6x31.6 belongs to a family of red-body floor tiles developed for indoor installation. Its matt finish avoids strong reflections and allows colour, geometry and tile arrangement to become the main design features.

The simplicity of the collection is precisely one of its greatest advantages. It does not depend on veining, relief or complex patterns. The project is created through the choice of colour, format and layout. This characteristic makes it possible to design both discreet, uniform floors and compositions with strong visual contrast.

Alaska and Negro can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, entrance halls, corridors, living rooms, shops, cafés, restaurants and other spaces requiring clear and timeless flooring. Choosing between a plain or two-colour composition allows the same collection to respond to very different styles.

31.6x31.6 square format for balanced layouts

The 31.6x31.6 cm format offers a medium scale that preserves the visual presence of each tile without excessively fragmenting the floor. Its square proportions create an ordered grid and simplify the planning of geometric compositions.

Used in a single colour, the format creates regular and calm flooring. When Alaska and Negro are alternated, the grid becomes the basis of a classic chequerboard. It is also possible to create borders, frames, perimeter bands, diagonal layouts or surfaces in which one colour acts as the background and the other as an accent.

The size adapts well to small and medium-sized rooms and facilitates installation in kitchens, bathrooms and circulation areas. Advance planning helps centre the composition and avoid narrow cuts along the most visible edges.

Alaska: a bright and versatile base

Alaska 31.6x31.6 presents a white shade suited to interiors where brightness and visual openness are required. It does not need a complex graphic to establish its presence, as its matt finish and clean colour create balanced surfaces.

It can be used as general flooring in white kitchens, bright bathrooms, entrance halls and Scandinavian or Mediterranean-inspired interiors. Its neutrality makes it easy to combine with timber, stone, steel, colourful furniture and decorative wall tiles.

Alaska also acts as the base for two-colour compositions. Combined with Negro, it creates a clear and timeless contrast. With Octógono Alaska and Taco Negro, it recovers one of the most recognisable traditional floor designs in residential and commercial architecture.

Negro: depth and graphic contrast

Negro 31.6x31.6 introduces a dark surface with strong visual intensity. Its matt finish reduces reflections and makes it possible to use black in a more restrained way than polished or glossy materials.

Used across a complete surface, it creates enveloping and contemporary floors. It can be combined with white walls, timber furniture, metal, pale sanitaryware and neutral fabrics to balance its depth.

As a complement to Alaska, Negro can create a chequerboard, perimeter border or small contrasting details. The relationship between the two colours allows the intensity of the design to be controlled without introducing additional shades.

Black and White chequerboard composition

A chequerboard layout alternates one Alaska tile with one Negro tile in a regular grid. It is a classic solution that continues to work in contemporary interiors because of its clear geometry and its ability to become the principal decorative feature of the floor.

The chequerboard can be installed parallel to the walls or set diagonally. A straight layout creates a more stable and ordered surface. A diagonal arrangement introduces movement and can visually enlarge certain rooms, although it generates a greater number of perimeter cuts.

In kitchens and bathrooms, black and white works with plain furniture and relatively restrained walls. In shops and restaurants, it can reinforce retro, Parisian, industrial or contemporary identities depending on the surrounding materials.

Octógono Alaska with Taco Negro

The combination of Octógono Alaska 31.6x31.6 with Taco Negro 6.7x6.7 recovers the appearance of historic floors made from large white pieces and small black corner inserts. The result is lighter than a complete chequerboard because Alaska remains the dominant colour.

The black inserts appear where the octagons meet and create a secondary grid. This modulation introduces detail without darkening the space and works particularly well in bathrooms, kitchens, entrance halls and classical or vintage-inspired homes.

The combination can be accompanied by white wall tiles, metro tiles, timber, marble, traditional sanitaryware or contemporary details. Its timeless character allows it to fit naturally into many different projects.

Octógono Negro with Taco Alaska

The reverse combination, formed by Octógono Negro with Taco Alaska, offers a stronger and more dramatic interpretation. Black covers most of the surface, while small white inserts introduce points of light between the tiles.

This option suits interiors requiring dark flooring with clearly visible geometry. It can be used in larger bathrooms, entrance halls, shops, bars and decorative areas where the floor should play a leading role.

Pale walls and well-distributed lighting help balance the depth of the black. The Alaska inserts break up the uniformity and reveal the octagonal structure of the floor.

Completely white or black compositions

The octagons can also be combined with inserts of the same colour. Octógono Alaska with Taco Alaska creates a bright surface in which the geometry appears very subtly. Octógono Negro with Taco Negro produces a dark and continuous floor where the octagonal shape is perceived mainly through the grout lines.

These monochrome combinations are interesting when the historic geometry of the format is desired without introducing two-colour contrast. The result is calmer and allows other elements of the interior to become more prominent.

Grout colour has a particularly strong influence on these compositions. A coordinated joint softens the shape, while a contrasting shade reinforces the grid and makes each tile more visible.

Flooring for classical and contemporary kitchens

The kitchen is one of the spaces where Black/White Alaska can express its character most effectively. Black-and-white flooring combines with white, black, grey, green, blue and natural timber cabinetry.

The chequerboard introduces a clear graphic image and can act as a counterpoint to simple furniture. Octógono Alaska with Taco Negro creates a lighter and more classical atmosphere. A plain Alaska floor adds brightness, while plain Negro creates a deeper base.

In open-plan kitchens, the floor can also help define the work area in relation to the dining or living space. A decorated section can meet another plain floor without requiring walls or changes in level.

Classical, retro and minimalist bathrooms

In bathrooms, the collection supports very different styles. Octógono Alaska with Taco Negro works with white wall tiles, traditional basins and black or chrome fittings. The chequerboard introduces greater intensity and a clearly graphic appearance.

Plain Alaska suits smaller bathrooms where brightness is a priority. Negro can be used in a selected area or across larger spaces, accompanied by pale walls to balance the composition.

The floor geometry can be repeated in mirrors, shower screens, furniture or accessories. It can also contrast with small-format wall tiles to create a rich but coherent interior.

Entrance halls, corridors and reception areas

A black-and-white floor creates an entrance with immediate identity. In entrance halls, the chequerboard can cover the entire space or form a ceramic rug surrounded by tiles in a single colour.

In corridors, the direction of the grid or the alternation of bands can visually guide the route. Octagonal tiles with inserts add detail and a historic reference that works especially well in renovated homes and classical buildings.

Timber console tables, black-framed mirrors, pale walls and metal lighting complete the composition without competing with the floor.

Shops, cafés and restaurants

In commercial projects, flooring helps establish a recognisable image. Black/White Alaska can be used in cafés, bakeries, boutiques, restaurants, hair salons and interiors requiring a graphic and durable aesthetic.

The chequerboard conveys a retro or urban image depending on the furniture. Octagonal tiles with inserts connect with classical interiors, traditional cafés and Parisian-inspired shops. Plain surfaces provide a more minimalist base.

The combination of black and white supports a broad range of furniture and materials. Timber, metal, intense colours and neutral finishes can all be integrated without losing the clarity of the concept.

A base suited to many styles

The collection can be used in classical, vintage, industrial, Nordic, Mediterranean and contemporary interiors. The result depends less on the product in isolation than on the selected layout and surrounding materials.

With timber and brass, the floor takes on a warmer character. With steel, black and white, it becomes more industrial. With colourful furniture, it acts as a neutral graphic base. With handcrafted wall tiles, it recovers a more traditional appearance.

This flexibility makes Monocolor Alaska and Negro a useful design tool for both refurbishment and new-build projects.

Matt finish for a calmer appearance

The matt finish reduces reflections and provides a more natural and restrained appearance. On Alaska, it avoids excessive brightness. On Negro, it introduces depth without turning the floor into a reflective surface.

Matt tiles work naturally with timber, stone, fabrics, mineral paints and metals. The finish also allows the geometry to be perceived through colour contrast rather than changes in gloss.

Natural and artificial light alter the intensity of the black and white, while the surface retains a balanced appearance throughout the day.

Red-body tiles for interior floors

These pieces are made from red-body ceramic and have been developed as interior floor tiles. Their use should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and the conditions of the specific project.

This collection should not be confused with technical porcelain intended for exteriors, frost or especially demanding areas. Its principal field of application is interior residential flooring and compatible commercial spaces.

Correct substrate preparation, suitable adhesive selection and proper joint execution are essential for creating a stable and visually ordered floor.

Nine-millimetre thickness

The collection has a 9 mm thickness. This characteristic should be considered when coordinating the floor with other materials, resolving changes in level and planning doors, skirting tiles and junctions.

When square bases, octagonal tiles and inserts from the same collection are combined, their dimensional compatibility simplifies the layout. Even so, the arrangement should be checked before adhesive is spread across the complete surface.

Packaging and material calculation

Alaska and Negro 31.6x31.6 tiles are supplied in boxes of ten units, covering approximately 1 m². Octógono Alaska and Octógono Negro are also packed in boxes of ten pieces, with approximate coverage of 0.95 m² per box.

Alaska and Negro inserts in 6.7x6.7 are sold per piece and supplied in boxes of one hundred units. When calculating an octagonal layout, the corresponding number of inserts must be included rather than calculating only the principal pieces.

An allowance should also be added for cuts, accidental breakage during installation and possible future repairs. The final quantity will depend on the geometry of the room and the selected pattern.

Planning black-and-white compositions

Before installation begins, it is advisable to prepare a layout plan. In a chequerboard, the starting colour at each edge and the distribution of the cuts along the walls should be determined in advance.

In octagonal compositions, insert placement must remain regular. A dry layout makes it possible to check the module, grout width and result around doors, columns and corners.

Where a ceramic rug is being created, the design should be centred in relation to the room or principal furniture. A perimeter frame can absorb dimensional differences and prevent irregular cuts in the central pattern.

Choosing the grout colour

Grout directly affects the final appearance. White or pale grout softens Alaska and highlights the black tiles. Dark grout makes the grid more visible against the white and integrates more naturally with Negro.

In a chequerboard, an intermediate shade can prevent one of the two colours from becoming excessively dominant. With octagonal layouts, coordinated grout allows the relationship between the principal tile and the insert to remain the main visual feature.

The final choice should be tested on a sample while considering the design, maintenance and desired visual intensity.

Post-installation cleaning and maintenance

After installation, a suitable clean should be carried out to remove adhesive and grout residues. The products used must be compatible with the ceramic surface and applied according to the relevant recommendations.

For routine maintenance, products that leave films and alter the matt appearance should be avoided. Cleaning frequency will depend on traffic, the selected colour and the type of room.

In black-and-white compositions, regular maintenance helps preserve the clarity of the contrast and the legibility of the geometry.

Coordinated Alaska and Negro skirting tiles

The collection includes Alaska and Negro skirting tiles in 8x31.6 cm for finishing the junction between the floor and wall. These pieces allow the same colour and finish to continue around the perimeter.

The skirting tile can match the floor or be used to create contrast. On an Alaska floor, a Negro skirting tile introduces a dark perimeter line. On a two-colour surface, the dominant shade can be selected or the skirting can be coordinated with the wall.

Timeless black-and-white flooring

The Black/White Alaska 31.6x31.6 matt red-body floor tile collection by Vives provides a simple base for creating numerous compositions. Alaska introduces brightness, Negro adds depth and their combination supports chequerboards, bands, frames and octagonal layouts.

The square tiles provide a regular module, while Octógono Alaska, Octógono Negro, Taco Alaska and Taco Negro recover the appearance of historic floors. The matt finish maintains a restrained character and works naturally with timber, stone, metal, contemporary furniture and classical elements.

Its format, red-body construction and intended use on interior floors make this collection suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, entrance halls, corridors, homes, cafés, restaurants and shops. More than a simple monochrome floor, Alaska and Negro form a coordinated system of pieces for designing personalised, balanced surfaces with a strong graphic identity.