Azori tiles: characteristics and design

Italian ceramics are considered the best in the world. Many people dream of decorating a bathroom with such material, but the price bites too painfully. And the more pleasant it was for the buyer the appearance on the market of Azori ceramic tiles from a domestic manufacturer working in close cooperation with specialists from Italy.

The Azori trademark was created by the KeraMir group of companies, which began its journey more than 10 years ago and has been actively developing since then. This group includes two production units: the factories of ZAO KSP and ZAO Decor-M and their own logistics network.

Both factories are equipped with the latest Italian equipment. KSP is responsible for the production of wall and floor tiles, while Decor-M supplements the collections with decorative components (borders, decors). The first products of the Azori brand appeared in 2006, and quickly took a leading position among Russian manufacturers of ceramic tiles. Buyers immediately appreciated the combination of price, design and quality.

The design of KeraMir products captivates with the richness of colors and surfaces. Each new series reflects fashion trends such as imitation of patterns and surfaces of natural materials, floral motifs, abstraction and strict geometric lines. Both Italian design studios and young talents from Russia are involved in the development of new decors.

"KeraMir" uses waterjet cutting technology in the production of decors (hydrojet). Using a water jet with an abrasive, a recess is cut in the tile for a decorative insert. Such jewelry was found only in expensive imported collections, and now it has become available for the average consumer.

All brand products (floor and wall) are manufactured in accordance with government standards.

It has the following characteristics:

• Thickness, depending on the size - 7-9 mm.
• The ability to absorb water for wall tiles is up to 24%, for floors - 4.5%.
• The deviation of the shape of the tiles (curvature) is not more than 1 mm for the wall. For floor tiles, this figure does not exceed one and a half millimeters.
• Dimensional deviation is possible from 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

• Heat resistance - up to 125 C for samples with colored glaze and up to 150 C - with white.
• Resistant to chemical attack, however, when leaving, it is advisable to avoid acid-based products that can damage the top layer of glaze and decorative elements. Soaps based on organic fats are also not suitable for ceramics, as they provoke the development of mold due to the grease film and reduce the shine of the tiles.
• Resistance to mechanical damage is conditional. The systematic use of abrasives or metal brushes will definitely damage the surface, which will be especially noticeable on glossy tiles.
• Wear resistance class I. This indicates the possibility of its use only in rooms with low traffic.

The Azori catalog amazes with the variety of colors, textures and decors. Each year, the company's assortment is replenished with a new series, or even several. There are currently fifteen of them. The series "Inspiration of Colors", released in 2006, became its debut. It consists of 4 collections: "Alize", "Beast", "Aurora" and "Caprice", which have collected all the colors of the rainbow:

• "Alize" - a ruler of tiles with a relief texture and a pattern in the form of vertical stripes. As a decoration, buyers are offered rare floral inserts and the same border.
• In the "Beast" the designers have focused on the decor in the form of large tulips. The colors are orange, blue, green and brown.
• For "Aurora" warm tones of rich orange, blue and brown are characteristic, and all this is decorated with interweaving of floral ornaments with coffee beans.
• "Caprice" Is an abstract fantasy on the theme of movement. Smooth, curving lines flow into one another, creating a feeling of infinity. This decor will appeal to lovers of laconic designs.

The next year enriched the assortment with the series "Harmony of Beauty", which included the collections "Origami", "Radika", "Carpet" and "Travertino". The series is a collection of shades of brown: from light to dark. She is the embodiment of classics, calmness, harmony, and slightly evokes sadness.

The brown melancholy was replaced by bright colors. The Mood of Colors series includes the following lines: Jasmine, Tweed, Fusion, Crystal:

• "Jasmine" reminiscent of summer thanks to rich colors and floral patterns.
• "Tweed", as the name suggests, is an imitation of a popular fabric. This collection has, perhaps, the most intense colors of the series: burgundy and orange, which are designed to counterbalance the inserts imitating tapestries.
• "Fusion" seduces with intricate monochrome ornamentation on light and colored elements. Multi-colored borders and a round insert of individual light tiles allow to place accents.

Investigations of 2009 presented a series of "Magic of Colors" with collections: "Alta", "Iris", "Twist" and "Atrium". The colors used are deep, but calm and relaxing. The styles are different: here are the floral motifs of "Iris", and the textured ornaments of the "Atrium", and the strict geometry of "Twist".

The patterned series of 2010 is called “Inspiration in Pattern”. It consists of 10 options, so different in color and style, but nevertheless mesmerizing:

• "Asti" - laconic straight lines diluted with geometric and floral patterns.
• Estella - natural shades, matt surface imitating wood and decors in the form of flowering apple and bonsai trees resemble a Japanese garden.
• "Savannah" - combines a combination of woody pattern and rough fabric, matte surface and gloss.
• "Alta" - and again imitation of wood, this time birch and ornament as a decor. Discreet and pleasant collection.

• "Valkyrie" - appears before us in two versions: a strict black and white scale and a passionate combination of red and white. The floral design is applied using the embossing method.
• Damasco - another embossed collection in oriental style, imitating silk.
• "Caramel" - exquisite and rich shades of burgundy and dark chocolate, flavored with floral patterns.
• "Velletta" - its creators were inspired by the grace of lace, which was enriched by pearl play.
• "Defile" - this matte tile can give a different mood to the room: asceticism and restraint in black and white tones and a bright sunny feeling in white and orange tones.
• "Sparta" - it is an iridescent marble surface of black and white colors with laconic Greek ornament.

Gloss is the theme of next year's series. Rotary and digital printing and even traditional silk-screen printing have found their way into this series of decors. Floral patterns, African motifs, urban landscapes against a background of light colors made up the following collections: Sanmarco, Ethel, Gloss, Aliante, Attica.

The series "Geometry of the Line", according to the creators, is designed to capture the movement forward, the change of seasons, fashion trends. This includes eight collections that are completely different from each other.Two of them were designed specifically for the kitchen - Vogue and Loft. "Vogue" is characterized by the relief texture of the main elements and colorful inserts in the form of still lifes and a coffee theme. Loft is an imitation of an old brick wall with graffiti or wildflowers that can be used alone or laid out as a panel.

The Mood of Color series, among other things, is distinguished by two independent floor tiles suitable for the interior of the living room: Maison and Chalet, imitating parquet flooring.

The most productive year for the entire history of the company is 2015. This year, three series were born: Dreams, Melodies of Color and Mariscos. Glossy and matte, textured and smooth surfaces, new patterns and ornaments, flower panels and even butterflies have enriched the already rich assortment.

The series "Play of structures and colors" 2017 is a madness of colors, textures and ornaments. With all this, their combination does not seem clumsy, but, on the contrary, adds character to the room. The most striking collection in this series is perhaps the indigo Eclipse.

Feedback from buyers regarding the Azori product is mostly positive. First of all, users note the design and colors, which, while being bright and saturated, are nevertheless not annoying. In terms of quality, the tiles are ahead of the products of many competitors in their price segment. It is durable and, in the opinion of tilers, easy to work with. Can be cut and laid without any problems.

There are not too many defective items. One of the drawbacks is called the size discrepancy within a couple of millimeters. Some users have come across a variety of colors within the same collection, it is likely that they came across samples from different parties. Also, there was a difference in the quality of the drawing in different series. This parameter depends on the used image application method: silk-screen printing, rotary or digital printing.

For an overview of Azori ceramic tiles, see the next video.