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It’s not every day that our Slack channels descend into a frenzy at the mention of a new collection—but Ward + Gray just gave the team a very good reason to. The multidisciplinary design studio is launching Boheme, a new platform for its growing line of collectible home pieces (rugs and lighting), and debuting its first tile collection, Vestigia, at the same time.
The tile collection, which features 10 patterns in 13 variations, is crafted from natural marble and onyx, and pulls from architectural elements—think landscapes, structures, and symbols—reinterpreting classic motifs through a contemporary lens. The result: tiles that are storied, graphic, and stunning. Named for the Latin word for “footprints” or “traces,” Vestigia is about bringing the spaces that stay with us into our homes. While the price point of $225 per square foot is steep, the small works of art are worth fantasizing about; a backsplash or detail around the fireplace, perhaps?
We spoke to Ward + Gray creative directors Christie Ward and Staver Gray to learn more about the collection debut.
Why was a new platform and then tile collection the next step for Ward + Gray?
Christie Ward: This year will be our biggest product launch to date, with three more collections to follow before the end of 2026. What started with rugs, then expanded into lighting and now tile, has grown into something that felt ready for its own defined space. While the pieces are still very much a part of Ward + Gray, Boheme felt like a natural way to house them—something that captures the collected, artistic, and slightly nomadic point of view that we hope each piece has a little bit of.
Staver Gray: Boheme gives us the ultimate creative freedom: to design pieces we’d fall in love with if we discovered them at market. Tile, particularly stone tile, was an especially exciting category for us. Marble and onyx are materials we return to often, drawn to the natural movement and depth of color within each slab. Creating fresh, richly patterned designs in a classic material is at the heart of our ethos at Boheme.
Ward: We’ve been designing custom tile for years, often rooted in a client’s personal narratives or a specific place. Some of those became the foundation for Vestigia. It also gave us an opportunity to create new designs rooted in the places and details that have inspired us over time, and translate them into a collection that still feels deeply bespoke and referential.
Was there a specific place or project that sparked the collection?
Ward: We both love to travel and it’s always been a central inspiration to our work, so the collection is really a composite of many places rather than one.
Gray: Every tile in the collection has its own story. For example, Jal was inspired by a client who designs and wears the most amazing jewelry. She’s often drawn to celestial motifs that reminded us of a beloved architectural reference: the Water Palace of Jaipur, a floating palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. The tiles feel both intricate and serene.
What drew you to these particular materials?
Ward: Marble and onyx feel inherently timeless. They have been used in design for centuries and only grow more beautiful with age and patina. They also lend themselves beautifully to being cut and inlaid to create intricate compositions, almost like marquetry in stone. At the same time, there’s a softness to honed marble that allows the patterns to feel livable rather than overly formal.
Which design in the collection feels the most personal to you?
Gray: Vizcaya feels especially personal—it’s named after a historic Miami estate close to home. Our Vizcaya tiles were inspired by an Italian pietra dura piece we discovered at auction. We reinterpreted the motif using cool-toned marbles for a client on Nantucket, resulting in a pattern that feels coastal and happy.
Ward: Batie is another favorite. We always seem to come back to shell motifs in our work. For Batie we were inspired by historic grottos, in particular the Château de La Bâtie d’Urfé. We love the simplicity of the shell arranged in an intricate and beautiful way. We left the palette simple for Batie, allowing the inlay itself to take center stage.
What’s your dream space to see Vestigia installed in?
Gray: I think it would be incredibly compelling to see them installed in a rustic setting—white exposed joists, plaster walls, and then the tile as an unexpected moment. We intend for the designs to work across various styles of architecture so I’m excited to see people bring them to life in surprising ways.
What’s one unexpected way you’d use these tiles in a home that isn’t a bathroom or kitchen?
Ward: We love the idea of using the collection on a fireplace surround, a stair riser, or even as an inlay on furniture, bringing an unexpected element to the interior.
For someone intimidated by statement tile, what’s the easiest entry point into the collection?
Ward: Diamanti has a familiar black-and-white look, but the geometry of the diamonds and little pop of burgundy in the middle is unexpected. A slight twist on a classic.
One word you hope people feel when they walk into a space using this tile?
Ward and Gray: Transported.
