Who doesn’t love an occasional dose of California? Say what you will about the traffic, the mud slides, and the fires, the West coast has an irresistible appeal. On the best of days, its casual vibe, gentle breeze, and swaying palms are equal parts energizing and chill. Just so with the Studio Moderne collection of architectural tiles by Michael Berman.

Studio Moderne Squares and Hexagons in a neutral putty

Strictly speaking, the collection embraces all of California’s iconic architectural styles, but for me the vibe is mostly La-La Land, suggesting Classic Hollywood, Art Deco, and Palm Springs Modern styles.

This Art Deco style in Clover evokes a past age of Hollywood glamour

Berman’s ceramic tile is versatile and affordable. The collection includes a variety of dimensions and styles, from hexagons to octagons, rectangles to squares, in field tiles, molding, and trim as large as 18″ x 20″.

Fretwork field tile

Here it is in San Ming Blue Imperial, an intriguing design that synthesizes a classical Chinese motif with elements of Art Deco.

The collection can be used in utilitarian fashion—as an understated backsplash, for example—or as a design highlight, “a distinctive piece of architectural decoration for applications as diverse as a dining room wall, foyer or outdoor patio.”

Montclair elongated hexagons in a soothing sky blue

Find out more at Walker Zanger and Michael Berman.