Paloma installed — a backsplash finished with this tile. Zoom in and read the pattern before you pick.
PorcelainPaloma
White-Cool
Measured surface color #c5c2c0, averaging #b9b7b5.
Flat surfaces read as one solid tone; heavily patterned ones vary piece to piece, so we lay them out with you before we cut.
- Style encaustic
- Color cool white
- tile-to-tile variation V4
What kind of tile is Paloma?
We stock Paloma as porcelain in a encaustic-pattern shape, 8x8. Indigo and Azila sit in the same style family if you want to compare. It carries a PEI abrasion rating of 3. It reads white-cool. Fired denser than ordinary ceramic, porcelain has near-zero water absorption, which is why it also goes on floors and wet walls.
Sizes and finishes
How it is actually sold — measured off the spec sheet, not rounded.
Sizes
Paloma is made in a single size, 8x8. That makes layout simple — what you see in the sample is the module you get across the whole wall.
- 8x8
Planning the wall
What Paloma works out to on your wall, from its own published size.
| Size (inches) | Pieces per 10 sq ft | Grout line per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 8×8 | 23 | 3 ft |
Arithmetic on the published size; a straight grid layout. Herringbone and other patterns cut more pieces.
One size, 8×8: roughly 23 pieces per 10 square feet, with 3 linear feet of joint per square foot.
The spec sheet lists it as pressed rather than rectified: the edges are as they left the press, slightly softer, and the joints are set a little wider to suit.
Counts are before cuts — outlets, window returns and the ends of a run all take pieces. The install itself, from wall prep to caulk, is on our backsplash installation page.
Where it works
The applications this surface is actually rated for.
Its maker rates Paloma for flooring · outdoors — all of it at commercial duty.
Rated for
- Flooring — residential and commercial
- Outdoors — residential and commercial
Paloma or Azila?
Paloma and Azila are easy to confuse on a sample board: they share the same material, collection, style, glaze type, PEI rating, shade-variation rating, certifications, edge and size. What separates them:
- Measured off each swatch, Paloma reads #C5C2C0 (light, essentially neutral) and Azila reads #FAFAFA (very light, essentially neutral), so Paloma sits darker than Azila on the wall.
What to expect once it is installed
The ratings that decide whether the finished wall matches the sample.
Shade variation: V4 — substantial variation
Pieces vary substantially in color and pattern, by design. Two tiles side by side can look like different products. Order from one production run, buy your overage up front, and insist on a dry lay before anything is set — this is the rating that generates complaints when nobody was told.
Wear rating: PEI 3
Its abrasion class is PEI 3 of a possible 5, meaning walls, counters and normal residential floors — the usual rating for a kitchen.
Certifications
This one carries Greenguard Gold · USGBC/LEED. The Gold tier is the strict one — it is set against the air-quality limits used for classrooms. Useful on a LEED project; irrelevant on most kitchens, but it costs nothing to have.
What to put next to it
Built from the color we measured off Paloma itself, not from its name.
Forget the name for a moment. The swatch measures #C5C2C0 — light and essentially neutral — which puts it nearest Greige in our pairing data. It sits close to neutral, which means it will take direction from the cabinets rather than fight them.
Cabinets
- Pure White — walls one step warmer than the cabinets so the white reads crisp. Against this surface it is a step lighter, which lifts the surface without washing it out classic
Countertop
- White Veined (Marble-Look) — Greige keeps the veined white from feeling icy — the counter reads like linen instead of a showroom slab, and fingerprints vanish into the warmth.. Against this surface it is a step lighter, which lifts the surface without washing it out current
Hardware
- Warm Brass / Satin Gold — Brass pulls the hidden taupe out of greige, and as the lacquer softens over the years the pulls just look more collected, never tarnished.. Against this surface it is close in weight, so the two will blend rather than contrast current
Flooring
- Natural / White Oak — Greige and natural oak share the same beige undertone, so the cabinets seem to grow out of the floor — a quiet trick that makes small kitchens feel seamless.. Against this surface it is close in weight, so the two will blend rather than contrast solid
More to compare
Other backsplash tiles that sit close to Paloma.
Questions about Paloma
Answered from this product’s own spec sheet and our measurement of it.
What size is Paloma?
Paloma comes in one size, 8x8. One module across the whole wall keeps the layout simple — what you approve in the sample is what you get.
Where can I use Paloma?
Its maker rates it for flooring · outdoors. We hold to that rating when we quote — installing outside it is how a warranty claim gets denied.
Will the tiles match the sample I saw?
Paloma is rated V4 — substantial variation, by design. Two pieces side by side can look like different products. Order from one production run, buy the overage up front, and insist on a dry lay. This is the rating that generates complaints when nobody was told.
Can Paloma go on a floor?
Yes. At PEI 3 it is rated for normal residential floors as well as walls and counters — the usual rating for a kitchen.
What color is Paloma, really?
We measured its own swatch at #C5C2C0 — light and essentially neutral. It sits close to neutral, so it takes direction from the cabinets rather than fighting them. Names are marketing; that number is what the camera saw.
Does Paloma need sealing?
No. Porcelain is vitrified almost to zero water absorption. The tile itself never needs sealing; cement grout still benefits from it.
Paloma installed
2 photographs of this tile in finished rooms — scroll the rail, tap any shot to zoom.
Close up
Swatches
Tiles that look like Paloma
Paloma specifications
- Available size8x8
Rated for Flooring, Outdoors
Ready for a real number?
Free in-home template and an honest quote — you keep your money until there's a countertop to trade it for.