Cambodia’s Antique Patterned Cement Tile Floors

Siem Reap old market area sign The Khmer Rouge may have destroyed much of the population and vitality of Cambodia in the 1970’s but the lovely cement tile floors in the old districts lived through it all.

Siem Reap [siəm riəp] in northwest Cambodia is a town adjacent to the Angkor World Heritage Site, location of the world famous ancient Angkor Wat temple complex. The cafes and shops along the streets in the Siem Reap Old Market district reveal an assortment of colorful cement tile floors in age old patterns.


Cambodian Siem Reap market area
Old Siem Reap market area

Antique cement tile floors in a Cambodian cafe
A swirling hand drawn pattern like this is seldom seen in current cement tile production.
siem-reap-cambodia-hardware-store-VLT
Even hardware stores have classic cement tile flooring like this 3 color pattern.
Antique Cement tile in a cafe in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
This cafe’s antique cement tile pattern with fleur-de-lis and berries is a popular pattern today.
siem-reap-encaustic-cement-tile-VLT-1
The pattern in this cafe tile is reminiscent of medieval clay encaustic tile in pattern and colors.
Antique cubes cement tile
Antique cubes cement tile in typical popular Cambodian colors

Our quest to explore antique cement tile leads to many surprises. Patterns that were popular a long time ago remain strong sellers today. We love discovering beautiful cement tile installations that are still loved and appreciated in unexpected parts of the world. It seems that while cement tiles were once made commercially in Cambodia, now only one workshop may remain.  Known as Kay Vath’s tile factory in Phnom Penh. The factory and shop is on Russian Boulevard, near Teak Thla market but as the article says, his output is small. Now most new cement tiles are imported into Cambodia but the cheap printed ceramic tiles from China predominate due to the very low cost. Cambodia is in a state of recovery still and has a ways to go.

Our trip to Cambodia and neighboring Vietnam was wonderful and led to many excellent cement tile sightings. We’ll be posting photos of them in the next few weeks.

Patchwork Tile–The Perfect Mix for a Showhome

Designer Chris Grandmontagne used our Colorful Patchwork encaustic cement tile in her kitchen/family/breakfast great room renovation in the 2013 Topeka Designers’ Show House. Our cement tile went above the stove and to line the bookcases on either side of the fireplace to great effect. In the large kitchen area and family room the Patchwork does not overwhelm but adds just the right amount of cheerfulness without becoming the dominant element of the decor.

Patchwork cement tile backsplash
The niche above the stove has the Patchwork Cement Tile backsplash.
Cement tile backsplash in a niche above the stove
Spacious kitchen in the designer show house in Topeka, Kansas.

We love how Chris used our tile also in the family room area as a background to the built-in custom shelves on either side of the fireplace. Below is a construction photo followed by the completed project.

Encaustic cement tile in the back of custom shelves on either side of a brick fireplace.
Construction photo of the patchwork cement tile going into the back of the custom shelves.
After photo of the family room area
Photo of the family room area
Built in shelves with colorful patchwork tile as a back feature
Family room shelving with Villa Lagoon Tile Colorful Patchwork Tile
family breakfast area in designer show house
Family breakfast room in designer show house with gorgeous deep aqua Fiberglas chairs
Long dining table in a screen porch connected to the family room
Outdoor dining in enclosed screen porch which connects to the family room and kitchen
Topeka Kansas Designer Show Home 2013
Topeka Kansas Designer Show House 2013

Thanks to  designer Chris Grandmontagne …(Don’t you just love that name ??)
of Grandmontagne Designs and Warehouse 414 414 SE 2nd St., Topeka, Ks. 66607
and Stephen Smith Images, 931 Studios, 931 Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS.