Avant by Monopole

Collection Summary

Avant by Monopole Cerámica is a porcelain stoneware tile collection from Spain built on a patented mold. Each piece combines a central hexagon with three picket-shaped extensions, so a single tile reads as both hexagon and picket. Every Avant piece measures 9″ x 10″ (8.66″ x 9.84″) and is rated for walls and floors. Each design is printed with up to 24 different graphics, which keeps installed surfaces from showing obvious repeats. Monopole offers Avant in 18 series spanning stone, marble, wood, cotto, cement, terrazzo, and solid colors. Tile X Design carries the Oregon series, a wood-inspired range in four colorways: Gris Haya, Haya Gris, Gris Grafito, and Grafito Gris.

Design & Aesthetic

Avant’s defining feature is geometric. Monopole cites the hexagonal basalt columns of Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway as the reference point for the shape. Because the picket arms are molded into each piece, an installed field reads as a continuous lattice of hexagons and elongated facets rather than a simple honeycomb. That gives walls and floors more directional movement than a standard hex.

The Oregon series applies wood-inspired graphics to this format. The colorway names describe the palette: haya (beech), gris (grey), and grafito (graphite). Each name pairs two of these tones. With up to 24 graphics per design and a V2 shade rating, Oregon shows moderate tile-to-tile variation within a consistent palette. The matte, flat surface keeps the focus on the geometry and the wood graphic rather than on sheen.

Material & Craftsmanship

Avant is porcelain stoneware manufactured by Monopole Cerámica in Onda, Castellón, a long-established center of Spanish tile production. The mold itself is protected by an international patent. Monopole lists the collection as frost resistant. Tile X Design lists the Oregon items at 8 mm thick.

Design Applications

Avant by Monopole is rated for both wall and floor installation. Tile X Design lists it for bathrooms, kitchens, kitchen backsplashes, mudrooms, and commercial interiors. Because one tile serves both surfaces, a bathroom or mudroom can carry the same Oregon colorway from the floor up the wall without a change in format. On a kitchen backsplash, the hexagon-and-picket geometry sits at eye level, where the interlocking outline and wood graphics are easiest to read.

Specifying Avant

• Layout and joint: Avant installs in a fixed interlock position. Monopole suggests a 1–1.5 mm joint, much tighter than many designers default to for a hexagonal tile. Grout color will strongly affect how prominently the hexagon-and-picket outline reads.
• Variation: With up to 24 graphics and a V2 rating, pull tiles from multiple boxes during installation to distribute the graphics.
• Colorway pairing: All four Oregon colorways share the same mold and format. Request samples of each before planning a blend or a transition between colorways.
• Floor performance: Monopole rates Avant references at PEI 3 or 4 depending on the design and publishes no slip-resistance (DCOF) value. Confirm both for the specific Oregon colorway before specifying commercial, high-traffic, or wet floors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Avant different from a standard hexagon tile?

A standard hexagon tile creates a uniform honeycomb. Avant’s patented mold adds three picket-shaped extensions to each hexagon, so the installed pattern combines hexagonal and elongated geometry from a single tile.

Can Avant be used on both the floor and walls of the same bathroom?

Yes. Monopole rates Avant for wall and floor installation, so the same Oregon colorway can carry from floor to wall. Confirm the slip-resistance value for wet floor areas with your Tile X Design representative.

Is Avant suitable for outdoor use?

Monopole states that Avant is frost resistant, but Tile X Design currently lists the collection for interior wall and floor applications. Confirm exterior suitability with your representative before specifying it outdoors.

Why does the suggested grout joint matter so much with Avant?

Avant is designed for a 1–1.5 mm joint in an interlock position. A wider joint changes the visual weight of the outline and can affect how the pieces fit together, so align the installer with the manufacturer’s joint guidance early.