A little gloss goes a long way.
Surface study / Texture, reflection and a smaller scale.
Use reflected light as a measured accent, balanced by quieter surrounding finishes.
Gloss does not have to mean a room full of shine. A small reflective surface can catch the light, draw attention to a detail and change as you move around it. The interesting decisions are often about scale: how much surface is enough, how it meets its surroundings, and what happens when the lights come on. A newly published ceramic collection offers a starting point for thinking more carefully about this balance.
An editorial reading of IFDM’s Miniature Aroma product feature, published 6 November 2026. Photograph: a vanity from our Pondok Indah project.
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Full story
The observation
IFDM’s 6 November product feature describes Miniature Aroma by Ceramiche Marca Corona as glazed porcelain stoneware in a small 6 × 24 cm format, with a micro-textured surface and glossy finish. The collection illustrates one manufacturer’s approach to colour and surface variation. It is a specific product reference, not proof that glossy tiles suit every application or that the finish is widely adopted in Jakarta.
For a Jakarta home
Choose the area of emphasis first. A vanity wall, a small kitchen splashback or the inside of a niche can offer a contained place to explore a reflective finish. Keeping the surrounding planes quieter allows the change in surface to register without making every view compete for attention. Decide where the finish stops before deciding how much of it to order.
Compare the actual tile with the proposed lighting. A finish seen under a showroom spotlight can behave differently beside a window or below a wall light. Make a small physical layout with several pieces, including the intended grout colour and joint width. Variation across a field of tiles is part of the effect, so one sample may not show the whole range.
Discuss laying direction in relation to the room. Horizontal, vertical and herringbone arrangements each create a different rhythm, but the best option also depends on edges, outlets, corners and the dimensions of the surface. Resolve those details in a drawing before installation, especially when a narrow wall or niche might otherwise end with awkward cuts.
Use the rest of the palette to give the eye somewhere to rest. A matte painted wall, a textile or a quieter timber surface can sit alongside a glossy accent. The Pondok Indah photograph illustrates that broader conversation between pattern, mirror and light; it is not a photograph of Miniature Aroma. Choose a product because its appearance and technical specifications meet the brief, rather than because a trend label makes it sound essential.
A practical sample review
Review a group of samples both during the day and in the evening. Place them beside the actual adjacent finishes where possible. Record the grout, edge detail and light position you prefer so that the final installation follows a coordinated decision, rather than a memory of a single attractive sample.
Before you specify
Confirm with the manufacturer and installer whether the exact product is suitable for the intended wall or floor, wet area, cleaning regime and substrate. A glossy appearance does not establish slip resistance, stain resistance or installation suitability. No product identity or material certification is inferred from the studio photograph.
Sources & context
- IFDM · Ceramiche Marca Corona | Miniature Aroma ↗ (source, opens in a new tab)Published 6 November 2026 · IFDM editorial team · manufacturer collection reference · reviewed 9 November 2026
The conversation