Look What Tile Can Do Now: 9 Versatile New Finishes
See exciting new stoneware looks from Italy’s big ceramic tile and bath show
Few imitations can truly compete with the real thing, but porcelain stoneware tile, which can be made to imitate a variety of finishes, has many advantages, including resistance to scratching and staining as well as overall durability. Add to that a competitive price tag and a reduced environmental impact, and the result is a product that might just make you stop and think before opting for that marble.
This year’s International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, or CERSAIE, which took place in September in Bologna, Italy, showcased the almost limitless variations of porcelain stoneware. Wood may have been the material most frequently imitated in tile before, but these days you can opt for look-alikes of marble, wallpaper, fabric, resin, concrete, terra cotta and wood.
The tiles come in a variety of finishes and formats, from textured to smooth and from small, mosaic-inspired tiles to those that reflect the trend toward oversize finishes. Here are some of the most exciting porcelain stoneware offerings this year.
This year’s International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, or CERSAIE, which took place in September in Bologna, Italy, showcased the almost limitless variations of porcelain stoneware. Wood may have been the material most frequently imitated in tile before, but these days you can opt for look-alikes of marble, wallpaper, fabric, resin, concrete, terra cotta and wood.
The tiles come in a variety of finishes and formats, from textured to smooth and from small, mosaic-inspired tiles to those that reflect the trend toward oversize finishes. Here are some of the most exciting porcelain stoneware offerings this year.
2. Wallpaper effect. What a great idea: an extra-durable “wallpaper” that can be wiped down with a simple sponge and everyday detergent. Like the paper version, wallpaper-effect tiles come in a wide array of patterns, from figural motifs to abstract decorations, and in a variety of colors from bold to soft.
So how do you make a tile mimic paper? A technological innovation mixes stoneware with fiberglass, making it possible to create tiles as large as 120 by 40 inches or so, yet just a little over an inch thick. Wonderwall by Cotto d’Este is one example.
So how do you make a tile mimic paper? A technological innovation mixes stoneware with fiberglass, making it possible to create tiles as large as 120 by 40 inches or so, yet just a little over an inch thick. Wonderwall by Cotto d’Este is one example.
3. Fabric effect. Is it a curtain? Is it a fabric panel applied to the wall? No, it’s a coating on the surface of the stoneware that displays warp and weft as though it were a real piece of fabric.
This is the idea behind the Fabric collection by Marazzi Ceramiche. The Basket series includes raised interlacing threads made of ceramic, inspired by natural fibers. The Fold series features microtexture geometries, and the graphics of the Tailor tiles imitate patchwork cloth.
This is the idea behind the Fabric collection by Marazzi Ceramiche. The Basket series includes raised interlacing threads made of ceramic, inspired by natural fibers. The Fold series features microtexture geometries, and the graphics of the Tailor tiles imitate patchwork cloth.
4. Marble effect. Marble-effect tile has two undeniable benefits over the real thing: First is its environmental impact, since no land must be quarried to produce it. Second, it’s drastically lower in price.
Industry leaders in ceramic tile production are committed to celebrating the aesthetic purity of marble, producing high-quality variations. Ceramica Sant’Agostino is one such company; its Pure Marble series features imitations of Covelano white, Côte d’Azur and Palissandro Sky marble, as well as white onyx. The company uses digital tools to re-create the characteristic veins and texture of the marble.
Industry leaders in ceramic tile production are committed to celebrating the aesthetic purity of marble, producing high-quality variations. Ceramica Sant’Agostino is one such company; its Pure Marble series features imitations of Covelano white, Côte d’Azur and Palissandro Sky marble, as well as white onyx. The company uses digital tools to re-create the characteristic veins and texture of the marble.
5. Stone effect. Even the look of a stone building in the countryside can be replicated. See, for example, Serenissima’s Pierre de France collection, whose tiles recall both the shades and textures of old stone.
6. Wood effect. Unlike wood, porcelain stoneware doesn’t get scratched when you move the furniture or when your kid’s toy car loses its rubber wheels; it doesn’t need special, delicate detergents to maintain its color and patina or any special finishes when it’s laid in a damp environment such as a bathroom or kitchen.
Though wood-effect stoneware is already widespread, new variations, such as the Woods collection by ABK, pay particular attention to finishes. In addition to being offered in six colors that resemble natural hardwood flooring, the collection also features a ceramic surface that’s almost completely matte.
Though wood-effect stoneware is already widespread, new variations, such as the Woods collection by ABK, pay particular attention to finishes. In addition to being offered in six colors that resemble natural hardwood flooring, the collection also features a ceramic surface that’s almost completely matte.
7. Concrete effect. The use of concrete calls to mind an industrial, edgy space. That atmosphere can now be created with stoneware collections such as Beton Chic from Ricchetti’s Manifattura del Duca range. The tiles imitate the texture of concrete and are available in different sizes and colors, from ivory to shades of gray ranging from extremely pale to charcoal.
8. Colorful concrete. In the late 19th century, concrete tiles were often used to cover bathroom and kitchen floors and surfaces. They consisted of a lower layer of durable concrete and a top layer of marble powder, white concrete and various pigments. The effect is definitely striking, but it involves an elaborate process that can only be done by hand. Today, as the Abbazie collection by Del Conca shows, a similar aesthetic can be achieved with porcelain stoneware tiles laid in slabs of approximately 8 by 8 inches. The collection is available in a rich assortment of colors and styles.
9. Terra-cotta effect. In Tuscany and Umbria especially, but also in farmhouses throughout the Mediterranean region, terra cotta is a favorite material for flooring. It’s charming and comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors, depending on its constituent clay.
In its Alpha collection, Ceramiche Keope has combined the classic colors of terra cotta with the properties of porcelain stoneware.
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In its Alpha collection, Ceramiche Keope has combined the classic colors of terra cotta with the properties of porcelain stoneware.
More
An Alphabetical Guide to Tile Terminology
Browse porcelain tile
using large-format tiles results in minimal interruption to the fluidity of the surface.
An example of this is seen in Casalgrande Padana’s Resina collection, shown here on both wall and floor. It combines the durability of ceramics with the aesthetic appeal of a continuous surface.