International Tile Trends 2014

COMPILED BY John Almon

The Cersaie International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings was held in Bologna, Italy in September 2014. John Almon of The Tile House shared his findings with VISI. Here are the latest international trends you should look out for.

The main trends we saw at Cersaie were: 

·      Marble

·      Stone

·      Wood

·      Cotto and pattern

·      Hexagons

·      Subway or metro shapes

·      Larger sizes

·      20mm thick outdoor tiles

Marble

The marbles were predominantly white, (Calacatta, Palissandro, Sorrento, Paonnazzetto, Statuario, Apuano, Carrara), beautifully replicating actual marble using digital printing and creating a unique, natural design on each tile. There were also greys (Pulpis, Marble Gray) and a unique beige (Arcadia).

Marble surfaces were treated with different finishes, either highly polished satin, or soft ribbed (rullato), recreating the soft worn feel experienced on the marble floors in old churches.

The beauty of this is that factories are reproducing sustainable and realistic versions of marble that’s scarce, and in some cases not available at all.

Sizes range from 3200mm x 1600mm to 6mm X 10mm thick. It’s important to note that this is not possible with real stone. 

Stone

As with the marble, new versions of rare stones (that are not quarried anymore) were also introduced.

The two most prominent trends were:

1. Replicating antique stone found on the pavements of the streets of Europe. As one sees them in reality, they have various surfaces, and the edges appear worn, although the tiles are rectified. They are produced in various sizes, as they would appear on the street or in an old building.

2. Replicating a number of different stone designs in the same colours of beige, taupe, grey, charcoal and black.

Wood

The popular “wood look” is being refined. Thanks to digital printing, the tiles being produced are more and more realistic, following the grain and cut/finish of the wood. A twist on this look is an off-shutter concrete look cut into wood sizes.

The sizes are also much larger, with lengths up to 1800mm.

Cotto

There’s a return to the traditional clay look, now rendered in modern colours like white, grey and almond.

Accompanying the Cotto in most ranges is a soft subtle pattern for both floors and walls. These colours have a soft cement look.

Hexagons

Hexagons were seen across the festival. Available in different sizes, plain and decorated (many being influenced by Portuguese and Moroccan designs), this traditional shape continues to create a stylish effect.

Subway and Metro Tiles

The classic style of these tiles is more popular than ever. Seen with flat, undulating surface and sides, and bevelled finishes in various sizes. Available in soft matte/shiny colours.

Large sizes

The new sizes presented were 1600mm x 3200mm, 1200mm x 2400mm, 1000mm x 3000mm and 1200mm x 1200mm, to name a few. It is incredible to see stone and marble tiles being produced in such large formats. 

20mm Thick Outdoor Tiles

Some factories began to introduce these tiles last year. Used extensively in Europe for suspended patios and on lawns and other garden areas, they are very practical, as they are made to match interior tiles to create continuity. They come in various sizes including 300mm x 600mm, 600mm x 600mm and 400mm x 800mm.