Cersaie, the world’s largest exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings, was held in Bologna, Italy this past September and, now, Ceramics of Italy has taken what they saw on display at the show and created a list of the top 10 tile trends to watch as we head into 2017. The diverse list includes a multitude of colors, textures, and finishes. Scroll down to view the complete list.
Against the grain
Pictured: Pastorelli - Komi
Wood continues to serve as a major muse for the tile industry, with companies adding their own twist and utilizing new production methods to create a whole new typology of floor and wall covering. Some are inspired by exotic woods, offering a beautiful, sustainable alternative to rare hardwoods such as Kauri while others recreate the warmth and imperfections of wood in 2cm outdoor pavers, large thin slabs, kaleidoscopic patterns and three-dimensional tiles that are virtually impossible to achieve with real timber.
Bits & Pieces
Pictured: Fap - Maku
Many companies are introducing collections characterized by a random assortment of fragmented pieces, lending an eclectic and playful visual narrative to the surface. Some of the designs are inspired by natural stone with a conglomerate look such as Ceppo di Gré while others convey a sense of manual processing such as Venetian terrazzo and irregular stone mosaics.
Black & Blue
PIctured: Mirage - Reve
While black is always in style, intense blacks with matte finishes are making a strong statement this year. Meanwhile, blue – which has been popping up everywhere this year from fall fashion shows to hair color – is taking the tile industry by storm, expanding beyond last year’s marine palette to include dusty, vibrant, and sophisticated hues of blue.
Gritty Chic
Pictured: Cedit - Archeologie
Adding an edge to interiors, tile companies continue to experiment with plaster, concrete, metal and resin. Some designs are elegant interpretations of industrial surfaces, offering a kind of raw sophistication, while others are intentionally corroded and weathered, conjuring a romantic notion of the passage of time.
Mega Marble
Pictured: Supergres - Purity
For designers who love the brilliant look of marble but loathe the headaches associated with it, porcelain tile is a no-brainer. Digital printing has become so advanced that it’s hard to tell whether the material is calacatta or ceramic, even after touching the surface. Being stain, scratch and chemical resistant, it gives clients freedom from fear (especially of red wine) and provides a low maintenance and low cost alternative to the precious material. Companies are producing these wunder objekts in sizes up to 5.25’ x 10.5’ and thicknesses ranging from a typical tile thickness of 10mm for heavy traffic floors to super thin ceramics that can be used to cover doors, furnishings and walls.
Metallics
Pictured: Unica - Brique
With metallics’ growing popularity, beyond product design and into the built environment, it's unsurprising that tile companies are adding more metallics to the mix than ever before. Bronze, platinum and gold are the key players, often acting as inserts or decorative accents, adding a bit of glamour to collections often inspired by natural materials.
Retro Revival
Pictured: Imola - Play
Great designers learn from history, borrowing elements from the past and infusing them with contemporary ideas to create something completely new. Retro is a trend that has been percolating for years, especially with the graphic appeal of cementine and maiolica, but now other historical movements have joined the fold, from the elegance of art deco to the bold shapes and hues of Memphis.
Rustic Modern
Pictured: Manifattura del Duca - Cotto Med
Adding a new twist to country style, wood, stone, brick and cotto are invigorated by modern laying schemes, hues and patterns. Antique stone with metallic accents, terracotta in quatrefoil shapes, and geometric patterns overlaid onto distressed wood planks are just a few of the ways tile companies are blending farmhouse charm with modern elegance.
Seamless
Pictured: Bardelli - Eve
With decorative surfaces undergoing a renaissance, tile offers the perfect solution to create a contemporary fresco, combining the tactile appeal of wallpaper with the durability of ceramic. From large, thin porcelain tile panels and mesh-mounted mosaics to patterns that traverse a single tile's dimensions, Italian manufacturers are giving designers the tools to create a beautifully seamless surface.
Warp & Weft
Pictured: Coem - Patchwork
Texture is the defining character of this year’s tile collections, which complements the many new textile inspired lines. Designs range from lace, macramé, linen and madras to masculine suiting fabrics, leather, tweed and tartan. Whether woven, knitted, knotted, or layered, the designs add another tactile element to the hard surface.
Related Stories
Fire-Rated Products | Aug 14, 2023
Free download: Fire-rated glazing 101 technical guide from the National Glass Association
The National Glass Association (NGA) is pleased to announce the publication of a new technical resource, Fire-Rated Glazing 101. This five-page document addresses how to incorporate fire-rated glazing systems in a manner that not only provides protection to building occupants from fire, but also considers other design goals, such as daylight, privacy and security.
Green | Aug 7, 2023
Rooftop photovoltaic panels credited with propelling solar energy output to record high
Solar provided a record-high 7.3% of U.S. electrical generation in May, “driven in large part by growth in ‘estimated’ small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar PV whose output increased by 25.6% and accounted for nearly a third (31.9%) of total solar production,” according to a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Sustainability | Jul 26, 2023
Carbon Neutrality at HKS, with Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer
Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer at HKS Inc., discusses the firm's decarbonization strategy and carbon footprint assessment.
Contractors | Jul 13, 2023
Construction input prices remain unchanged in June, inflation slowing
Construction input prices remained unchanged in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices were also unchanged for the month.
Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023
Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]
Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.
Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023
5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings
For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.
Apartments | Jun 27, 2023
Dallas high-rise multifamily tower is first in state to receive WELL Gold certification
HALL Arts Residences, 28-story luxury residential high-rise in the Dallas Arts District, recently became the first high-rise multifamily tower in Texas to receive WELL Gold Certification, a designation issued by the International WELL Building Institute. The HKS-designed condominium tower was designed with numerous wellness details.
Building Materials | Jun 14, 2023
Construction input prices fall 0.6% in May 2023
Construction input prices fell 0.6% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices declined 0.5% for the month.
Mass Timber | Jun 13, 2023
Mass timber construction featured in two-story mixed-use art gallery and wine bar in Silicon Valley
The Edes Building, a two-story art gallery and wine bar in the Silicon Valley community of Morgan Hill, will prominently feature mass timber. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam posts and beams were specified for aesthetics, biophilic properties, and a reduced carbon footprint compared to concrete and steel alternatives.