May 7, 2014

When the tile and stone industry gathered together to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Coverings, I was blown away by the latest introductions from more than 900 exhibitors representing more than 35 countries. Coverings offers an in-depth view of tile and stone that is truly impressive, and just when I thought I saw all the trends and new products for kitchens and baths – there was more to see…

Fusion

Tile manufacturers are fusing natural inspirations to create distinctively unique expressions for designers and homeowners. According to Colorker, “The phenomenon of fusion has become the identifying signal of our time. We see it in music, fashion, architecture, technology, art and in ceramic design.” Colorker, which won a Coverings Best Booth award (shown above), presented the Fusion series in which cement, wood and stone are strewn together to offer a graphic richness united by a single color range.

Vintage, Lived In

One of the hottest trends right now is the idea of vintage or lived-in looks. Companies like Tile of Spain’s Grespania have the skill to make these looks authentic and warm in its new Amazonia collection of wood-look ceramic tiles that boast a stylish relief and a gently timeworn appearance. 

Grespania’s Amazonia collection

Textiles

Inspired by traditional textiles from around the world, the Cape Town collection from AlysEdwards Tile & Stone brings ethnic flair in soft, muted colors that enable it to be incorporated into a variety of design styles. Cape Town is hand made in Tunisia, using ancient stone artistry that gives every piece a one-of-a-kind look and is available in eight fabulous patterns and six subtle color ways.

Cape Town from AlysEdwards

Dimension

Dimensional tile continues to innovate with subtle, sophisticated effects. The Realonda Kubik series features ceramic reliefs to create a three-dimensional effect that is both attractive and unique. These decorative, glazed porcelain tiles with heightened realism and definition are perfect for indoor or outdoor feature walls. SICIS premieres the Structura collection, featuring glass mosaic panels with shiny square tesserae in different sizes, thicknesses, shades and textures for an intriguing, multi-dimensional effect. 

Realonda Kubik series

Structura collection from SICIS

Ohhh, Pretty Grout in Metallic
I admit it, I’m a tile nerd – so yes – bring on the pretty grout! TEC/H.B. Construction Products refreshes grout options with its Design FX grout, available in crystal, silver and bronze, which has a reflective effect and accentuates the natural beauty of glass, mosaic and metal tile, while also complementing ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tile.

Design FX grout from TEC/H.B. Products

Make Time for a Trade Show
I was privileged to attend some of the free CEU programs presented at Coverings. The information I gleaned from these sessions will certainly fill blog posts and impact my marketing and branding efforts for clients going forward. We are all hunkered down with work 24/7, but I truly encourage you to consider attending a trade show and to take time out to sit in on speaker sessions. It’s incredible how much networking, information and inspiration is available in such a short timeframe. I feel refreshed, energized and full of ideas I can’t wait to try out. It’s worth the time and investment to pick one or two trade shows a year to attend. You simply can’t get this kind of education and expansion online only.

– Lori Dolnick has nearly 30 years of experience building brands. She works primarily with manufacturers in the home design industry and writes for several blogs.