From the eye-catching styles, shapes and patterns, attendees at Coverings were surrounded by hard surfaces that showcased impressive design statements.

The broad array of introductions at this year’s show provide a sneak peek to what architects, designers and homeowners can expect to see in the market later this year, according to show officials.

 “With exhibitors attending from 50 countries, Coverings offers an unrivaled, global view of the most current industry trends,” said Alena Capra, Coverings’ industry ambassador. “From booth to booth, one thing was certain—innovation continues to drive stellar design statements for today’s commercial and residential architecture, design, and building industries.”

Black and White…With A Twist

One of tile’s most classic looks is the juxtaposition of black and white, and today’s manufacturers are updating the look by incorporating other trends into product’s design. Equipe showcased Magical 3, a collection of black and white wall tiles that—because of their 3D shapes and angles—play with light to create highlights and lowlights, adding a sense of dynamism to the palette.

Deep Blue Sea

This year also saw several serene tile looks with blues in nearly every saturation, as well as teal color cues drawn from the ocean and marine life. Atlas Concorde exhibited Dwell, a glossy tile with an opalescent finish. BonTon presented Arche, a series of fish scale patterns available in 40 glaze options including navy and aqua hues. Oceanside Glasstile also showcased cool tones with the collection Kinship, in collaboration with Island Stone. The combination of reflective glass tile and matte stone creates a look that is reminiscent of the ocean’s tones.

Creating dimension on walls is not an easy feat, but the latest 3D tiles will turn any wall into a striking statement. Bouqet by Ceramica Tres Estilos met the needs of tile customers wanting to maintain a sleek style but also utilize a 3D pattern. The collection is characterized by original forms and shapes that fit perfectly together to make a relief pattern, and is aimed at professionals who seek new solutions suitable for modern ceramic designs. Iconic Design Concepts brought Hexagon Faux Leather Tiles to this year’s Coverings, which are distinctive due to their deep 3D relief and are produced in a multitude of color and designs. The tiles distinguish themselves as they are manufactured with fire-rated materials including soft foam cushioning which not only allow for an added depth but also excellent acoustical properties. Lunada Bay brought Concrete, a 3D concrete wall tile at 8mm thick, the tile’s applications are versatile and can be used in combination with other types of ceramic or porcelain tiles, or on its own to create a larger-than-life feature wall. Natucer presented Art, a minimalistic wall tile series with different textures and a specific micro relief pattern that makes the collection visually stimulating, unique and attractive.

Textile Inspirations

Though known as a hard surface, several tile standouts showcased how printing technology can give tile the appearance of soft textiles and wallpapers. With tile that looked and even felt like fabric, Ariana’s collection Canvas brought this trend to life. With a uniquely textured surface and a highly realistic fiber relief effect, this large format tile comes in five distinctive colors and patterns. Fioranese brought Evo, a product launched in partnership with Silvia Stanzani, which reinterprets cementine in a modern and playful way featuring 9 different patterns. Interceramic’s Calacatta Gold Lattice Basketweave Polished Mosaic gives the feel of a basket’s texture while adding an additional layer of sophistication with a glossy finish. 

With continued technological advances in digital printing processes, more realistic stone looks are also on the rise. Ceramiche Caesar’s Elapse is an uncanny match to stone; its irregularly marked surfaces yield an age-old effect. Cicogres showcased Bernini, a realistic reproduction of travertine marble. The glossy luster surface with marble-like veining provides a beautiful finish. Crossville evoked a natural stone look with its new Oceanaire Porcelain Tile Collection. The collection captures the appearance of sea and sand swept natural stone with multidirectional striations in five gradient color options. In keeping with all products produced at Crossville’s Tennessee facilities, Oceanaire is made using 4% recycled content. 

Wow-Worthy Wood Looks

From white oak to black walnut, pine to poplar, it is no question that consumers crave the look of wood for their floors. In addition to their appearance, though, today’s wood-look tiles impress with their tactile qualities—distress marks, knots, and scrapes that are dead ringers for the real thing. Baldocer shared its white wood look with Cayenne that covers a demand for cooler color and neutrals in the home, modernizing the prevalent trend. Del Conca USA unveiled Cavalier, which maintains a rustic, vintage look of distressed wood with the modern aspect of being a painted tile. Tile Optima presented OldWood, a textured wood-style tile, available in five remarkable wood tone colors.

Geometry Lesson

When it comes to playing with angle, dimension, and shape, today’s tile manfuactueres are measuring up. Florim Ceramiche SpA shared Pietre 3, a beautifully simple tile whose geometric patterns give it a sense of balance and symmetry. Available in several neutral tones, the patterns have a subtle aspect to them. Ceramica Sant’Agostino unveiled the HEAVEN collection, which through the careful selection of marbles and digital printing technology provides an extremely smooth texture and geometric pattern. Its satin finish makes it particularly suited for bathrooms in both commercial and residential spaces. Peronda Group partnered with DSIGNIO, a global design studio, to release Harmony by Peronda. Designed for this collaboration is the GEN, KIN, CORE, ROLL and PLAY which are available in hexagon shaped tiles that, when placed together, generate a larger geometric design. 

Industrial Ideas

The gritty, raw aesthetic inspired by factories and warehouses—think concrete, steel, and rusted metal—is continuing to have a heyday with lots of horsepower. Ceramica Fondovalle SpA shined the spotlight on Acidic, which brings together metals and traditional lines. Inspired by steel sheets, the tile mixes its slightly iridescent surface with tones of silver, blue and black to create a complex look. Emotion Ceramic featured Groove, a collection of porcelain tiles that provide a new aesthetic for carrying out large and elegant surfaces. The cement-like colors include Natural, Beige, White and Grey. Lea Ceramiche presented Cliffstone, a series of full-body porcelain slabs inspired by the neutral colors of nature. The realistic, stone-like slabs are available with different finishes and in an array of sizes both small and large format. 

Brick by Brick

Building on the industrial aesthetic, bricks continue to be big—and this year, there was a bevy of brick-inspired tiles that update the urban loft look. Ceramica Gomez took a rustic approach with the Mayolica collection; available in a gray tile that turns a conventional look more modern. Ironrock’s Royal Thin Brick is unglazed—giving it a true wire-cut texture—and goes through a tumbling process when manufactured to yield a distressed, worn appearance. It can be installed just like any other ceramic tile allowing for the flexibility to create a brick application to any room. Marazzi showcased Urban District BRX, inspired by Chicago’s historic architecture that includes brick buildings and provides an urban look to any space. The mix of industrial and urban design mixed with contemporary style embraces old and new, the rough and the smooth.

For more information, visit coverings.com.