Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 9666 2017 | TRENDS INTERNATIONAL TRENDS FROM ITALY Against the Grain Wood continues to serve as a major muse for the tile industry. Some new wood looks are inspired by exotic species, offering a beautiful, sustain- able alternative to rare hardwoods such as Kauri while others recre- ate the warmth and imperfections of wood in 2cm outdoor pavers, large thin slabs, kaleidoscopic patterns and three-dimensional tiles that are virtu- ally impossible to achieve with real timber. Gritty Chic 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 sophistica- tion, while others are intentionally corroded and weathered, conjur- ing a romantic notion of the pas- sage of time. One such collection is Archeologie designed by Franco Guerzoni for Cedit. His infatuation with forgotten walls and the poet- ic nature of ruins are embodied in the tile design, characterized by the stratification of colors and materials on walls. Mega Marble For designers who love the brilliant look of marble but loathe the head- aches 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, por- celain 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 wun- der objekts in sizes up to 5.25’ x 10.5’ and thicknesses ranging from a typi- cal tile thickness of 10mm for heavy traffic floors to super thin ceramics that can be used to cover doors, fur- nishings and walls. A few collections even offer a book-matched option to create a fun and dramatic mirrored effect. Metallics With metallics’ growing popularity, beyond product design and into the built environment, it’s unsurprising Top 10 trends from illustrious Italy CERSAIE – the international tile and bath expo held in Bologna, Italy, each fall – birthed a full array of new trends that will be populating walls, floors, patios and cladding in 2017. We reported on five of these trends in our December 2016 TileLetter issue: Bits; Black & Blue; Retro Revival; Rustic Modern and Warp & Weft. They are summarized here, in addition to five fresh new trends that were seen on the show floor in Bologna. Keep your eyes peeled for these styles and designs as the year unfolds. (L-R): Del Conca Gran Paradiso, Unica Woodlines, Cerdisa Natura, Marca Corona Essences (L-R): Supergres Art, La Fabbrica Lascaux, Faetano Cor-Ten, Cedit Archeologie (L-R): Atlas Concorde Marvel XL, Italgraniti Mega, Ava Copacabana, Novabell Imperial