b'A&D CORNER isthe48planksnowavailable;husband and wiferecently reject-Wilson favors the Crossville planksed a butcher block countertop due sincetheydontexhibitabowingto the possibility of microbe growth in their length like some other longin favor of a quartz option. planks do.Wilsonsaidthatquartzcoun-People are doing an entire base- tertopscombinedwithagauged ment in tilewall cladding with thinporcelain tile waterfall down the tile on wall and on the floor now,sideoftheislandsarebecoming Wilson said. As a result of COVID,more popular. shesaid,peoplearerecognizingPumarejoalsoseeslarge-format their home should be a sanctuary,tile in general gaining ground since especially outdoor spaces.itlimitsgroutjoints,facilitating All kinds of tile are being incor- maintenance and cleaning. She also porated, Wilson said: flat tile, tex- has observed that grout has come turedtile,ruggedsurfacesanda long way in recent years, too, as liveedges,aspikein theuseofglasstile onbacksplasheswith undermountlightsthat create a bright, beauti-fulreflectanceonthe glass, Wilson said. Quartzcountertops are a favorite due to the antimicrobialfeatures thatsomebrandsoffer. Thegoalistohavea solid surface that doesnt have a place for bacteria to hide, Wilson said. Silestonehasa quartzproductwithan antimicrobialtreatment addedtoit,andsome tileoptionsthathave Microbanadded, Pumarejosaid,suchas specific collections from Panaria/FloridaTile. PumarejonotedthataAgate mosaic from Allison Eden in the niche, stone tile on shower walls and floors of porcelain provide easily newclientadoctorcleaned and beautiful surfaces.82TileLetter | August 2020'