b'SALES PULSE (continued) homeownersarespendingmorechoosetoremodeltheirhomes ti meintheirhomesandwanttowith large porcelain slabs that cre-createanoasisintheirbathroomatestunningeffectsinshowers. andakitchenthatwillmaketheirTheadvantageofporcelainslabs friends and neighbors drool. With theis not only the jaw-dropping effect increasinglyabundantti leopti onsof having large pieces of seamless availableinthemarketplace,sus- tileinyourshower,butalsothe tainablegoodsarebecomingmorecostadvantageversuspurchasing sought out along with unique materi- Bold colors and ceramic patt erns are gracingreal marble slabs, he said, also cit-als that will diff erenti ate one installa- West Coast new and remodeled homes, likeing how durable they are and easy ti on from the next. this Euphoria from Sonoma Tilemakers, avail- they are to clean. With the higher Though ceramic ti les, Carrara mar- able at Westside Tile and Stone.demandofporcelainslabstaking ble or white marble porcelain slabsoverthemarket,wereseeinga reign supreme, Weiner is happy toti le in a wide array of colors and pat- multitude of marble-looking as well see bold colors and patt erns starti ngterns installed in traditi onal and con- as onyx-looking slabs in the market-topopup.Newconstructi onandtemporary layouts including chevron,place that fit every style and need remodeledhomesvieforceramicherringbone or staggered brick.for the market. In the LA region, Carrara marble is a unique, ti meless blendofcolorsandtones that is as popular as ever in a variety of sizes, fi nishes andmosaicsthatallowit tobeusedinallsortsof residentialapplications, Weinersaid.Itsusedin kitchens and bathrooms to bringabeauti fulblendof coolandwarmtonesthat blendandbridgestyles together.Residenti al customers are clamoring for natu-The popularity of Carrararal Carrara marble in a range of sizes, fi nishes marblehasalsospawnedandmosaics,likethisselecti onofnatural marble from Arti sti c Tile. avastarrayofporcelain look alikes made even more authenti c and by varied dig-ital-printtechnology.Just like the wood-looking ti les, thesemarble-lookingti les allow for easy maintenance withouthavingtoworry aboutstainingordiscolor-ati onthatcanoccurwith real marble, he said.Speakingofporcelain, Weinersaidporcelain slabs have taken the mar-ketbystorm,especial- Carrara marble lookalikes, like this porcelain slab from Apavisa, are popular at Westside lyforhomeownerswhoTile and Stone. 342020|TRENDS'