b'TILE FASHIONS FROM ITALY (continued) SpeckledGiven postmodernisms recent come-back, its not surprising to see speckled surfaces as one of this years biggest trends. Micro and macro fragments, technicolor dots and playful interpreta-tions of terrazzo all played a starring role in dozens of new introductions.Clockwise from top left: Casalgrande Padana Macro; Refin Risseu; Leonardo Overcome; Marca Corona FoyerPreciousFrom designs emulating rare marbles and semi-precious stones to tiles with an iridescent finish reminiscent of Akoya pearls, preciousness was the name of the game for dozens of manufacturers this year. It also gives designers a chance to source rare and precious materials without depleting the Earths natural resources!Clockwise from top: Valentino by Ceramiche Piemme Opulence; NAXOS Rhapsody; LaFaenza OroBlended MaterialsOne of the advantages of digital print-ing is the ability to reproduce the look of just about any material. With unlimited possibilities at their fingertips, Italian tile companies are blending material effects, such as wood and concrete or marble and terrazzo, to create entirely original typologies and new opportunities in inte-rior design. Clockwise from top left: Provenza Alter; Piemme Materia; Fire Arcadia; Del Conca Timeline.TRENDS|202087'